Luke Hein from Rogers Park has reignited my passion for surf fishing.
“I’ve been having an incredible late-winter bite for brown trout in the surf on the South Side,” Hein shared on Instagram. “It’s amazing to see so many fish.”
His success is surprising, given that this winter has been relatively normal despite the record warmth in November.
“I’ve been using spawn bags with surf rods,” he explained. “The fishing has been fantastic, with a mix of brown trout and smaller steelhead. I don’t know much about the science behind it, but I feel like it’s a sign of good things ahead.”
Surf fishing, which means fishing from the beach, has intrigued me since I was young. I remember seeing pictures of anglers casting their lines into the Atlantic Ocean for striped bass.
I’ve tried surf fishing in Indiana and have attempted to catch coho near St. Joseph, Michigan, every March, but I haven’t had much success.
Hein prefers the traditional method of surf fishing.
“I got into surf fishing because it’s an old-school technique that people don’t use as much anymore,” he said. “With modern techniques like bobber fishing or twitching jigs taking over, surf fishing has become less common. But it’s still a very effective method.”
He believes bait fishing is often underestimated.
“Some people think bait fishing isn’t as skilled, but success comes down to small adjustments,” he said. “It could be the difference between using fresh or cured eggs, changing the leader length, adjusting the weight, or adding a split shot to make sure the bait is in the strike zone.”
To Hein, surf fishing is a tradition that experienced anglers quietly keep alive.
“It’s about finding those secret spots that consistently hold fish,” he said.
This winter, Hein has been surf fishing around Chicago, Indiana, and Michigan.
The fishing has been consistent, but he hasn’t caught anything massive.
“The biggest fish so far was about 20 inches,” he said. “It’s been exciting, especially in the early morning when all three of my rods go off at once.”
That’s a great problem to have!
He’s optimistic about what’s to come.
“It’s cool to see so many smaller brown trout this year,” he said. “I’m hoping to find some bigger ones once spring arrives.”
Nature Notes
I saw my first large winter flocks of wild turkeys on Saturday. Each flock had more than 30 birds. Meanwhile, despite last week’s cold weather, rabbits are right on time, starting their usual seasonal behavior.
Final Thought
Reading Maddie Lee’s updates on Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is as exciting as hearing about a 5-pound largemouth bass caught at Braidwood Lake.
