“This size structure provides quality bass fishing in a relatively small area, but because it is connected to the Des Plaines River fish may not remain as residents long enough to grow really big,” DNR noted in its report.
Bass fishing king at Illinois’ Des Plaines Lake in Cook County Read More »
Illinois angler Joe McNamara used a variety of skills to take top honors at the Bassmaster High School Combine on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama.
A junior at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, McNamara combined high scores in three challenges — Long-Distance Casting, Technical and Casting Accuracy — to finish as the Combine’s overall points winner (368 points), enough to take home the Overall Skills Competition trophy. McNamara also tied for the win in the Technical Challenge.
Illinois angler takes overall title at Bassmaster high school fishing combine Read More »
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 2317 into law on Aug. 15, essentially giving “lapsed” Illinois anglers a chance to get back into fishing at a bargain price.
It’s $5 for those who qualify. It’s also a one-time deal.
The legislation, filed by State Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, significantly reduces the license fee for fishing or spearing for anyone 26 years old and older.
Illinois law lowers cost of fishing license for new, ‘lapsed’ anglers Read More »
Copi from both the Mississippi River and Ohio River could soon be processed at a proposed fish plant to be built in southern Illinois.
Copi – the name given to Asian carp by the state last summer – would be processed in Alexander County on land currently owned by DNR. Two Rivers Fisheries, a western Kentucky company that launched operations across the Ohio River in 2012, is expected to purchase the parcel, which sits adjacent to Fort Defiance State Park and the city of Cairo.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois DNR, and the Chicago Park District this month released federally endangered piping plover chicks back into the wild at Lake Michigan’s Montrose Beach.
The July 13 release marked the first time piping plovers have been released outside the state of Michigan.
“Releasing captive reared piping plover chicks in new locations helps to encourage the population to spread throughout the Great Lakes Region,” said Armand Cann, a USFWS biologist. “It’s a strategy to reduce the extinction risk to the population.”
An endangered victory: Piping plovers released on Chicago lakefront Read More »
Days before commercial fishermen landed a 109-pound bighead carp on the Illinois River, Scott Battin broke two Illinois state bowfishing records – one that he himself had previously set.
On June 1, Battin was bowfishing on a private body of water in Logan County, Ill., when he arrowed the 50-pound silver carp, which was about seven pounds bigger than record silver he stuck in 2021. The next day, Battin was bowfishing in the same area when he lined up and shot a bighead carp weighing 92 pounds, 1.6 ounces.
Giant carp taken from Illinois waters showcase just how big these invasives can get Read More »
A spring fish kill along the Illinois banks of the Ohio River seems to have subsided, but not before alarming a number of anglers.
Thousands of dead fish floated down the Ohio back in May and into June, littering the riverbank. Turns out, it was a typical seasonal event unofficially referred to as “Gas Bubble Disease. While many sportfish fell victim to this year’s kill, there was a silver lining – literally.
Suddenly, 150 or so young bass fishermen up and down Illinois are glued to their cellphones – but it’s not Tik-Tok or YouTube they are scrolling through.
It’s the Weather Channel.
Seventy-five teams are set to compete in the Illinois High School bass fishing finals at Carlyle Lake, which has a history of rain, wind, and overall stormy weather during the May event.
High school bass fishing finals enter the spotlight in Illinois Read More »
For a lake of its size, Ramsey does get a good deal of fishing pressure – probably because it is located in the center of relatively small fishing lakes in the central part of the state.
Channel cats still second fiddle to bass at Ramsey Lake in Illinois Read More »
Sign up for the Outdoor News Weekly Newsletter and get 2 months of FREE access to OutdoorNews.com – packed with hunting, fishing, and conservation news. No Catch.
This offer includes digital access only (not the printed edition)
We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.
If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.
Let’s get you reading!
We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.
• Click Continue below.
• You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
• Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
• After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue. You’ll either:
If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.
We know you love the outdoors—now we want to make OutdoorNews.com the ultimate destination for all things hunting, fishing, and conservation.
Take our brief 3 minute survey to share your thoughts, and help us build the best outdoor website on the planet. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special offer!
Together, we can make OutdoorNews.com even better.
For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month!
Some restrictions apply. Not valid with other promotions. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. For more information see Terms and Conditions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Offer valid thru 3/31/23.
Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Click here to login.
