WWW Chicago outdoors: Morels, perch, and beyond

So why do I have a video of fizzing a fish to lead this Wild Weekend Wandering around Chicago outdoors?

Self, I’m glad I asked myself.

When the weather allows, and eventually it will, one of the most exciting bites in boat fishing around Chicago is in deep water for perch.

One of the problems with catching perch in 51 feet north of Gary Light or in 60 feet east of Waukegan (and that bite has to start soon) is the distended swim bladders of the fish.

As much as you might try reeling fish in slow, many still come up with distended bladders.

Last night one of the guys at Fish Tales Fishing Club reminded me of a good YouTube video of fizzing a bass. And I found it.

MORELS: It has to happen up here. Soon, if not already. I talked with Joe McFarland, co-author of Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois & Surrounding States, earlier this week.

He said, “Morel season is just winding down here [in southern Illinois]. But it’s been a heckuva season. I always say one can never have too much rain during morel season.”

I will look a bit over the weekend.

WILD ASPARAGUS: I tried quick looking the other day without success.

SMELTING: I think the end may be coming as the water finally begins to warm. But it has been a surprising year.

LAKEFRONT COHO: The bite by boaters around the Indiana state line has been wonderful. The problem has been the weather, which just sucks and has for a week. Basically only some of the big-boat charters have been able to get out. But as Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said, “The fish are there.”

HUNTING: Turkey hunting is underway in both the south and north zones. And I am starting to pick up some good stories. Used a couple of them for Sunday’s column. . . . Remember next Friday is the deadline for the first lottery for deer permits in Illinois.

PERSONAL PICKS: Kids are off today. If we get a window in the rain, there will be a hike. If only for my sanity. . . . I hope to sneak in some fishing just for myself this weekend. I had hoped to do the Kankakee, but I am not a big fan of fishing high dirty water. So Heidecke or Braidwood may be it. . . . On Saturday morning, I will be on Steve Sarley’s show talking about something a little different. The Outdoors Experience airs 8-9 a.m. Saturdays on WIND-AM (560). Or click here to listen shortly afterward to a podcast here. . . . As always, a fair amount of my spare time is spent working on “Outside,” the radio show Joel Greenberg and I are doing at 4:30 p.m. Mondays on WKCC-FM (91.1).