Stray Casts

Chicago outdoors: Tinley Park leads Week 6

2012-02-09T14:07:19Z

With Illinois fisheries chief Debbie Bruce and IDNR director Marc Miller back to back on Saturday, the Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show keeps building a strong case as the top outdoor show around Chicago.

]]> I expect about 10 times more than the 16 who showed up to hear Miller at the Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show a couple weeks ago.

Bruce will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday with Miller following at 2:30.

The Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show is Saturday-Sunday at Tinley Park High School.

****

Safe ice or open water, the 52nd annual Chain O' Lakes Fishing Derby and Winter Festival, sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conservation Club, will go on Saturday and Sunday. It's headquartered at the Thirsty Turtle on Channel Lake.

Considering the cold over the next few days, the south end of Channel just might have fishable ice for the event But it goes on as an event either way.

There's some $5,000 worth of prizes and such.

****

The Henry Decoy Show is Sunday at the Henry-Senachwine High School.

There will be free appraisals (some beautiful old birds came in last year) by Rick Sandstrom of Midwest Decoy Collectors Association, Jon Deeter of Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter, and others.

REMAINING 2012 CHICAGO-AREA OUTDOOR SHOWS

Feb. 15-19: Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Feb. 17-26: Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds

Feb. 17-19: Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo, Indiana State Fairgrounds

Feb. 17-19: Our World-Underwater, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont,

Feb. 17-19: Rockford Boat, Fishing and Vacation Expo, Indoor Sports Center, Rockford

Feb. 25: Chicago Maritime Festival, Chicago History Museum

March 3: Illinois Smallmouth Alliance's Bronzeback Blowout, featuring kayak fisherman Drew Gregory, Elmhurst American Legion Hall,

March 3-4: Great Outdoors Expo, Woodstock North High School, Woodstock

March 3-4: Elmwood All Outdoors Show, Elmwood High School and Grade School

March 7-11: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wis.

March 9-11: Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.

March 10: Indoor Fishing Flea Market, Rolling Meadows High School

March 16-18: Lake Home & Cabin Show, Schaumburg Convention Center

March 18: Blue Island Firefighters Club's 46th annual Sport Show, 115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park. For tickets, call (708) 396-7072 or stop by Blue Island Fire Station No. 1.

March 23-25: Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic, Peoria Civic Center

Midwest Fishing Report: Spring signs & variable ice

2012-02-08T14:47:03Z

From spring coho beginning on southern Lake Michigan to extremely dangerous and variable ice conditions, there's a lot of seasonal notes for this Midwest Fishing Report.

]]> I also included updates on scheduled derby events and would highlight two fishing things: Milwaukee harbor for browns, and browns and coho beginning along southern Lake Michigan shoreline, both from shore in spots and by boat.

This is the extended online version of the MFR, which appears on the Sun-Times outdoors page on Wednesdays.

If you have suggestions, post in the comments section or let me know at straycasts@sbcglobal.net.

ICE DERBY NOTES

The 52nd annual Chain O' Lakes Fishing Derby and Winter Festival, sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conservation Club, is on for Saturday and Sunday. The headquarters, as usual are at the Thirsty Turtle on Channel Lake.

The Island Lake Lions Club's Ice Fishing Derby is postponed until Feb. 18.

AREA LAKES

Conditions are extremely variable from completely open water to patches of fishable ice north and west. Know what you're doing and use common sense. There will be some safe ice building through the weekend.

PUBLIC AREAS REGS: Ice fishing isn't permitted on the Chicago lagoons or the lakes of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Here are the other regulations. COOK FPD: Ice fish at your own risk (4 inches is recommended) on the designated ice-fishing lakes, same as last winter: Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South only, Bullfrog, Busse main and south (no north pool), Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee, Sag Quarry east and west, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum. DuPAGE FPD: Unless otherwise posted, it's ice fish at your own risk on forest preserve waters (4 inches of ice is recommended). Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale is closed to ice fishing (fluctuating levels). Late-night fishing is allowed at Deep Quarry Lake in Bartlett (fishermen must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m.) KANE FPD: Ice fishing, at your own risk, is permitted at Lake Patterson at Oakhurst in Aurora and the various ponds at Burnidge in Elgin. LAKE FPD: No sites are open yet, When ice fishing is permitted, the sites are Banana, Independence Grove south bay and Sterling, when the ice is uniformly 4.5 inches thick and the area is posted as safe for fishing. Call (847) 968-3235 or go to the ice fishing page at lcfpd.org. MAZONIA SFWA: Monster Lake is open year-round for open-water or ice fishing. All ice fishing is done at your own risk. McHENRY COUNTY CD: None are open yet for ice fishing. When ice fishing is permitted, it is 8 a.m. to sunset at the Fel-Pro RRR, the Hollows (Lake Atwood and West Lake), Lyons Prairie & Marsh (after bowhunting ends Jan. 15), Pleasant Valley, Rush Creek pond and Stickney Run pond, once signs are posted after 4 inches of ice are formed. Then it is at your own risk. SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Ice fish at your own risk on both lakes (Loon and Beaver). Use the east entrance.

AREA RIVERS

For an overview of nearby river conditions, click here.

BIG GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN

For guide Mike Norton's report, go to www.nortonsfishingandhuntingadventures.com, then click on fishing, then lake report.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN

From licensed guide and trapper Phil Schweik and guide Glenn Moberg of Hooksetters Guide Service:

(Head): Northern and panfish hitting hard, with walleye providing a very
good bite after dark; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of
Wisconsin's Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).
EDITOR'S NOTE: At the end of this report, see the information about a great
ice fishing tournament being held on Lake Wausau.

This past week has seen a drastic turn around in the perch bite in the
central Wisconsin area. We have been limiting out on very nice jumbo perch
on almost every trip - sometimes in less than a couple of hours. We are
fishing mud flats in 10 t o14 feet of water right on the bottom with
wigglers and rosie reds.

The northern pike bite has also been outstanding in the central Wisconsin
area. We have been catching on average 20 to 30 fish a day. Now most of
these northerns are in the 20 to 26 inch range but the action is about as
much fun as anyone can have. We have also been targeting some very nice
sized pike on other bodies of water but you won't get the quantity. The fish
on these lakes average over 30 inches and up to and over 40 inches. Most of
the pike are coming on large golden shiners set on tip -ups right above the
weeds in 6 to 8 feet of water. But we are also seeing a number of the
larger pike out roaming the sand flats in 10 to 15 feet of water adjacent
sharp break lines.

