One of the few groups out on opening night, April 1, for smelt netting last year.
Dale Bowman
Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
DALE’S MAILBAG
“Lake temps at magic 42 degrees. Any ideas if smelt will run soon, or will this be another season of a poor catch? Faithful reader on Tuesday
A: I would be absolutely stunned if it is a good season, especially considering the water is going to be much warmer than prime by April 1. And history strongly indicates a weak season.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Jeff Tubacki emailed, “Was walking with my wife and son last December at the I&M canal in Lemont by the Forge when I noticed this bird nest.” It used a lot of fishing line. “And yes, I do discard my line (and others) properly,” he added. “But left this nest alone.”
WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
April 6-7: Morris, ronsen@sheriff1.com or (815) 942-6645
April 13-14: Ingleside, s.frey2008@yahoo.com
April 27-28: Diamond, (815) 907-7345
Full state listing at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Next Saturday, March 16: Boat America, Fox Lake, Winston Tumaneng, jugodan52@aol.com
Next Saturday, Marc 16: Boat America, Darryl Joseph Haefner, jlyrrad@comcast.net
WILLOW SLOUGH
Wednesday, March 13: Meeting to wrap up renovation at Willow Slough FWA, Newton County Government Center, 4117 S 240 W, Morocco, Indiana 47963, 6:30 p.m.
FOX WATERWAY AGENCY
Wednesday, March 13: Stakeholders meeting, Fox Waterway Agency, 45 S Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, 60020, 2 p.m. or 7 p.m., details on registering are here
SHOWTIME
Today, March 9: Fish & Hook Sports Show, VFW Post 5788, Lockport
Through Sunday, March 10: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wis.
Through Sunday, March 10: Illinois Deer Classic, Peoria Civic Center
Through Sunday, March 10: Rockford RV, Camping & Travel Show, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park
Through Sunday, March 10: Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
Through Sunday, March 10: Ultimate Sports Show, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Thursday, March 14, to March 17: Illinois Taxidermist Association convention, Northfield Inn & Suites, Springfield
Click here for the complete list of show, outdoors classes, swap meets and major ice-fishing events.
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday, March 12: Phil Gutman, “Changes in muskie world in recent years,” Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies, Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 12: Capt. Dion Perry, of the Rainmaker out of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Salmon Unlimited, Thornwood Restaurant & Lounge, Wood Dale, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13: Dustin ‘Dusty Yakker’ Murguia, tournament kayak angler, “Pre-Spawn Patterns for Geneva Smallmouth,” Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Poplar Creek Bowl, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 14: Biologist Andrew Plauck, Riverside Fishing Club, Berwyn Moose Lodge 424, 6:45 p.m.
ILLINOIS PERMITS
Tuesday, March 12: Over-the-county permits, spring turkey, begin