Sunday, August 9th, 2026

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Sunday, August 9th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Ralph Loos

Lake Michigan stocking plan includes new ‘herd’ of cohos from Illinois

It’s a little like herding cattle, the annual roundup at the Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery in Mason County: Illinois DNR staff ease their way down holding pens, using panels to crowd the “herd” toward transport trucks for weighing and loading.
That’s a poor analogy, sure, but it may be the best way to describe what takes place at the hatchery before fish are relocated to lakes around the state. If you’ve ever hooked a salmon in Lake Michigan, odds are you can credit the “cowboys” – hatchery staff, that is – at Jake Wolf.

Lake Michigan stocking plan includes new ‘herd’ of cohos from Illinois Read More »

A life of fishing and teaching: Bob Kerans is the 2023 Illinois Outdoor News Person of the Year

You walk into the special room at Bob Kerans’ Decatur, Ill. home and you instantly recognize where those little “fishing kits” he creates and hands out to perspective fishermen are crafted and commingled.
The tools for assembling lures and flies are stationed and organized appropriately. Photographs, trophies, and mounted fish from adventures-past line the walls and fill the spaces – each piece a sort of inspiration for a man whose goal is no longer spending time on the water himself, but instead encouraging others to embrace rods, reels, hooks and, most importantly of all, time in the outdoors.

A life of fishing and teaching: Bob Kerans is the 2023 Illinois Outdoor News Person of the Year Read More »

Illinois DNR confirms new state record bowfishing freshwater drum

A 20.25-pound freshwater drum arrowed by an archer at Lake Sangchris this winter has been confirmed by DNR as a new bowfishing state record in Illinois.
Phillip Albert took the fish on Feb 20 at the Christian County lake, which produced the state record hook and line flathead catfish (81.45 pounds) back in 2015. For bowfishers, this is the first state record to come out of Sangchris. 

Illinois DNR confirms new state record bowfishing freshwater drum Read More »

Illinois spring fish surveys: DNR sampling results for crappies, muskies, and more

A flurry of Facebook posts by DNR’s Division of Fisheries summarizing spring sampling activities at lakes around Illinois has anglers dusting off tackle boxes, respooling reels and gassing up boats. Fox Chain O Lakes, Siloam Springs Lake, Heidecke Lake, Carlyle Lake and Pittsfield Lake have been in the proverbial spotlight.

Illinois spring fish surveys: DNR sampling results for crappies, muskies, and more Read More »

Deer lottery application deadline comes and goes in Illinois with no problems reported

The bug that bit the spring turkey application process back in November appears to not have an appetite for DNR’s online deer permitting system. Fingers crossed.
A first lottery application deadline for 2023 firearms and muzzleloader deer season permits came and went April 30 with no reports of  hunters running into any of the problems that hit turkey hunters as they applied for 2023 spring permits in the fall of 2022.

Deer lottery application deadline comes and goes in Illinois with no problems reported Read More »

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