The panfish bite is about as good as it can get in the central Wisconsin
area, and we are catching very good numbers of bluegills and crappies to
create a sort of mixed-bag catch for the day. It is a lot of fun not
knowing what is going to take your bait next and it is very rewarding when
you feel the strike and your thinking 8 inch bluegill and a 13 inch crappie
comes flopping through the hole. We are using small ice jigs tipped with
waxies or spikes fishing weeds in 6 t o8 feet of water. But the key to our
success is to make sure that the tip of the jig hook is covered with bait.
If the hook point is exposed the fish are very reluctant to strike.

Walleye action is still an evening and early morning bite with some very
good action after dark in the central Wisconsin We have been fishing a
variety of lakes with both dark and clear water and it seem that the darker
the water the shallower we can fish. If we are in clear water we are
averaging 10 t o15 feet or deeper to find the fish and if we are in stained
water we are finding them in less than 6 feet of water. Most of our
walleyes are coming on small suckers or shiners that are set on tip-ups and
run about a foot off the bottom.

Trails End and Hooksetters Guide Service

1st annual ice fishing tournament.

Fish anywhere on Lake Wausau!

Headquarters:
Trails End Bar & Grill Located at: 3901 Sherman Rd. Wausau, WI 54401
Date: February 11th
Time: 7:00am until 5:00pm
Entry: $10.00 per person ? Purchase between now and the day of the
tournament at Trails End. Bar will open at 6:00 am on the day of the
tournament for registration.
To register fish: Bring them to Trails End Headquarters. Come by road or
water?. Fish must be at the Headquarters no later than 5:00 PM

There will be prizes awarded in the following categories:
Northern-Walleye-Crappie-Bluegill-Perch
There will be cash prizes for 1st through 3rd place. Prize amounts will be
determined by the amount of participants.
1st through 3rd place will be determined by the three largest fish brought
in by length in each division. In case of a tie the tie breaker will be
determined by weight. If there is still a tie the winner will be determined
by the first fish registered.

There will be food and drink specials all day long during tournament hours
at the bar. There will be several different raffles going on throughout the
day with lots and lots of great door prizes as well. Too many to give
details.

There will be FREE food for tournament participants after 5:00 pm ? and it's
good!

Mark your calendar for February 11th.
We will see you there.....
Any questions please call John: 715-370-3018

CHAIN O'LAKES AREA

Extremely dangerous ice conditions, a few local anglers are accessing small areas of their home lakes. By the weekend, more areas may be fishable. The south end of Channel might be fishable for bluegill for the 52nd annual NICC derby this weekend. Until unsafe ice, pike were outstanding as fish staged for the spawn. Some are fishing open water around the Route 12 bridge.

EARLY ACCESS:Here are early ice accesses. For T-Channel, park in back at Famous Freddie's--(847) 587 9677--then come in and eat. . . . On Channel, Chopper's Bar--(847) 838-1230--has relatively early access. Chopper's takes the $5 parking off if you order food. . . . Granny's--(847) 395-2328--at Spring Lake Marina has parking and takes the $5 off if you order food. Be careful, early ice is tricky there. . . . For Hermann's Lowlife Bar & Grill--(847) 639-9644--has $5 parking, wax worms, food and drink.

For more reports, see http://www.foxlakefishing.com/

More Chain info at www.foxwaterway.state.il.us.

COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS

BRAIDWOOD/MAZONIA:Both units at Mazonia are now open for fishing. Any ice fishing, if safe ice forms again this winter, is at your own risk. HEIDECKE: Closed for the season. LaSALLE: Closed for the season.

DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES AREA, WISCONSIN

Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle--(262) 245-6150--reported good bluegill, crappie and pike at the west end of Delavan; ice is building again though the middle is open from geese. Como has decent pike, 3-6 inches of ice. Turtle has perch on wigglers. Bluegill remain good on Pleasant.

DES PLAINES RIVER

Nick Doumel, VP of the Des Plaines River Anglers Association, sent this:

The typical cold water targets are happily feeding. If you are willing to get out with some live bait under a float you will be rewarded with some toothy critters. Look for slack water areas in deeper pools, especially at the end of a current run, as well as any seams. Pike seem to be stacked up waiting for easy meals to come to them and generally aren't willing to give chase to any lures. A few sauger and a stray walleye were found in the same conditions but much tighter to the seams than the pike.

DOWNSTATE NOTES

SPRING: Site super Stan Weimer said, ``Muskie guys are tearing them up. We are ice free as we speak [Tuesday afternoon].'' Call 309) 968-7135 to check on ice, if the forecast cold comes. POWERTON: Boat fishing reopens next Wednesday. Remember, there are no docks. Weimer said that catfish--channel, blue and flathead--have been good with some big fish being taken by shore fishermen. Site is open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. SHELBYVILLE: Guide Ken Wilsoniter of Lithia Guide Service reported limits on crappie, fishing live bait in 25-30 feet, down 15, on main lake points or channel breaks. Look for wind blowing bait in and gulls diving. A few walleye below the dam. EMIQUON: The 2012 permits are available at Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown. POWERTON: Shore fishing is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EVERGREEN: The 2012 permits are available here, too. Any updated fishing report from staff will be posted here.

FOX RIVER

For open water, I will rerun this from Ken Gortowski:

Don't forget for the rest of the winter to say that Float 'N Fly fishing is the deadliest cold water fishing technique out there. Slack areas near shore. Don't reel much. Let the fly cover the whole slack area.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Ed Mullady sent this:

With cooler weather, not too many fishing.
Good time to try for walleye, croppie or pike along the Kankakee.
Best along shorelines with fairly quiet water *bridge piers *mouths of ditches creeks on
favorite river live bait or artificials.
Should have more info for you soon. Rex Mullady and I will be at the Tinley Park High School Show Saturday and Sunday, and will enjoy talking to Kankakee River enthusiasts at
our display. It is a nice show.

Norm Minas sent this from Monday:

flow rate 7,300 cfs and dropping, visibility and water temps no change from yesterday. chillier today, knit hat, gloves, winter coat.

