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Steve Sarley

Steve Sarley: Jim Tostrud is an artist – on the water and on canvas

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, Opinion /

I know I have said this before, but I sure wish the state of Illinois would annex the part of Wisconsin south of Route 50.
Wow! I can hear those keyboards pounding away as Wisconsinites are writing hate mail to my editor right now. I am proposing this for purely selfish reasons. If we could annex the part of Wisconsin that contains Lake Geneva and Lake Delavan, I would never have to buy a Wisconsin fishing license again.

Steve Sarley: Jim Tostrud is an artist – on the water and on canvas Read More »

Steve Sarley: By the end of our fishing day, Seelhoff was true teammate

Featured, Features, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing /

In my last column, I was telling the tale about my initial entry into the world of tournament fishing. It was a PWT event on the Illinois River out of Spring Valley.
Do you know how embarrassing it is to head to the weigh-in with nary a fish in the livewell? I do. As a matter of fact, out of 165 boats, a mere seven could say they knew that feeling. Yes, 159 had caught fish and seven pairs of inept anglers scored a big fat goose egg for the day.

Steve Sarley: By the end of our fishing day, Seelhoff was true teammate Read More »

Steve Sarley: Tournament anglers have different styles – and tolerances

Featured, Features, Fishing, Illinois /

I still follow the comings and goings about the various professional fishing tournament trails. I have come to the realization that my tournament days have come to an end.
To be honest, my tournament days never really began. I have fished a number of bass and walleye tournaments as a co-angler. I have fished as a “celebrity” in some charity events. That is about the extent of my tournament career.

Steve Sarley: Tournament anglers have different styles – and tolerances Read More »

Steve Sarley: Options for Illinois anglers wanting to try fishing from a rental boat

Featured, Features, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing /

Many fishermen dream of owning their own boat and launching it on various waterways where they dream about fishing. Unfortunately, the skyrocketing cost of boats is putting them out of reach of many people.
A good alternative is to find a spot that offers boats for rent. Many forest preserves in northern Illinois rent boats to the public, but unfortunately, these watercraft have to be propelled by oars. There are a few places I know of that offer boats for rent that have motors and are located on very good fishing waters, too.

Steve Sarley: Options for Illinois anglers wanting to try fishing from a rental boat Read More »

Steve Sarley: Illinois Gov. Pritzker quiet on fishing licenses; Copi hunt continues

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, Opinion /

It’s time to clean up a couple of issues that I still have open and brewing.
Issue No. 1 – I am receiving mail from readers asking me whether or not I had received an answer from Gov. JB Pritzker in regard to my letter requesting he act on Stacy Green-Fenlon from Chicago’s Park Bait Shop request for a change in the law on getting a fishing license.

Steve Sarley: Illinois Gov. Pritzker quiet on fishing licenses; Copi hunt continues Read More »

Steve Sarley: A Copi dining update – but let me first share a story

Featured, Fishing, Illinois /

I have been accused of being a guy who doesn’t know the meaning of the phrase “let me make a long story short.” I tend to do the opposite. Here I go again.
The topic I want to address is Copi – which, as most of you know, is the name Illinois DNR gave to invasive carp as a way to market the fish to consumers. It’s been a few years, and we’ve all be wondering how that effort is going. First, let me share a story that kind of relates to Copi’s situation.

Steve Sarley: A Copi dining update – but let me first share a story Read More »

Steve Sarley: Illinois legislature will have to fix fishing license blockade

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, Opinion /

The issue of needing a social security number to go fishing legally in Illinois is something that can be quickly rectified.
As I mentioned in my last column, Stacey Greene-Fenlon from the Park Bait Shop on Montrose and the lakefront in the City of Chicago brought up the subject in a letter she sent to me. She also sent letters to her elected officials.

Steve Sarley: Illinois legislature will have to fix fishing license blockade Read More »

Steve Sarley: New ID law in Illinois has negative affect on fishing license sales

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, Opinion /

One reason that I love fishing more than any other sport is because fishing is free of entanglements with unions, attorneys, drug scandals and, most annoying of all, politics. Here at Outdoor News, we also work hard to steer clear of political beefs.
So I was surprised to get an email from a reader who is reporting that politics is raising its head into the world of fishing.

Steve Sarley: New ID law in Illinois has negative affect on fishing license sales Read More »

Steve Sarley: Forward-facing sonar is anglers’ personal choice, but not mine

Featured, Fishing, Illinois, National Fishing, Opinion /

I was watching the recent Bassmaster Classic that was being streamed live on the Internet. I called my wife over to my computer and asked her to take a look at the screen and tell me what she was watching.
Please realize that the only time my bride will look at fish on a screen is when somebody like Bobby Flay is poaching a grouper on the Food Network. She obliged me and came over to take a look.

Steve Sarley: Forward-facing sonar is anglers’ personal choice, but not mine Read More »

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