The lakefront closure leads this update on access around Chicago outdoors, but there are other odds and ends, too.

Obviously the lakefront closure leads this update on access for Chicago outdoors, but there are other notes.

By Dale Bowman

How the start of the lakefront closure looked midmorning on March 26, 2020 from inside the entrance to Montrose Harbor. Provided photo — How the closure looked midmorning from inside the entrance to Montrose Harbor.

The big update today is the lockdown of the Chicago lakefront, which several people reported starting early this morning. A few anglers, not as many as yesterday, were on the lakefront fishing when the closure started.

Click here for more details from news side at the Sun-Times. This is more than an outdoors story and the news is building.

The Chicago Riverwalk, which had been open, is also closed. The launch at Cal Park, which was open yesterday, is now shut with the park closure.

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Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan just texted this update:

Notice for Waukegan Harbor this morning. Provided photo — Notice for Waukegan Harbor this morning.

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In Indiana, as of this morning, the Whihala ramp in Whiting, was open.

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In Wisconsin, where Gov. Tony Evers issued a “safer-at-home” order earlier this week, there were some questions on what that means in terms of turkey hunting and spring fishing, especially for Illinois residents headed north.

As with many things in the past two weeks, there is some ambiguity. Sarah Hoye, communications director for the Wisconsin DNR, sent this update:

All current regulations apply for hunting, trapping, and fishing seasons. As such, hunters, trappers, and anglers are encouraged to hunt, trap and fish in their communities. For example, anglers are encouraged to fish waterbodies in their communities. That said, this is a very fluid situation and all DNR operations are currently being evaluated. Distance is key during this public health emergency. Under the Safer at Home order, we must do all that we can to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Staying home as much as possible and limiting travel to your community is the best way to lower COVID-19 infection rates.

That “this is a very fluid situation” is the truth of the times.

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Chicago outdoors: Access updates, Chicago lakefront to some odds and ends

Obviously the lakefront closure leads this update on access for Chicago outdoors, but there are other notes.