I decided to chase some pike than switch to bass so I went to a spot where it was possible to do both in a reasonable walk. It's a side channel of an island that makes a hard left after it comes over a broken dam. There is a small backwater type area off of it to the right. The local park district was draining a temporary skating rink via a large hose to the end of the backwater. It was shallow, lots of vegetative type stuff so I started tossing a fluke into the more open areas. Three decent pike grabbed it when I killed the fluke and let it sink by the veggies. I moved further down to where the veggies thinned out, there was a distinct mudline set up. The pike didn't want the fluke but three of them liked a husky jerk sitting still on the mudline.

No more fish down to where the current flow started so I took off the 6 inch wire leader and put the husky jerk back on. I snapped it down and let it drift on the seam, got two walleye and a white bass. I got two more walleye at the point where the side channel rejoined the river by using a slow steady retrieve.

Next up was a logjam surrounded by foam piles. I tossed a hollow soft plastic swim bait rigged on a swim bait hook . got two bass hanging tight to the wood.

Last stop was an area that has slower current between a water willow island and a bluff off the main river channel. I swam the soft plastic swim bait from one end to the other. I tried to keep it slightly above the bottom. Four more walleyes liked that approach.

LAKE ERIE: PORT CLINTON

For Ohio DNR report go to wildohio.com and or call (888) HOOKFISH.

LAKEFRONT

CHICAGO: Northeast winds are dirtying the water, but Henry's reported powerliners took some coho at Montrose Tuesday; there's been some browns at Diversey; and a few steelhead at the mouth of Montrose. Perch at Navy Pier have been in and out; good on Sunday, poor on Tuesday. Most consistent for perch remains in the river 92nd, 95th, 106th, etc.; even that can be variable. CHICAGO PIER PASSES: With little ice in the harbors, remember the $6 pier passes for select piers in the Chicago harbors are available at Henry's Sports & Bait. CHICAGO FISHERMAN'S PARKING: The fisherman's parking pass--$10 for two months and available at Henry's Sports & Bait--is needed to park south of the main building at Northerly Island. . . . That's the same pass good for the small fishermen's lots at Burnham and DuSable harbors.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Gene Dellinger at D&S Bait reported ice holding with some perch and pike on Waubesa; bluegills take sorting on Monona and Squaw bays; a few perch on Monona off Wild Haven; on Mendota, pike are being taken on the city shoreline, walleye on the bars, and perch by Second Point.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

EAGLE RIVER: Creative Brilliance sent this report for the Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, so keep that timing in mind:

(Head): Very good northern bite, with good action for panfish, and walleye
fair, in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

Ice thickness in the Eagle River area is running 12-14 inches. With slush
present on the lakes, travel is tough - -especially by foot. Use a
snowmobile, if possible. Motor vehicle travel is still not recommended.

Northern are putting on a very good all day bite in the Eagle River area.
Fish 12 feet of water or less on weed edges or in the weed beds themselves.
Use a medium shiner on a tip up, and set your bait just above the weeds.

Panfish (crappies, bluegills and perch) are locating in two areas in the
Eagle River area. Fish in and around the weeds in 12 feet of water or less,
or fish 15-30 feet of water over mud flats. Use a small jig tipped with a
waxie or crappie minnow. The perch will be tight to bottom, with the
crappies and bluegills suspending up and down the water column. Depth for
the crappies and bluegills is day dependent. One day they'll be up high, the
next day close to bottom. Fish all depths starting from the bottom and work
your way up until you hit them. Good all day bite.

Walleye action is fair in the Eagle River area. Fish 12 feet of water or
less outside weed edges. Use a small shiner under a tip up, or a jigging
spoon tipped with a minnow head. The walleye will be locating with a foot
off the bottom. Sunset provides the best bite.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance
interviews with Eagle River guides "Muskie Matt" of Wild Eagle Lodge,
"Ranger Rick" Krueger of Guide's Choice Pro Shop, and Mat Hegy).
Contact info for Eagle River:
* Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:
info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
* "Muskie Matt", 715-891-5980; e-mail: rfrgoutdoors@gmail.com
* Mat Hegy, 715-571-7544, e-mail: lunkerclunkerguideservice@yahoo.com
* Guide's Choice Pro Shop, guide/owner "Ranger Rick" Krueger 715-477-2248
* George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guides Association, 715-479-8804.
e-mail: fishing@eaglesportscenter.com

MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice of Kurt's Island Sport Shop sent this:

A super week of weather, plus a couple of big ice fishing derbies brought anglers out in droves. Someone should have told the fish! Temps in the high 30's to low 40's made for very comfortable anglers, but not great fishing. Still, results weren't terrible, it is the first week of February. High pressure didn't help and actually some fishing did improve.

Pike: Fair-Good. Been a good sport most of the winter. Fewer of the large fish of early January, but still enough action/eaters to keep flags flying. Shiners on tip-ups the standard. Jigging spoons (slender spoons, pimples) and jigging Rapalas also effective.

Perch: Fair-Good. Slower than usual for this time of year. Deep water perch tougher to locate. Wigglers on Hali jigs and #2 pimples over 15-20' mud. Red spikes also good bait. Up along weeds use a medium fathead on tip-downs.

Walleye: Fair-Good. Some surprisingly good reports. Walleye seem to be moving shallower during the warm spell. Fish 8-14' on suckers/shiners. One 26 1/2" caught on a crappie minnow and tip-down suspended 5' below ice for crappies. Weed edges were key this past weekend, could change with coming cold.

Bluegill: Fair-good. 8-12' weeds on #12 - #10 darts and tungsten jigs to get below smaller fish to target larger gills. Deep sandgrass flats holding gills on super clear lakes. Wigglers, spikes on larger jigs (#8) working best.

Crappies: Fair. Spotty catches at best. Deep mud/gravel edges of 22-28' producing on tip-downs baited with rosies. Weed fish taking plastics, waxies at times.

Largemouth Bass: Fair. Most action on tip-ups with shiners meant for pike.

The warm spell pushed snow down and seemed to have gotten rid of some slush. ATV travel is once again ok, little rough due to ruts, but snow depth is not bad. Even in a pick up the rides are rough now that things have firmed up so don't drive too fast.

