Really big pike from Des Plaines River, sign of the times: Fish of the Week

Paul Buck of Palatine pulled his biggest northern pike — 40 inches, 20 pounds — last Wednesday from the Des Plaines River.

‘‘I’ve been fishing the Des Plaines River two to three times a week for the last four years and in that time have seen this river and the fish grow tremendously,’’ he emailed.

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and good stories around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays on the Sun-Times’ outdoors page. Submit nominations on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or by email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).