Illinois’ statewide fishing report on Nov. 8, 2026
Staff Report
November 8, 2026
Fall bass, crappie fishing heats up on lakes statewide. Here’s the Illinois fishing report on Nov. 8, 2026.
Illinois
There’s a lot going on when the whitetails lock down during the rut
Outdoor News
November 8, 2026
The pre-rut, and the chase phase of late October and early November, is a wild time to be in the woods. The bucks can’t help but cruise the countryside looking for a new girlfriend. It’s
Nature Smart: Ecuadorian photo tour
Stan Tekiela
November 7, 2026
I just returned from leading a photo tour to Ecuador in South America. For 10 days we trekked through cloud forests with trees covered in mosses, lichens and bromeliads that towered over 100 feet tall.
Fooling the wise: Try these tricks to bag wily waterfowl during late season
John Flesher
November 6, 2026
Even in north-country states like Minnesota that get first crack at fresh birds coming down from Canada, sharp-eyed ducks quickly learn to pick out just about every imaginable blind or decoy spread. They know every
Age-old broadhead question: mechanical vs. fixed-blade
Steve Carney
November 5, 2026
Many archers swear by fixed broadheads but it’s really about personal choice. Here is some exclusive insight into my impressions.
How to track a deer after the shot: A blood-trailing refresher for gun season
Ryan Rothstein
November 5, 2026
Every season, deer are lost that could have been found. Here’s a refresher on reading a deer’s reaction at the shot, waiting the right amount of time, and knowing what the blood is telling you.
Missed your last shot? Here’s how to bounce back as a hunter
Ron Spomer
November 5, 2026
Didn’t sleep a wink all night. Too busy reliving my botched shot. Make that shots, plural.
I kept shooting low. I knew I should have aimed higher on shots two and three, but I
A Jack London classic: To Build a Fire… Part 1
Jack London
November 2, 2026
In “To Build A Fire,” set within the unforgiving cold of the Yukon wilderness, a lone traveler and a dog confront a landscape where a minor mistake means a fight for survival. Jack London’s tale
Steve Sarley: Avid fisherman goes dove hunting
Steve Sarley
October 31, 2026
I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone the past couple issues of Illinois Outdoor News. I have been writing about hunting. I know that fishing is considered my milieu. (When was the last time you