We lost some ice this past week. Most lakes reporting 12 1/2" to 16". This coming week we could gain some with below zero overnight cold and highs in the teens.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

There's some real spring news here. Mik-Lurch reported trollers taking coho and browns out of Portage and in shallow sand off Ogden Dunes; some perch at the R4 near Portage; a few coho off the Michigan City piers.

ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN

A local reported boaters taking good steelhead in the river; shore guys, a few; some coho and whitefish off the St. Joe piers. Also true for New Buffalo.

SHABBONA LAKE

You can check updates on Facebook.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Milwaukee Harbor continues to be the hotspot for boaters catching nice browns, both trolling and casting.

WOLF LAKE

Mik-Lurch reported walleye improving at night in the corn channel.

LINES ONLINE

ILLINOIS

www.ifishillinois.org
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com

CHICAGO AREA CHAT/REPORTS

www.chicagolandfishing.com
www.chitown-angler.com
www.windycityfishing.com
Water Dog Journal
Fishing Headquarters
angling101.com
http://www.foxlakefishing.com/
www.heartlandoutdoorsman.com
www.patharrisonoutdoors.com

CHICAGO AREA INFO

Click here

DOWNSTATE

larrysfishinghole.com

MICHIGAN DNR REPORT

Click here

WISCONSIN DNR REPORT

Click here

IOWA DNR REPORT

Click here

INDIANA DNR REPORT

Click here

MIDWEST

www.lake-link.com

Stray Cast: James, Walton, Beane, Perry, Epstein, Lindner

2012-02-08T13:59:38Z

It only seems apt to run the Stray Cast here.

]]> After all, this Web log is named for the Stray Cast, which has snapped off the end of the outdoors column in the Sun-Times on Wednesdays since April 2, 2003.

Here's today's:

Bill James/Izaak Walton, Billy Beane/Buck Perry, Theo Epstein/Al Lindner? Things roll around my head like a loose split shot between the Big Game and ''pitchers/catchers report.''

Radio waves: Robert Shaw on Lincoln's landscapes

2012-02-06T12:40:26Z

Landscape photographer Robert Shaw discusses his latest book images in "Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way: The America Lincoln Knew" this afternoon on "Outside."

]]> I stretched out for this show. Shaw took the photographs for the book while famed Lincoln historian Michael Burlingame wrote the text.

The show may be a stretch for me and for "Outside,'' but it ties into the radically changing landscapes of Illinois and the United States, and ties into Lincoln's birthiday (the rebroadcast of "Outside" on Sunday will be on Lincoln's birthday).

There is a nice back story to the iconic cover image, too.

I loved Shaw's earlier books, too.

First was "Illinois--Seasons of Light," a book of Illinois landscapes, but also a study in light and dark.. It appealed to my arty side as much as my wild side.

That was followed by "Windy City Wild--Chicago's Natural Wonders," a book that strikes a lot of chords for those of us who wander around Chicago outdoors.

Go to his Wild Perceptions site for a glimpse of those books or to purchase them.

"Outside" airs from 4:30-5 p.m. Mondays on WKCC-FM (91.1) in Kankakee. Rebroadcasts of the show are at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Laurel Soper, the web tech and digital media person for KCC, has put together the podcast system here.

Otherwise, click here for online listening options.

The Facebook page for "Outside with Dale Bowman" is at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Outside-with-Dale-Bowman/241327739268720

Chicago outdoors: Shed hunting

2012-02-05T11:50:20Z

I don't know if it the lack of winter weather or what, but it seems like shed hunting is underway in earnest around the Chicago area earlier than normal.

]]> Tim and Tanja Eaker, a Lockport couple who are licensed falconers, were hunting near Joliet when Tim found this shed.

More sheds to come, I am certain, this month and next.

I made this Buck of the Week: Unplugged, the weekly celebration of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, today on the Sun-Times outdoors page. Not sure why the Field Notes have not been posting online.

My plan today is get in a little looking around myself before the Big Game.

Ramble with Storm: Geese, Yeats, muskrats, Revelation

2012-02-03T17:05:05Z

Mulling things on my morning ramble

with Storm, the family's mixed Lab.

]]> The unmistakable sound of ducks quacking, followed shortly by equally distinctive sound of their splashing takeout, wafted over the town pond this morning.

In the disorienting thick fog, it was eerie.

Walking with the meathead and suddenly being within feet of equally surprised Canada geese swimming by shore only enhanced the eeriness of the morning fog.

I heard mammals splashing. Hoping it was a beaver or, even better, an otter, I scanned the water closely, but only found two muskrats swimming. They made quick dives when they saw us.

Muskrats are rarely a factor in February rambles with Storm, because they are usually swimming under ice.

On the south end of the south pit, inside the shade parameters of shoreline trees, I discovered a patch of ice maybe two inches thick. Only it was obscured by a couple inches of water on top.

That was the only lingering hint of the winter that wasn't.

A Canada goose pair swam around the island on the south old clay pit. I suspect it is the pair that has nested there for years.

It seems early to be thinking of nesting. But then it is early for ducks to be on the town pond on open water, too.

Ice should be thick on the town pond by the first week of February.

But things are out of whack this winter. ``The centre cannot hold,'' to seize a line from Yeats' ``The Second Coming.''

It's a winter with apocalyptic undertones.

Too easily, I drift toward listening to the fringe who treat the Book of Revelation as Gospel.

WWW Chicago outdoors: Sheds & coho go

2012-02-03T12:36:58Z

At first a guttural noncommittal sound forms in my throat while I consider this Wild Weekend Wandering around Chicago outdoors, then I move higher and think shed hunting; then deeper and think coho.

]]> SHED HUNTING: It's shed hunting time. I wish I was as good at finding shed antlers as dedicated shed hunter Sean Hensley, who found these around New Year's Day in the south suburbs.

A friend of his, Cindy Gustafson, sent the photo and said, ``He found one right away and while looking for the second one, he found the skull of the big buck. It was only about 100 yards from his tree stand, probably died in the `blue tongue' outbreak we had last year. Then he found the second antler. Not a bad day.''

Other photos of successful shed hunters started coming in this week.

COHO IN INDIANA: One of the blessings of this mild winter is that the few guys who have their boats inside or haven't put them away have kept right on fishing on southern Lake Michigan.

