The year 2023 came to an end and it left some bad news for northern Illinois fishermen. I was stunned to learn that my friend, Ken Abraham, passed away.
I’m not trying to claim Ken as an exclusive friend, because he was truly a friend to everyone. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would say a bad word about Kenny.
Illinois anglers lose a good friend in Ken Abraham Read More »
I fondly recall the “good old days” of my youth, when one of the highlights of the year was attending the huge outdoors show that was held annually at the International Amphitheater on Chicago’s south side.
It was a phenomenal exhibit of all things fishing, filling the hall with booth after booth. The host and emcee for the event was John Bromfield. Bromfield was a movie and television cowboy who rode into the show’s hall on his white stallion, wearing a white cowboy hat.
Steve Sarley: Outdoor shows in Illinois still lure us; here are some to consider Read More »
It sure looks to me that we will have some quality ice fishing shortly. I’ll be totally honest with you by saying that I don’t ice fish all that much, at least not as much as I ought to.
When I meet and question folks who do not ice fish, the answer I usually hear is that it is too cold. Northern Illinois? Too cold? I am shocked to hear that. Who’d have thunk it?
Little fishing pressure an upside to hitting the ice in Illinois Read More »
Buffalo Grove’s Orrin Brand has passed away at the age of 79. Illinois fishermen are more familiar with the other name that Brand used – Mike Jackson.
Jackson once told me that he elected to call himself “Mike Jackson” because he felt that the Jackson name sounded more masculine and fit his outdoor writer persona better.
Remembering Mike Jackson, a ‘one of a kind’ angler, communicator in Illinois Read More »
The Oct. 31 passing of Marengo’s Herb Franks was covered widely in local media. I’m sure you’ve seen it. I don’t want to be repetitive, but there are a few things I’d like to mention.
Herb was an extremely close friend. He was famous for his work as an attorney, as a visionary, as a businessman, a Democratic politician, and for simply being a wonderful human being. Oh, by the way, Herb loved fishing.
Marengo’s Herb Franks an Illinois angler to remember Read More »
By the time you are reading this, November will have arrived. The month usually sees our temps plummeting below freezing on a regular basis. Snow is always a possibility, along with sleet, hail, cold rains, and any other surprises that good old Mother Nature has in store for us. It’s no wonder that many people detest the upcoming winter season.
Don’t just moan about the weather, find something to enjoy. There are plenty of activities available.
Illinois’ November chill ideal for some fishing, too Read More »
I was once fishing for muskies with Spence Petros when he showed me a rod he had rigged up with an 8-inch Lindy Tiger Tube. It’s a soft plastic lure that has a huge treble hook molded inside the bait. The end of the lure has a bunch of soft wiggly tentacles that attract fish.
He laid the rod with the Tiger Tube down and said to pick it up and flip the tube into the water if I saw a muskie following one of our presentations to the boat. He said the Tiger Tube was the best throw-back bait any muskie fisherman could possibly use.
Just one lure to save your life: What would you choose? Read More »
It’s human nature to want to check out new places, and this is particularly true in the sport of fishing. Have you ever slapped your forehead in wonder when you saw an angler “leave fish to find fish?” There are fishermen who are catching fish and suddenly motor off to a new spot because they think it will hold fish that will bite faster, or be bigger, than the ones they are currently catching. It usually doesn’t work that way.
I think this wanderlust hits us far too often here in the Land of Lincoln.
There are certainly many monsters among us in Illinois waters Read More »
I’ve made plenty of mistakes during my career as a fisherman. It’s not easy to admit to being wrong about anything, but I’m a stand-up guy and I’ll suffer any slings and arrows I receive for admitting to some of my major goof-ups. I gave up thinking I was perfect a long time ago and I must admit that I don’t even aspire to achieve perfection anymore. Pretty good is about the best grade I can ever give myself.
Most of the mistakes I make are avoidable. Whether due to laziness, lack of knowledge or lack of time, I believe many of the things I have done wrong in the past could have been avoided.
Fishing mistakes: I’ve made (more than) a few, and it’s best to admit it Read More »
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