Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WIlD OF THE WEEK
Sandy Melovic shared her “wild life’’ with this coyote near the Des Plaines Conservation Area shooting range.
Wild of the Week, a celebration of wild scenes around Chicago outdoors, runs on Sundays on the Sun-Times outdoors page as warranted. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).
DALE’S MAILBAG
Q: “Anyone know how to fish for whitefish? Never seen one, nor heard of them till this article.’’ Edward Sturtevant
A: Most on the Chicago lakefront are caught by perch fishermen fishing on the bottom with crappie or bottom rigs. Brian Breidert, Indiana’s Lake Michigan fisheries biologist, said, “They can be caught using simple techniques, such as bottom fishing with a 1- to 2-ounce weight, a 12- to 24-inch leader, and a small hook baited with waxworms, salmon eggs or bits of night crawler.’’
BIG NUMBER
0: Money in the Trump Administration budget for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, despite promises otherwise during the campaign
LAST WORD
“Next, I’m still looking for the state record smallie from Lake Michigan. Tell our angler friends to get out there after them.’’
Dan Stephenson, Illinois’ fisheries chief
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
March 25-26: Chicago, http://carryinillinois.com/hunter-safety-course.html . . . Ingleside, go.fishfry@gmail.com
April 1-2: Hainesville, (847) 223-5700
April 4, 6, 11, 13: Downers Grove, (630) 963-1300 class 471009-01
April 29-30: Palatine, click here and it is Program number 203560
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday: March 21: Capt. Pat Harrison, Friends of Fishing, Valparaiso Public Library, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday: March 21: Capt. Mark Kuzniewski on Green Bay and Fox River muskie walleyes, Cabela’s, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m., click here for info
SWAP MEET
Saturday, March 25: Walleyes Unlimited swap meet, Fox Lake Legion Hall, click here for info
COHO DERBY
Saturday, March 25: Henry’s Spring Coho Derby, Navy Pier, prizes for leaders, free raffle for registered fishermen, $6 parking, registration begins 6:30 a.m., event 7-11 a.m., click here for info or call (312) 225-8538
WILD GAME DINNER
Saturday, March 25: Veterans R&R wild game dinner and gun raffle, Wauconda American Legion, Major A. Robert Abboud speaking, click here for info
TURKEY SHOOT
Sunday, March 26: Turkey Shoot, Blackhawk Field Archers, Rockton, click here for info
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
Thursday, March 23: Windy City Dinner, Elmcrest Banquets, Elmwood Park
Friday, March 24:West Suburban dinner and banquet, Royalty West Banquets, Willow Springs
ILLINOIS SEASONS
Saturday-next Sunday: South zone, youth turkey hunt
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
(Click here for general list of banquets and events)
PHEASANTS FOREVER
(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)
SHOWTIME
(Click here or the exhaustive list of shows, seminars, swap meets and auctions)