WWW Chicago outdoors: Decoys, flapjacks, morels

Variety–a decoy show, lakefront fishing, flapjacks for fish, and picking morels–packs this Wild Weekend Wanderings around Chicago outdoors.

Trying to rush around here to get out the door for the high school bass fishing.

DECOY SHOW: The National Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show is today and tomorrow–2-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday–at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. The feature this year is southern decoys. The second part of the Guyette & Schmidt Auction begins at 10 a.m. this morning. Click here for info or call (312) 337-7957

FLAPJACKS FOR FISHERIES: The Flapjacks for Fisheries charity event, sponsored by the Gary Borger chapter of Trout Unlimited, is 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. Breakfast only goes to 10 a.m. It’s at the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club in Wilmette. Tickets are $10 ($7 for 11 and younger). Contact Glenn Davis at gadavis38@comcast.net or (847) 772-9014.

LAKEFRONT SMALLMOUTH: The stories just keep piling up of big smallmouth. My favorite so far is of one “bigger than a sink” caught on the South Side, according to Mac at Mac’s Bait. I have not seen the photos yet. Hope to.

MORELS: They’re up. The rain should really help. Three days this week I picked morels. I am nearly to 20. I am really hope the rains makes them go nuts.

LAKE MICHIGAN PERCH: There’s been shoreline action at Montrose, but the big story is up at Waukegan for boaters, where Hans Johannsen weighed the second 2-pound perch of his life on Tuesday. There’s more hunting, but plenty of jumbos too, off Gary Light.

BOAT INSPECTION: Fish Tales Fishing Club and the United States Power Squadron are sponsoring a free boat inspection at Dicks Sporting Goods in Orland Park from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday.

TURKEY HUNTING: Illinois turkey hunting is near a record pace. The third season in the north and the fourth in the south run through Wednesday. I am curious whether the record pace continues with the weather forecast. At least I drew a fifth season permit a week or so ago.

ASPARAGUS: They’re up. George Benda said he found some in an area roughly in the south suburbs last weekend. I have not found any yet.

HIGH SCHOOL BASS FISHING: The sectionals for high school bass fishing are today. Weather looks a little dicey, but I think they will get them in.

ARCHERY: Chicago Bowhunters in Bolingbrook has a 3D shoot this weekend. Click here.

GREEN FAIR: The Green & Growing Fair is at Garfield Park Conservatory from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Click here or call (773) 638-1766.

PERSONAL PICKS: I’m covering high school bass fishing today. If everything goes right, I would like to play with lakefront smallmouth in between. . . . On Monday, I hope to get my time in for the monster perch at Waukegan. . . . I need to fit in the decoy show, but not sure how. Maybe Saturday. . . . Otherwise, I will continue the quest for more morels and my first asparagus spears.