Urban pollinator, fall kings, flood carp: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Ron Wozny photographed the urban pollinator above on the Northwest Side, up close.

Wild of the Week, a celebration of wild scenes around Chicago outdoors, runs as warranted on Sundays on the Sun-Times outdoors page. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).

DALE’S MAILBAG

E: “During the flood [in Des Plaines], looking out my window, I saw a bunch of carp swimming around: there were carp in my backyard and also in the middle of my street going through the spawning rituals (big groups chasing and rolling). I thought I would give it a try. Lost a few, but brought in this one, caught just off my patio literally. I can say I caught a fish in my backyard now, using my steelhead setup and bread.’’ Sam Santangelo, Des Plaines

A: Nothing beats creativity in the moment.

BIG NUMBER

70

Percent of “Asian carp,’’ which are some hybrid of bighead and silvers, according to Kevin Irons, Illinois’ aquatic nuisance species program manager

LAST WORD

“I think this will be the best August in many years for trollers and best king run in many years for the shore fishermen.’’

Capt. Scott Wolfe, of School of Fish Charters, on prospects for near-shore Chinook salmon

WILD TIMES

FISH GATHERINGS

Today: Jim Frolich (Clinton Lake) and Tom Witzke (Illinois River), Oswegoland Fishin’ Fools, Allied First Bank, Oswego, 7 p.m. fishinfools.org

Tuesday: Len Szulc on Lake of The Woods, Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc., Giuseppe’s La Cantina, Des Plaines, 7:30 p.m., chicagolandmuskiehunters.org/meetingschedule.asp

Tuesday: Richard Holm, Salmon Unlimited, Elk Grove Village VFW,, 7 p.m., salmonunlimitedinc.com

Wednesday: William Heim on late-summer/early fall Geneva bass, Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Cabela’s, Hoffman Estates, 5:30 p.m., lakegenevafishingclub.com

ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS

Today, Aug. 7: Controlled pheasant hunting reservations open, click here for info

Through Aug. 31: Applications for free upland-game permits, click here for info

HUNTER SAFETY

(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)

Aug. 12-13: Essex, (815) 458-3568

Sept. 7 and 9: Newark, (815) 210-4995

Sept. 9-10: Kankakee, (815) 935-2700

WINGSHOOTING CLINIC

Aug. 19-20: Shabbona Lake State Park, (815) 758-2773

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)

DUCKS UNLIMITED

(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)

PHEASANTS FOREVER

(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)