So we have reports of coho--one of the early signs of the seasonal changes around Chicago fishing--much earlier than usual. A couple weeks ago, Mike Starcevich at Mik-Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet in Hammond reported the first smattering of coho catches at Michigan City.

Since then, Indiana fisheries biologist Brian Breidert said they caught a few in the harbor by Trail Creek, by the Ditch, outside of East Chicago Marina and in the shipping channel.

PERCH FISHING: Perch have picked up again, including some quality jumbos, this week around Montrose and Navy Pier. But others report a much tougher bite in the river by 92nd.

SHOWTIME: With the Big Game this weekend, there's only one outdoors show around Chicago outdoors.

Curt Samo, Jim Crowley, Mike Reynolds, Dan Basore, Dan Ihrke and the Shabbona Lake experts headline the Great Outdoors Fishing, Hunting, Boat, and RV Expo today through Sunday at the Best Western Timber Creek in Sandwich.

MUSKIE SEMINAR: On Saturday: muskie legends Jim Saric and Spence Petros do the first Time on the Water Outdoors Musky Academy from 10-a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Time on the Water Outdoors in Spring Valley. It's $25 in advance, $30 at the door, Click here or call (815) 663-1000.

ICE FISHING: There's still ice fishing going, especially in southern Wisconsin and north. A few minutes ago, Greg Dickson at Triangle Sports in Antioch said people were still getting out yesterday. But he said realistically, you're probably looking at Deep Lake, with Jack and Lydia's, or the south end of Rock Lake across the line in Wisconsin around the far north suburbs.

If you're going ice fishing at a time like this, you are probably good enough or risk-taking enough not to need any advice from me. All I will say is go enjoy and my hat is off. I like those who push the edges.

ARCHERY: Archery Bow Range Chicago offers instruction.

PERSONAL PICKS: I don't know what the family outing will be yet for the weekend, I am leaning toward a hike in an area with a shot of finding sheds. . . . There's part of me considering wandering around today and trying to pick off a cold water smallmouth or walleye from the Kankakee. See how my day shapes up. . . . I am still undecided on the Sandwich outdoors show. . . . I am back into the swing of my Outside radio show on WKCC-FM (91.1), for which I am soloing now. And I am enjoying pulling shows together. . . . And I am back to working on an ongoing writing project, but not as feverishly as I should be.

Midwest Fishing Report: Varied ice

2012-02-01T16:57:01Z

There are some hilarious reports on the extremely variable ice conditions, which obviously leads this Midwest Fishing Report.

]]> This is the extended online version of the MFR, which appears on the Sun-Times outdoors page on Wednesdays.

If you have suggestions, post in the comments section or let me know at straycasts@sbcglobal.net.

AREA LAKES

Conditions are extremely variable, there is no other way to put it. Safe ice is gone south of Chicago, while pockets of safe ice west and north may linger until the major cold snap next week. The forecast for next week seems to indicate conditions may firm up in time for batch of ice fishing events scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 11-12. We shall see.

PUBLIC AREAS REGS: Ice fishing isn't permitted on the Chicago lagoons or the lakes of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Here are the other regulations. COOK FPD: Ice fish at your own risk (4 inches is recommended) on the designated ice-fishing lakes, same as last winter: Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South only, Bullfrog, Busse main and south (no north pool), Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee, Sag Quarry east and west, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum. DuPAGE FPD: Unless otherwise posted, it's ice fish at your own risk on forest preserve waters (4 inches of ice is recommended). Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale is closed to ice fishing (fluctuating levels). Late-night fishing is allowed at Deep Quarry Lake in Bartlett (fishermen must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m.) KANE FPD: Ice fishing, at your own risk, is permitted at Lake Patterson at Oakhurst in Aurora and the various ponds at Burnidge in Elgin. LAKE FPD: No sites are open yet, When ice fishing is permitted, the sites are Banana, Independence Grove south bay and Sterling, when the ice is uniformly 4.5 inches thick and the area is posted as safe for fishing. Call (847) 968-3235 or go to the ice fishing page at lcfpd.org. MAZONIA SFWA: Monster Lake is open year-round for open-water or ice fishing. All ice fishing is done at your own risk. The other Mazonia units open after various hunting seasons. McHENRY COUNTY CD: None are open yet for ice fishing. When ice fishing is permitted, it is 8 a.m. to sunset at the Fel-Pro RRR, the Hollows (Lake Atwood and West Lake), Lyons Prairie & Marsh (after bowhunting ends Jan. 15), Pleasant Valley, Rush Creek pond and Stickney Run pond, once signs are posted after 4 inches of ice are formed. Then it is at your own risk. SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Ice fish at your own risk on both lakes (Loon and Beaver). Use the east entrance.

AREA RIVERS

For an overview of nearby river conditions, click here.

BIG GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN

For guide Mike Norton's report, go to www.nortonsfishingandhuntingadventures.com, then click on fishing, then lake report.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN

From licensed guide and trapper Phil Schweik and guide Glenn Moberg of Hooksetters Guide Service:

(Head): Crappie action has really picked up, with bluegills and northerns hitting well, and a great walleye night bite; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of Wisconsin's Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau). EDITOR'S NOTE: At the end of this report, see the information about a great ice fishing tournament being held on Lake Wausau.

Crappies are biting well in the central Wisconsin area, and just this past
week we have seen a very good increase in our catch rate. We have been
finding the crappies in about 12 to 16 feet of water suspended anywhere from
1 foot off the bottom to 6 feet off the bottom. The key to finding the
larger fish is to stay higher in the water column. You may catch more fish
near the bottom but the larger fish are usually holding higher. Small
minnows have been working well but I generally like to run a tiny jigging
spoon tipped with just a minnow head or a plastic wedge tail.

The bluegill bite has been very good this past week in the central Wisconsin
area. We have been seeing the best action early in the morning up to about
10:00 AM and then good action from about 3:00 PM until dark. The best baits
have been Northland Mud Bugs and Mooskas in yellow and orange. We have been
tipping them with waxies or spikes depending on what the day brings. For
the larger fish we have been using plastics like Shrimpo's and Rat Finkies,
or just tipping our regular jigs with wedge tails.

