Sunday, May 10th, 2026
My Account

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Search
My Account
Sunday, May 10th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Subscribe to Outdoor News

Ralph Loos

New study shows fish spawning in Chicago River hits a high point

1 Comment / Discussions, Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

Crappies, bluegills and bass appear to be benefiting greatly from improved habitat and conditions in what was once considered the most polluted body of water in Illinois.
But those popular species aren’t alone. Austin Happel, a research biologist at Shedd Aquarium and author of a new study that looks at fish currently reproducing in the Chicago River, reported that at least two dozen species have successfully spawned in the urban waterway.

New study shows fish spawning in Chicago River hits a high point Read More »

Evergreen Lake’s saugeye continue to show growth in McLean County, Ill.

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

Regular anglers at Evergreen Lake are convinced the central Illinois body of water holds a new state record saugeye. The fact that the standing state record of 9.68 pounds was set in Evergreen 24 years ago lends to the notion it is destined for an updated title.
The largest saugeye ever collected by DNR weighed 10.6 pounds.

Evergreen Lake’s saugeye continue to show growth in McLean County, Ill. Read More »

Ralph Loos: New ‘rewilding’ law in Illinois an open invite for skeptics among us

Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Illinois, National Fishing, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

Anytime a missive begins “Illinois is the first state to . . .” or “Illinois has done what no other state has done . . .” most of us who’ve been around the block a few times here are naturally skeptical about what comes next.
That’s certainly the case with the new “rewilding” law that goes into effect on the first day of 2026. What is it? Tough to say, really. Using the term “rewilding” makes it sound like something those of us who support hunting, fishing and all things outdoors should celebrate.

Ralph Loos: New ‘rewilding’ law in Illinois an open invite for skeptics among us Read More »

Will Illinois join movement to restrict fishing technology?

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, News /

Moves by national organizations to address the use of technology in competitive fishing have yet to impact Illinois anglers, but DNR and the Illinois High School Association continue to monitor use of forward-facing sonar (FFS).
That’s a long way of saying, “There are no regulations – yet.”
Illinois has no statewide ban on FFS for recreational anglers, and the technology has been under review by DNR.

Will Illinois join movement to restrict fishing technology? Read More »

Illinois archers anticipating another good deer season; is a harvest record within reach?

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, National News, News /

Bow season opens on a Wednesday, making it fairly easy to predict a Day 1 harvest of 650 to 750 deer – give or take a hundred or so.
It’s a simple forecast to make based on hunter activity in past seasons. When Oct. 1 falls midweek, as it did in 2024 (a Tuesday), the harvest tends to be well below 1,000, while openers that hit on a weekend usually have hunters taking well over the 1,000 mark. Last season’s total archery harvest of 73,605 is expected to be in range for hunters, as the deer population remains steady. The record harvest of 75,106 set in 2020 is possible.

Illinois archers anticipating another good deer season; is a harvest record within reach? Read More »

Paddlefish sampled in Pool 20 of the Mississippi River navigated 380 miles, 6 lock and dams

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

A 33-pound paddlefish sampled by the Illinois River Biological Station crew on Pool 20 of the Mississippi River Aug. 18 came with a bonus.
It had a tag in its jaw. Specifically, the tag “DRFS 10856” had been placed on March 7, 2018 by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Paddlefish sampled in Pool 20 of the Mississippi River navigated 380 miles, 6 lock and dams Read More »

Growing crappies, 50-inch muskie boosts Kinkaid Lake’s popularity in southern Illinois

Illinois, Lake Profile, Lake Profile /

Crappies and muskies continue to boom at one of the state’s most scenic and productive lakes.
A 50-inch muskie hooked by an angler last May at Kinkaid Lake topped the list of fish on the 2024 Muskie Creel Survey results provided by DNR. Kinkaid dominated the list of muskies caught and reported last year, with a 48½-incher and 47½-incher also being caught at the southern Illinois lake.

Growing crappies, 50-inch muskie boosts Kinkaid Lake’s popularity in southern Illinois Read More »

Ralph Loos: No mystery anymore about where Illinois hunters, sharpshooters are killing deer

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Illinois, National Hunting, Opinion /

Keri Butt, who for many years wrote a deer hunting column for these pages – that is, until she went out and got herself a real job – liked to kick up debates with me by suggesting Illinois DNR’s sharpshooting program was nothing more than “hired hands picking off deer like they’re barnyard rats.”

Or something like that.
Keri had a lot of folks in her corner, too, some who liked to call me up right after deer season and lecture me themselves about, “all these DNR guys sitting in the woods shooting our deer out of season.”

Ralph Loos: No mystery anymore about where Illinois hunters, sharpshooters are killing deer Read More »

A day of sampling fish on the Mississippi River is an eye-opening experience

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, National Fishing, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News /

Fish smells gone wild and the baking August sun suddenly vanished when the unmistakable bill of a paddlefish surprisingly and seductively began bobbing up and down along the surface of Mississippi River Pool 20.
The fish’s body was unseen, but one thing was clear to fans of fish: the star of the show had taken the stage. By pure instinct, and with efficient zeal that had apparently rubbed off from the small team of professionals working at my side, I flung a dip net in the general direction, aware I had two seconds – maybe three – to capture the paddlefish before it swam off.

A day of sampling fish on the Mississippi River is an eye-opening experience Read More »

GET THE OUTDOOR NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

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)

Email Address(Required)
Password(Required)
Name
What outdoor activities interest you?(Required)

PLEASE READ

Accessing Your Full Subscription Just Got Easier. Introducing Single Sign On.

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Click Continue below.
  2. You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
  3. Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
  4. After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue.
  5. You’ll either:
    1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
    2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

One login. Every edition. Easy.

Let’s get you reading!

Continue...

PLEASE READ

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

• 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:

  1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
  2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

Continue...

Help Shape the Future of OutdoorNews.com!

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.

Take the Survey

Introducing The Outdoor News Foundation

Donate Today

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!

Sign Up Now

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.