WWW Chicago outdoors: perch, ducks, more

It’s another Wild Weekend Wandering around Chicago outdoors with good variety, and good options.

The biggest is Monday when perch fishing reopens on the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan for those 16 and older. It has become the biggest fishing day in Chicago fishing.The scene above was of a smattering on reopening day three years when perch were tough.

Signs are better, at least as of today.

This morning, Mike Repa at Park Bait said they were catching them on “every cast” inside and outside Montrose Harbor. “We just need some people now,” he said.

They will come. Aug. 1 has evolved into the greatest fishing day in Chicago and thousands will be scattered along the Chicago lakefront.

There is hope that the weed beds off Navy Pier will also be productive, since some perch moved into Cal Harbor earlier this week.

WADING: Looking at the gauges, I think the options are down to the Kankakee.

BLIND DRAWS, ETC.: Ducks Unlimited holds various raffles at Oak Point State Park in Antioch beginning at 9 a.m. as part of Saturday’s state waterfowl blind draws. Contact Brad Metz at (847) 732-3825 or Jack Fields at (847) 274-3958. . . . Saturday is the draw for public waterfowl blinds at most northern sites: Chain O’ Lakes SP and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area; Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area; Kankakee River SP and Momence Wetlands; Mazonia SFWA; Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area; Sinnissippi Lake; and William Powers SRA. . . . Illinois River sites and other Downstate sites are Sunday.

NIZIOL PHOTO OP: Chauncey Niziol’s Great Outdoors–6-7 a.m. Saturdays on WMVP-AM (1000)–is offering a chance to win a Canadian fishing trip for two to Temple Bay Lodge from Mr & Mrs T Cocktail Mixes! By Sunday, submit a photo of yourself enjoying the great outdoors with Mr & Mrs T Cocktail Mixes or with a sign saying Mr and Mrs T Cocktail Mix to Niziol at chauncey@espnchicago.com. For rules, go to espnchicago.com/contest.

PADDLING: At 10 a.m. Saturday, Chicago River Canoe and Kayak holds its Pedal & Paddle, a 4.5-mile ride on the North Side and 4-mile paddle on the Chicago River. Make reservations at (773) 704-2663 or info@chicagoriverpaddle.com

DALEY DERBY: Some big perch are atop the leader board for July in the Richard J. Daley Sportfishing Derby. In July, the species are carp, catfish, coho, chinook, steelhead and perch (for those 15 and younger). Register fish at Henry’s Sports & Bait, Park Bait or Vet’s Bait. Go to henryssports.com or call (312) 225-8538.

ILLINOIS HUNTING: The big thing is squirrel hunting opens Monday. Regs are the same. The heat will likely limit effort.

ILLINOIS PERMITS: On Monday, online permit reservations for controlled pheasant hunting open at 8:30 a.m. Go to dnr.illinois.gov, click “Upland Game”, then “Controlled Pheasant Areas” . . . Also on Monday, applications begin for free upland game hunts. . . . On Tuesday, the phone-in period for free dove permits begins. . . . Also on Tuesday, archery deer, turkey and firearm youth deer permits are on sale over-the-counter.

ARCHERY: Archery Bow Range Chicago offers instruction.

PERSONAL PICKS: I should wade the Kankakee at least once. . . . On Monday, I will be perch fishing early. Just not sure where yet and whether shore or boat. . . . Much of Saturday will be helping the kids with 4H projects. . . . I suspect my morning for sneaking in squirrel hunting will be Tuesday, but Monday evening is a possibility. . . . Work continues on an ongoing writing project. . . . 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).