For you guys that don't want to mess around with the small stuff the
northern action in the central Wisconsin area has been pretty good. We
have been fishing in 4 to 10 feet of water along sharp break lines with good
timber on the bottom. Large golden shiners have been the bait of choice
when suspended about 1 to 3 feet off the bottom. For the best action
instead of running a steel leader we have been using a 14 to 17 pound
fluorocarbon leader. The clear leader helps give the bait more freedom to
move around and it is almost impossible to see and I really don't seem to
get many bite offs due to the strength of the fluorocarbon line..

Walleye activity has been very good especially in the evening in the central
Wisconsin area. . Small sucker minnows or golden shiners run on tip-ups has
been the best bait when suspended below a tip-up in shallow water.. We are
generally fishing less than 6 feet of water when targeting the walleyes and
keeping our bait right near the bottom.

Trails End and Hooksetters Guide Service

1st annual ice fishing tournament.

Fish anywhere on Lake Wausau!

Headquarters:
Trails End Bar & Grill Located at: 3901 Sherman Rd. Wausau, WI 54401
Date: February 11th
Time: 7:00am until 5:00pm
Entry: $10.00 per person ? Purchase between now and the day of the
tournament at Trails End. Bar will open at 6:00 am on the day of the
tournament for registration.
To register fish: Bring them to Trails End Headquarters. Come by road or
water?. Fish must be at the Headquarters no later than 5:00 PM

There will be prizes awarded in the following categories:
Northern-Walleye-Crappie-Bluegill-Perch
There will be cash prizes for 1st through 3rd place. Prize amounts will be
determined by the amount of participants.
1st through 3rd place will be determined by the three largest fish brought
in by length in each division. In case of a tie the tie breaker will be
determined by weight. If there is still a tie the winner will be determined
by the first fish registered.

There will be food and drink specials all day long during tournament hours
at the bar. There will be several different raffles going on throughout the
day with lots and lots of great door prizes as well. Too many to give
details.

There will be FREE food for tournament participants after 5:00 pm ? and it's
good!

Mark your calendar for February 11th.
We will see you there.....
Any questions please call John: 715-370-3018

CHAIN O'LAKES AREA

As of Tuesday, most lakes held some safe ice, but it is decreasing. There will be some areas on some lakes, especially on deeper, later freezing lakes, that will hold fishable ice through the warm up.

For more reports, see http://www.foxlakefishing.com/

More Chain info at www.foxwaterway.state.il.us.

COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS

BRAIDWOOD/MAZONIA:Both units at Mazonia are now open for fishing. Any ice fishing is at your own risk, and at a time like this, that truly has meaning. HEIDECKE: Closed for the season. LaSALLE: Closed for the season.

DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES AREA, WISCONSIN

On Geneva, Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle--(262) 245-6150--reported boaters went vertical jigging for lakers out of Fontana on Tuesday, while others were ice fishing on the east end of Geneva Bay. Gates said there is a 50-50 chance of having his small shanties on Delavan for the weekend, the problem will be shorelines giving way; as of Tuesday, there was 9-12 inches on the west end of Delavan and Monday was the best day of ice fishing for bluegill and crappie. Remember Lake Lawn Marina has $5 parking. Bluegill are good on Pleasant, which might have the best ice; Como ice may go the quickest.

DOWNSTATE NOTES

EMIQUON: The 2012 permits are available at Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown. POWERTON: Shore fishing is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EVERGREEN: The 2012 permits are available here, too. Any updated fishing report from staff will be posted here.

FOX RIVER

As to ice fishing Nielsen's Channel at Port Barrington, Arden Katz said on Sunday the front channel had 5 1/2 inches of ice (Hermann's reported still 5 inches on Tuesday); with 80 percent of the bluegill suspended halfway up or higher; best with spikes and ice jigs on 2-pound line. Conditions will be changing.

For open water, I will rerun this from Ken Gortowski:

Don't forget for the rest of the winter to say that Float 'N Fly fishing is the deadliest cold water fishing technique out there. Slack areas near shore. Don't reel much. Let the fly cover the whole slack area.

ILLINOIS RIVER

Time on the Water Outdoors in Spring Valley had so many sauger fishermen on Tuesday that they sold out of minnows and had to restock. The river is up slightly, but very manageable. As of Tuesday, launches were open.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Ed Mullady sent this, which includes some pretty good general mid-winter advice:

Very little fishing being done.
River very fishable now. Main active fish will include *Walleye on *jig and minnow *jointed or
double jointed plugs *Snagless Doctor Spoons.
Best areas include in IN & IL: Shorelines *logs in water *bridge piers.

Northern Pike good under these conditions on 4-6" minnows *#2, #3 Spinners *larger Doctor
Spoons. In both IN & IL Fish good up on flooded shorelines *mouths of bayous, ditches.

Croppie good in any bayou or backwater off the river in both IN and IL on *pinkie jigs *small white spinners *small spinnerbaits. Work brush piles near shore also.

A surprising account of January in review from Norm Minas:

not my best coldwater month on record. weird winter, less than stellar results, my fault. the fish know what they are doing in these unusal conditions but I haven't figured it out with any consistency.

2 out of 3 trips ran the skunk flag. 12 smallmouth, 2 walleye, 1 pike, 1 rock bass and 1 red horse sucker

rattlebaits, crankbaits, singlespins, jig/pig and weighted keeper/3 inch cigar worm

inflows and seams best bets.

LAKE ERIE: PORT CLINTON

For Ohio DNR report go to wildohio.com and or call (888) HOOKFISH.

LAKEFRONT

CHICAGO: Spring signs: Powerliners are trying for trout and coho at Montrose. Henry's reported perch picking up again at Navy Pier; reports from the river at 92nd and 95th are variable. NORTH POINT/WAUKEGAN: On Tuesday, Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop reported some ice fishing at North Point, while some were going to launch from Waukegan for steelhead. CHICAGO PIER PASSES: With little ice in the harbors, remember the $6 pier passes for select piers in the Chicago harbors are available at Henry's Sports & Bait. CHICAGO FISHERMAN'S PARKING: The fisherman's parking pass--$10 for two months and available at Henry's Sports & Bait--is needed to park south of the main building at Northerly Island. . . . That's the same pass good for the small fishermen's lots at Burnham and DuSable harbors.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Gene Dellinger at D&S Bait reported ice holding as of Tuesday, but there may be trouble spots by the weekend. Most interest is perch on Mendota, Monona and Waubesa; bluegill take sorting.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

EAGLE RIVER: Creative Brilliance sent this report for the Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, so keep that timing in mind:

(Head): Very good to excellent action for crappies, bluegills and perch, with the northern bite good, and walleye fair, all in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

Ice is 12 inches plus in the Eagle River area. There's about a foot of snow
on the ice, and areas of slush, which makes foot travel difficult. Use an
ATV or snowmobile. There are mixed opinions from guides about using motor
vehicles. The ice is still too "iffy" according to some, to use motor
vehicles. Caution is a definite "must do" - -and if there is any even
slight question ,do not take any chances which will compromise your safety.

