Chicago Outdoors: The Nest of Fishing Lines and the Eternal Smelt Question

The notes come from Chicago, outside and beyond.

DALE’S MAIL BAG

“The lake temperature is a magical 42 degrees. Any ideas if the smelt will sink soon, or will it be another bad catch season? Tuesday Loyal Reader

A: I would be absolutely amazed if it was a good season, especially since the water will be much warmer than ideal by April 1st. And history strongly points to a weak season.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Jeff Tubacki emailed: “I was walking with my wife and son last December at the I&M Canal in Lemont near the Forge when I noticed this bird’s nest.” He used a lot of fishing line. “And yes, I reject my line (and others) correctly,” he added. “But I left that nest alone.”

WOTW, the celebration of crazy stories and photos around Chicago’s outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section of the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. To make presentations, E-mail BowmanOutside@gmail.com Or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

April 6-7: Morris, ronsen@sheriff1.com or (815) 942-6645

April 13-14: Ingleside, s.frey2008@yahoo.com

April 27-28: Diamond, (815) 907-7345

Full list of states at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Next Saturday March 16: Boat America, Fox Lake, Winston Tumaneng, jugodan52@aol.com

Next Saturday, March 16: Boat America, Darryl Joseph Haefner, jlyrrad@comcast.net

WILLOW SLOUGH

Wednesday March 13: Meeting to conclude renovation of Willow Slough FWA, Newton County Government Center, 4117 S 240 W, Morocco, Indiana 47963, 6:30 p.m.

FOX WATERWAY AGENCY

Wednesday March 13: Stakeholder Meeting, Fox Waterway Agency, 45 S Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, 60020, 2 p.m. or 7 p.m., registration details are here

SHOW TIME

Today March 9:Fish & Hook Sports Fair, VFW Post 5788, Lockport

Until Sunday March 10:Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin.

Until Sunday March 10:Illinois Stag Classic, Peoria Civic Center

Until Sunday March 10:Rockford RV, Camping and Travel Show, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park

Until Sunday March 10:Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin.

Until Sunday March 10:Ultimate Sports Show, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

From Thursday March 14 to March 17:Illinois Taxidermist Association Convention, Northfield Inn & Suites, Springfield

Click here for the complete list of shows, outdoor courses, swap meets and major ice fishing events.

FISH GATHERING

Tuesday March 12: Phil Gutman“Changes in the Muskie World in Recent Years,” Chicagoland Muskie Hunters Chapter of Muskies, Inc., North Branch Pizza & Burger Co., Glenview, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday March 12: Captain Dion Perryfrom Rainmaker in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Salmon Unlimited, Thornwood Restaurant & Lounge, Wood Dale, 7 p.m.

Wednesday March 13: Dustin ‘Dusty Yakker’ Murguiatournament kayak angler, “Pre-Spawn Patterns for Geneva Smallmouth,” Lake Geneva Fishing Club, Poplar Creek Bowl, Hoffman Estates, 6 p.m.

Thursday March 14: biologist Andrew PlauckRiverside Fishing Club, Berwyn Moose Lodge 424, 6:45 p.m.

ILLINOIS LICENSE

Tuesday 12 March : County-wide permits, spring turkey, get started