I’m gone fishin’, but there’s a wide variety once again on another Wild Weekend Wandering around Chicago outdoors.
I’m spending a few days trout fishing, turkey calling and hiking with my dad in the mountains outside of State College, Pa. Internet and cell connections are none, except for those times we crawl out of the mountain valleys.
LAKEFRONT SMALLMOUTH: Those would be my No. 1 aim, if I were around this weekend. The smallmouth are in on Chicago’s lakefront. Weather has been the limiting factor.
ASPARAGUS PICKING: This would be my No. 2 quest. So far, I have zero spears for the spring. But they are up.
MORELS: They are up. This has been my best spring for finding them. I have no idea why. But there should still be a couple weeks in northern Illinois.
SALT CREEK CLEANUP: The Salt Creek Watershed Network has a big Saturday planned with multiple events: LaGrange Park Salt Creek Clean Up, meet at 31st and LaGrange Road, 9 a.m.-noon. . . . “Canoe and Clean up on the Creek,” begins at 8 a.m. at Graue Mill parking lot, take-out at 17th Ave. by 11:30 a.m. Contact Stan Zarnowiecki, (708) 606-4148 . . . Katie Slivovsky, wildlife biologist and nature educator at the Chicago Children’s museum, gives a lecture/demo at Beemis North, 11 a.m.
DEER HUNTING NOTE: Today is the last day to apply for the first lottery, firearm/muzzleloader deer permits
SMELTING: Netting for smelt ends tonight tonight.
TURKEY HUNTING: the near record turkey hunting keeps going. The final south zone season ends next week.
DALEY DERBY: The ninth annual Richard J. Daley Sportfishing Derby starts Saturday and runs through Sept. 30. In May, the eligible species are perch and coho. Register fish at Henry’s, Park Bait and Vet’s. Go to henryssports.com. One of the twists this year is that perch will be open for those 15 and younger during the July closure.
CHICAGO RIVER PADDLING:The Skokie Lagoons launch site for Chicago River Canoe & Kayak is open daily beginnning this month. The Chicago launch at 3400 N. Rockwell is open weekends this month. Go to chicagoriverpaddle.com.
PERSONAL PICKS: Gone turkey hunting and trout fishing with my Dad. . . . I did the Waukegan perch thing on Wednesday and will play with lakefront smallmouth again next week. . . . And hopefully find some asparagus.