Panfish ? crappies, bluegills and perch - -are putting on a good to
excellent bite in the Eagle River area. The panfish have moved deeper.
Fish 15-30 of water. The perch will be tight to bottom, with the crappies
and bluegills suspending up and down the water column. Start at the bottom
and work your way up. Use a small jig tipped with a waxie or spike, or a
small crappie minnows on a bare hook.

Northern action is good in the Eagle River area. Fish 10 feet of water or
less in and around the weeds, with the weed edges best. Use a medium shiner
under a tip up, setting the minnow a foot above the weeds. A sucker minnow
will also work, but shiners are best.

The walleye bite in the Eagle River area is fair. Fish 15 feet of water or
less outside weed edges. Use a small shiner on a tip up, or jig with a
small spoon tipped with a minnow head.
Best action comes when you start fishing about an hour before sunset.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance
interviews with Eagle River guides "Muskie Matt" of Wild Eagle Lodge,
"Ranger Rick" Krueger of Guide's Choice Pro Shop, and Mat Hegy).
Contact info for Eagle River:
* Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:
info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
* "Muskie Matt", 715-891-5980; e-mail: rfrgoutdoors@gmail.com
* Mat Hegy, 715-571-7544, e-mail: lunkerclunkerguideservice@yahoo.com
* Guide's Choice Pro Shop, guide/owner "Ranger Rick" Krueger 715-477-2248
* George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guides Association, 715-479-8804.
e-mail: fishing@eaglesportscenter.com

MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice of Kurt's Island Sport Shop sent this:

Change on the ice has happened quickly. Travel and access conditions have changed from very good to poor in the past week. Either 15-17" of ice isn't enough to support the fresh 6-10" of snow we got, or they just ain't making ice like they used to.

Slush is bad. Some areas it's 6-8" or better. Snow drifts on the lakes, plus the slush are almost putting an end to ATV travel on the lakes for now. A few high traffic areas (Stacks Bay, south end of Big Arb ect.) are packed down and not as bad, otherwise it looks like truck travel is your best option.

With mobility being a bit more limited, reports were fewer as anglers had tougher times fishing some lakes.

Pike: Fair-good. Action on tip-ups with shiners in 7-12' of weed edges best. Average size down from beginning of January. More of the 20-24" variety.

Bluegills: Fair-good. Weed action fair along bays of 6-10'. Small #12-#14 jigs tipped with single spike on light 2# test best. Deep water gills, use tungsten jigs over 17-22' sandgrass. These fish seem to be more aggressive and put on a better bite.

Perch: Fair-poor. Bite slow. Tough time covering flats due to slush. Seems right now shallow weed perch a bit better bet than deep mud perch. Wigglers still a good bet, but weed fish taking small minnows best.

Walleye: Fair-poor. Windows seem shorter. Some anglers reporting action on suckers over deep bars/humps in 18-32' after dark.

Crappies: Poor. High winds Saturday, then high skies Sunday made for slow action. Look deep at this time of year. Work transition zones in 18-28'. Rosie reds on tip-downs (when applicable) or below floats best, usually 2-3' off bottom.

Maybe it's the mid winter blahs, the troublesome slush or we were just spoiled by the December and early January fishing. The blanket of snow reducing light penetration which in turn cuts back on oxygen production could be it. Either way fish have slowed. The deep perch bites should start picking up and thank goodness that the weather has been tolerable enough to keep the pike flipping flags.

Use trucks when you can for travel, carry a shovel, tow strap and knee high boots. Hopefully a warm up followed by a cold snap can firm things up.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Capt. Ralph Steiger caught a few browns in the shipping channel on Tuesday, while the guys at Mik-Lurch said two guys steelhead fishing at Michigan City caught some coho.

ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN

Tyler Harmon messaged:

Ice ended up staying good all last week. As long as its cold at night no reason it shouldn't stay alright this week as well. Pike action has been good, and gills have been doing alright as well.

SHABBONA LAKE

Denny Sands at Lakeside reported guys ice fishing Tuesday in the road bed and deep trees, that's not going to last. Rockfest scheduled for Saturday is cancelled.

You can check updates on Facebook.

LINES ONLINE

ILLINOIS

www.ifishillinois.org
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com

CHICAGO AREA CHAT/REPORTS

CHICAGO AREA INFO

Click here

DOWNSTATE

larrysfishinghole.com

MICHIGAN DNR REPORT

Click here

WISCONSIN DNR REPORT

Click here

IOWA DNR REPORT

Click here

INDIANA DNR REPORT

Click here

MIDWEST

www.lake-link.com

Chicago fishing: Fish of the Week

2012-02-01T04:33:58Z

Click here for the FOTW, a very pale brown trout caught by Jeff Nolan near the Sun-Times offices on the Chicago River.

]]> Email nominations for FOTW, the weekly celebration of big fish around Chicago fishing, to straycasts@sbcglobal.net.

Stray Cast: Johnny B, muskie & perch

2012-02-01T04:32:59Z

It only seems apt to run the Stray Cast here.

]]> After all, this Web log is named for the Stray Cast, which has snapped off the end of the outdoors column in the Sun-Times on Wednesdays since April 2, 2003.

Here's today's:

Though Johnny B was lured back to Chicago radio by the Evil Empire, at least he knows Sun-Times stories are what people actually consume. Sort of like finding a muskie guy perch-fishing at Navy Pier.

Chicago fishing: Don Dubin to Muskies Inc. Hall of Fame

2012-01-30T12:14:50Z

Don Dubin is going into the Muskies Inc. Hall of Fame.

]]> I got the word yesterday that the Lincolnwood man received his latest honor.

It's another deserving one for a man involved early on in salmon and muskie introductions in Illinois.

