WWW Chicago outdoors: Salmon to bucks

Lakefront salmon and buck hunting lead this Wild Weekend Wandering around Chicago outdoors, and around the Bank of American Chicago Marathon, which will dominate downtown Chicago on Sunday.

SALMON CLASSIC: On Sunday, Henry’s Sports & Bait holds its ninth annual Salmon Classic from 6-9 p.m. at Northerly Island. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. It’s always one of my favorite times and views of the city.

BOWHUNTING: The youth deer hunt is this weekend. There are some remaining over the counter permits. . . . The second most popular hunting in Illinois–bowhunting for deer–opened Monday. EHD and rapid crop harvest are the two wild cards this fall. Officials expect about the same harvest as the last few years. . . . I am already receiving enough nominations that I might start running Buck of the Week in October this year. Email them to straycasts@sbcglobal.net. . . . Bowhunting for turkeys is also underway.

SHORELINE SALMON: Reports are variable, not unlike the weather, but shoreline Chinook are in harbors, shorelines, streams and rivers in all four Lake Michigan states. A fresh batch appears to have come into Indiana and its streams the past few days. Mornings or evenings, as usual, have been better. Spoons–classics like K.O. Wobblers, Krocodiles, Cleos to new ones like Moonshine–have been good, but crankbaits are also doing well. Again, this is the best of of Chicago fishing this weekend.

COOLING LAKES: Tuesday is the last day for fishing at Braidwood, Mazonia and Heidecke. Oct. 14 is the final day at LaSalle, which is open only Wednesday through Sunday.

INDIANA STREAMS: Some fresh Chinook came, but there’s also steelhead, coho and even a few brown, especially in Trail and the Little Cal. Spinners have been best, but spawn and shrimp are working. The problem is the creeks are very low and clear, making fish spooky.

Click here for the Indiana DNR’s map of Trail Creek access.

DUCKS UNLIMITED BANQUETS: Lily-Cache Flyway holds its Saturday at White Fence Farms in Romeoville. Contact Jim Reszke, (630) 452-5991; or R.J. Stachnik, (708) 349-7176. . . . On Sunday, the Chain O’Lakes Bears Game Gun Bash is at the Chain O’Lakes State Park. Contact Vicki Mandurano, (847) 553-7565; Bill Beckmeyer, (630) 697-6533; or Frank Lemcke, (262) 909-6130.

DOVE HUNTING: Seeing very few in recent days. Dove hunting ended at most public sites last Sunday.

SQUIRREL HUNTING: Frosts should have helped lessen foliage and ground cover. However, most public sites are closed.

ARCHERY: Archery Bow Range Chicago offers instruction.

WISCONSIN FALL COLOR: If you are heading north to double up on fall colors in Wisconsin, this is the prime time in northern Wisconsin. Click here for the fall color report for Wisconsin.

RAIL HUNTING: Season is underway. But I will admit that I know no one who hunts them.

PADDLING: I will run this at least this week, maybe another..

Chicago River Canoe and Kayak holds many trips and outings, especially on the Chicago River. Click here or call (773) 704-2663.

Reed’s Canoe Trips offers rentals for the Kankakee River. I take them about once a year. I still need to do it this year. Click here.

On the lower Fox, Geneva Kayak Center’s Yorkville Outdoor Center has many options, including whitewater ones, but also simple tube rentals. Click here.

PERSONAL PICKS: I am covering the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, so my weekend is gone. . . . I may sneak over afterwards Sunday evening and see the Salmon Classic at Northerly Island. . . . Still pending on the very exciting change in my work life about which you may hear more very shortly. Heck, I want to know. . . . I can use some good suggestions for guests on my Outside radio show on WKCC-FM (91.1). I am enjoying pulling shows together. . . . Work nears the end on a writing project. Been saying that for too long without crossing the finish line.