An osprey plunged and seized a decent-sized fish — a smallmouth bass, I think — from the Kankakee River as Matt Mullady and I fished downstream through Bourbonnais 12 years ago.
‘‘Notice they carry the fish aerodynamically,’’ he said. ‘‘Eagles are stupid. They carry the fish sideways.’’
Fishing is why Mullady will be part of the 2024 induction class at the Illinois Conservation Foundation’s Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame gala March 13 in Glen Ellyn. But it’s his general outdoors awareness that I most appreciate.
Mullady will make history as the son of the first father/son in the Hall. The late Ed Mullady was in the 2011 class.
Mullady’s tangential outdoor interests set him apart. While fishing with him, I’ve received lessons in grosbeaks and winter robins. He makes homemade lures. He creates unique outdoor art well enough that they have market value.
Mullady gave seminars to thousands — by himself and with his dad — about fishing the Kankakee River basin. He is a former guide who showed hundreds, including me, how to fish the Kankakee River and other basin waters.
Brian Athern and his brother have learned much since beginning to fish with Mullady around 1995 or 1996.
‘‘From the moment we got on his boat, we knew two absolutes: One, he was a teacher and was able to articulate what he was seeing compared to his two young rookies,’’ Athern texted. ‘‘The second was [to] never be late meeting your guide because it pisses them off.
‘‘But besides the years of experience, knowledge, bait selection and patterns on the Kankakee River, it was his passion to show us the resource. We listened to what an incredible gem the river was and why it’s worth protecting. . . . He’s straightforward and loves what he’s doing.’’
Beyond fishing, Mullady organized a youth hunting program, long advocated for conservation and was a longtime member of the Kankakee Valley Park District board.
Larry Green, the founder of the Humboldt Park Fishing Society, messaged that meeting Mullady changed his life.
‘‘At that moment, I had met my educator,’’ Green messaged. ‘‘He knew the ups and downs of the river. The river was low that year. He put us in a johnboat and on a hot, sunny day poled us up and down the river. Such dedication to a client and such physical work to please us and put us on fish.
‘‘But most important, I met a friend. He taught me what his family had created for decades . . . and [I made] a lifelong fishing buddy. [He was] a community leader, a family man, athlete and conservation activist. We went on adventures and experimented with techniques and fished many locations. His loyalty and passion for the Kankakee River surpasses no other. He is the smallmouth [bass] king and master of river knowledge.’’
In memory
Frank Loye died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was the pillar of the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc. and had stepped down as president in December.
Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hitzeman Funeral Home in Brookfield. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Louise de Marillac Church in La Grange Park.
Stray cast
The way calls go for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, playing football must feel like fishing a trout pond.
