Saturday’s Kids Fishing Day at Bird Park in Kankakee has been rescheduled to April 18 due to high water at the quarry.
“The bridge to our fishing pier and the fishing area along the north side of the quarry are underwater,” said John Bessette, superintendent of parks and recreation for the Kankakee River Valley Park District.
“We’ve also had the mooring for the bridge break and it will have to be repaired once the water goes down.”
“We are also asking fishermen not to fish at the quarry until April 18,” Bessette said the event, hosted by the Northern Illinois Anglers’ Association, is being delayed due to high water.
“No fishing” signs had been posted at the quarry in advance of the trout season which opens statewide on Saturday.
Trout fishing will open at 5 a.m. on Saturday along Rock Creek near Deselm Road (5000 West) at the Kankakee River State Park, at Milliken Lake at the DesPlaines Conservation Area near Wilmington, along the Illinois & Michigan Canal at Channahon and at Gebhard Woods State Park at Morris.
Adults need a current inland trout stamp and fishing license to catch trout. Stamps and licenses are available at local sporting goods and bait shops, or by calling 1-888-673-7648 . Licenses or stamps can also be ordered from DNR Direct by following this LINK.
Zebco is recalling 2,700 children’s fishing poles after it discovered excessive amounts of lead in paint on the reels.
The poles included in the recall are Zebco Advanced Youth Fishing Rod & Reel combo sets. The reels are painted orange and have the words “Zebco” and “ZAVS 10″ on the reel handle. Only spinning reels are involved in this recall.
The orange reels have the words “Zebco” and “ZAVS 10″ on the reel handle according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The reels were manufactured in China and sold for around $35 at discount department and sporting good stores nationwide between August 2007 and December 2008.
There have been no reports of injuries connected with this product according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
For more information, contact Zebco at (800)-588-9030 during business hours or check here for the Zebco Web site.
Tonight, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. lights across the United States will be turned off for one hour as part of a global Earth Hour conservation campaign.
Follow Earth Hour across the globe on its way to Illinois by clicking this LINK.
As of 9 a.m. today Kuala Lumpur, the twin towers in Petronas and Hong Kong were all dark as the lights were turned off for one hour to promote global sustainability.
Why?
Because its time that we, as a global community, start taking action for the future.
The U.S. uses nearly $1 million worth of energy every minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
With less than five percent of the world’s population, the U.S. consumes 24 percent of its total energy resources.
Its as simple as one light bulb.
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The 2009 shooting sesason for the Iroquois County Law Enforcement Association kicks off Saturday and Sunday, April 4th & 5th at their range located at the Iroquois County Fairgrounds, two miles north of Crescent City.
Shoots will be both 48 & 60 rounds combat courses and are open to the public.
Shoots will begin at 9:00 a.m. both days.
For more information, contact Dave Ward @ 815-698-2292, Doug Hale @ 815-698-2131 or email us at iclea2001@yahoo.com
Walleye that were gobbling up baits at the Kankakee dam last week, have scattered downstream.
But they haven’t moved far; they can be found just off the main current in the shelter of flooded shorelines waiting to chomp on an unwary meal.
“I was starting to do very well on the walleye before the recent high water episode and still managed to catch some during the high water,” said Norm Minas, one of the area’s most consistent angler.
“I am going to switch to minnow baits, like suspending Rogues,” Minas says referring to a bait that has worked well at this time of year. “I also like crankbaits and rattlebaits for larger fish. For numbers, a jig/minnow combo can’t be beat.”
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A fresh supply of frisky rainbow trout are on their way to a fishing hole near your home.
Trout season opens April 4 with more than 60,000 fish stocked at 43 locations around the state.
Local trout stockings include Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee, Rock Creek at Deselm Road (5000 West) at the Kankakee River State Park, Milliken Lake at the DesPlaines Conservation Area near Wilmington and at the Gebhard Woods State Park pond at Morris.
Most sites open for trout fishing at 5 a.m. with the exception of Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee where a special Kids Fishing Day is set for 8 a.m. to noon on April 4.
