Dale Bowman
Outdoors Columnist
Lake Michigan eventually will give up a pike big enough to top Illinois’ long-standing record: the 26-pound, 15-ounce pike caught by Walter Klenzak on Nov. 9, 1989, from what is now called Monster Lake in Kankakee County.
Northern pike, steelhead and a smattering of kings on southern Lake Michigan lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
Dan Grabert and Paul Eastman had a record-setting catch of flathead catfish from the Rock River.
A timely memory of a grandfather, coupling monarchs in the western suburbs, kings coughing up gobies, and celebrating Illinois Natural Areas 60th are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors beyond.
A drop in mallard populations is one of the downers in the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Population Status for 2023.
Fernando Esquivel and his dad, Guilo Sr., have taken father-and-son weekend fishing to other levels of life.
Ryan Donovan caught a lake trout just shy of the Illinois record, which was a good reason to take a look at why lakers are growing so big in Illinois waters.
An early shoreline king in Chicago and late summer patterns lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
Jay Damm and Bill Peak give a visual peek at a mixed year for summer/fall mushrooms.