Don is a man of many interests in fishing, including his world-class wood carvings.

Yes, I kinow that is not a muskie above, but a bluegill. I couldn't find any muskie related photos in my files with Don.

I think the formal honoring of him will be done at the Feb. 14 meeting of the Chicagoland Muskie Hunters chapter of Muskies Inc.

More on that when the official word comes.

Radio waves: Bob Bluett on river otters & bobcats

2012-01-30T11:54:27Z

Wildlife biologist Bob Bluett talks about the resurgence of river otters and bobcats in Illinois this afternoon on "Outside,"

]]> River otters were reintroduced, beginning in 1994, and have made a stunning comeback in Illinois, making it into every watershed in the state including the Chicago River.

Bobcats have been ebounding in populations on their own.

Loved the theory why they appeared to comeback so strong in the Shawnee National Forest.

"Outside" airs from 4:30-5 p.m. Mondays on WKCC-FM (91.1) in Kankakee. Rebroadcasts of the show are at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Laurel Soper, the web tech and digital media person for KCC, has put together the podcast system here.

Otherwise, click here for online listening options.

The Facebook page for "Outside with Dale Bowman" is at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Outside-with-Dale-Bowman/241327739268720

Chicago outdoors: Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show

2012-01-29T12:38:50Z

Putting down some show notes from Saturday, my second day, at the Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show.

]]> Yes, there were people. I left about 4 p.m. Saturday. Up until then, it had been a steady stream, most concentrated in the opening few hours.

The show runs through today at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

In my column today in the Sun-Times, I used the word buzz. And there was that buzz or hum of a good show. A buddy, who tends to be crotchety, used the word "vibrant."

It's a show smaller than previous ones, but better laid out and with the feel of a real live show.

Highlights included Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle showing up in the afternoon for the official release of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County's new and revamped Fishing Guide.

That fishing guide is something wonderful, and the fisheries deserve a lot of credit. For that matter,so does Preckwinkle. I don't ever remember a Cook County board president showing up at the Rosemont Show, but maybe my memory is faulty.

Nick Tassoni--the 15-year-old who caught the Illinois-record walleye (14.75 pounds) from the Pecatonice River on Jan. 7--did a solid job in his first appearance as a speaker.

The crowd for him, a couple dozen, was less than I expected. The real disappointing crowd was to hear IDNR director Marc Miller discuss something really important, the state of the IDNR finances.

But overall, it felt like a live show, a real show.

Nice to bump into people as varied as "Green Acres Mike," even if his lunch spread had already been consumed, Spence Petros, Jeff Nolan of Bridgeport Bass, and tons of failthful readers who stopped by the Heartland Outdoors booth to chat.

It was a day to hear and tell stories.

I was glad to be there both days.

It's a good foundation for the new owners to build and expand from.

Chicago outdoors: Cooked goose on JaytheJoke.com

2012-01-27T17:38:40Z

Waiting for a day like today to point out I made the lead recipe for the second time in the thiree years of the Jay The Joke Holiday Cookbook.

]]> The honor came from experimenting with the breasts of this Canada goose, shot on opening day with guide Jeff Norris in the western suburbs.

I ended up calling the recipe, ``HOLIDAY-FLAVORED BONE-IN WILD GOOSE BREAST.''

Yes, I do enjoy cooking. It's one of the great extensions of the outdoors.

Actually, I think Bill McCormick, the brains behind JaytheJoke.com, just likes the idea that I submit wild fowl recipes. It's something different.

The first year, I submitted my favorite recipe for grilling dove breasts.

BTW, if you're a Chicago sports fan, JaytheJoke.com is a lot of fun.

Chicago outdoors: Showtime, a Rosemont debut

2012-01-26T15:59:58Z

I am about out the door for the second biggest weekend of outdoors shows this winter.

]]> I am anxious to see what the Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show brings to Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Brody the Bear in the YouTube video above is one the show's family draws.

COSS opens at 2 p.m. today and runs through Sunday. I plan to be there for the opening to see how things look, then again for a good chunk of Saturday.

Saturday looks to be the big day with a campfire chat with IDNR director Marc Miller at 12:15 p.m.; then Nick Tassoni talking about his Illinois-record walleye at 3 p.m.

Another highlight should be Spence Petros speaking on catching more panfish at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, then followed by his friend ``Green Acres Mike'' on cooking panfish.

Strictly Sail Chicago runs through Sunday at Navy Pier. The highlight is largest yacht displayed indoors at a U.S. boat show, the 86-foot flagship of Pinnacle Yachts.

Downstate, the Illinois Fish & Feather Expo is Friday through Sunday at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. The headliner is Steve Welch on crappie fishing.

The Hammond Outdoor Sports Show is Saturday and Sunday at the Jean Shepherd Community Center in Hammond, Ind.

This is the best show for a focus on local interest. I am glad that Jim Sajdyk brought Mike Norris back. Norris will speak daily at 10:30 a.m. on grand slam fishing for bass, pike, trout and walleye.

This is a good family show with minnow races, a catch-and-release trout pond and Capt. Ralph Steiger teaching kids fishing at 11 a.m. daily.

I plan to visit the show on Sunday.

REMAINING 2012 CHICAGO-AREA OUTDOOR SHOWS

Feb. 3-5: Great Outdoors Fishing, Hunting, Boat, and RV Expo, Best Western Timber Creek, Sandwich

Feb. 11-12: Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show, Tinley Park High School

Feb. 12: Henry Decoy Show, Henry-Senachwine High School

Feb. 15-19: Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Feb. 17-26: Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds

Feb. 17-19: Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo, Indiana State Fairgrounds

Feb. 17-19: Our World-Underwater, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont,

Feb. 17-19: Rockford Boat, Fishing and Vacation Expo, Indoor Sports Center, Rockford

Feb. 25: Chicago Maritime Festival, Chicago History Museum

March 3-4: Great Outdoors Expo, Woodstock North High School, Woodstock

March 3-4: Elmwood All Outdoors Show, Elmwood High School and Grade School

March 7-11: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wis.

March 9-11: Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.

March 10: Indoor Fishing Flea Market, Rolling Meadows High School

March 16-18: Lake Home & Cabin Show, Schaumburg Convention Center

March 23-25: Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic, Peoria Civic Center