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A free master’s course in angling will be offered when the 2009 Fishing College opens March 21 at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds.
New boating, casting, cooking and first aid presentations are all part of a greatly expanded Fishing College schedule. Also new this year will be an outdoor swap meet to buy or sell fishing boats, campers or recreational vehicles.
Show hours at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hall of Industry expo center and at the nearby Ag Community building. Doors open for registration at 7:30 a.m. Presentations begin at 8 a.m.
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A misprint in the 2009 Illinois Fishing Regulations booklet is creating some confusion about fishing near waterfowl blinds.
The latest regs re-words the restriction as follows: “No fishing within 250 yards of a Department of Natural Resources owned or managed waterfowl blind.”
The new wording omits the words “occupied blind” that were part of the original regulation.
“Does this mean no fishing all year long” near waterfowl blinds, asked one reader of The Outdoor Journal blog.
The answer is no according to Conservation Police Officer Holly Vadbunker.
“The intent of the regulation is that we don’t want fishermen disturbing hunters during the waterfowl seasons,” Vadbunker said.
“That regulation is a misprint in the fishing rules this year,” said Mike Conlin, director of DNR’s office of resource conservation and a former chief of fisheries. “The proper regulation is 250 yards from an occupied blind.”
Conlin confirmed that the 250 yard distance applies during the waterfowl season and is governed by waterfowl hunting dates and hours.
“There should not be anyone inside those blinds at any other time of year,” Vadbunker said.
Since most waterfowlers are off the water by 10 a.m. is fishing allowed between then and dusk was another query.
“Yes, as long as fishing does not impede hunting,” Vadbunker said. “Fishing is allowed after waterfowling hours end.”
For the eighth year Exelon Nuclear will host its “Fishing For a Cure” charity bass tournament at Braidwood Lake.
This year’s event blasts off on May 30 from the south ramp. The field is limited to 100 boats.
Entry fee is $100 per team with all proceeds including entry fees benefiting Autism Speaks which funds research into the causes and treatment of autism.
“Exelon’s Braidwood Station is putting up $10,000 in cash prizes,” said company spokesman Paul Dempsey. The first place team will win $4,000 with second and third winning $2,500 and $1,000 respectively. Cash prizes will also be awarded through tenth place.
“This event continues to grow in popularity each year,” said Braidwood Station Site Vice President Bryan Hanson. “Our employees enjoy the opportunity to meet anglers from all over the area. And we are glad that a worthy cause is the beneficiary of a day filled with fun, camaraderie and competitive fishing. Autism Speaks is a terrific organization and we look forward to doing all that we can to further their wonderful cause.”
A childrens’ tournament will also be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. that day at the Godley Park District. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the park. Entry fee is $5 per child.
Click HERE for a copy of the rules and entry form.
Tournament registration forms can also be requested by calling (815) 417-3184 or by e-mailing Dempsey at paul.dempsey@exeloncorp.com.
Regular readers of The Daily Journal’s Outdoors section may find that section missing from Monday’s print edition.
Beginning this Friday, March 6, Outdoors is returning to a Friday publication schedule. The move will help keep our readers better informed about events for the coming weekend and the upcoming week.
Many readers will see it as a return to the days when Outdoors regularly ran on Fridays. That’s a good thing according to most of our readers and I wholeheartedly agree!
Still this move also gives up a chance to again ask what our readers want in their weekly Outdoors coverage.
Our aim has always been to cover the full range of outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental activities within our seven-county circulation area.
Hunting and fishing news is always a big part of our coverage because of the wealth of opportunities to be found thoroughout the Kankakee River Valley. Shooting sports are helping create some young stars in local trapshooting and target leagues. Nature and wildlife conservation have been and will continue to be major parts of our coverage.
But let’s hear your feedback and comments. What do you like — or dislike — about our Outdoors overage. Comments can be posted here or e-mailed to: bbyrns@daily-journal.com.
