Some perch reports in southern Lake Michigan highlight this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report; but there is also the usual summer mix of steelhead, bass, coho, catfish and bluegill around Chicago fishing.

Last week, guide Mike Norris texted the photo at the top and this from Big Green Lake in Wisconsin:

Leighton Cooper from Northfield with a Big Green Lake smallmouth she caught with a swim jig

He added

“She was a gamer!”

Norris’ usual weekly report on the Green Lake area is below.

SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN PERCH

Some are around.

CHICAGO: Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

There has been perch off and on. I’ve got a couple guys that have been finding some everyday, and the ones they are catching are really nice size. Last week before the storms there was a couple mornings early that a few guy’s got there limit but that was before all the weather changes. Basically it’s pretty hit or miss you just got to get out there and give it a try. . . .

WAUKEGAN: Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:

. . .

Harbor fishing turned really, really good with nice perch and bass caught. Perch wanted little panfish jigs dressed with waxies. . . .

Capt. Scott Wolfe

School of Fish Charters/ Manipulator
630-341-0550
schooloffishcharters.com

INDIANA: Capt. Rich Sleziak of Slez’s Bait in Lake Station, Indiana texted:

. . .

Some perch action in 15 to 30ft of water west of the mouth of burns ditch and east of the doughnut. You must move around and pick away at them

. . .

Cristina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

. . .

Perch fishing getting better every day. Some anglers have been limiting out in a couple of hours; others have had a more challenging time with limits being caught after fishing most of the day. Regardless, they are being caught! Beemoths, red worms, crawfish, & smaller minnows are what we’ve been getting the most requests for.

. . .

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said winds kept perch guys off the lake on Monday and Tuesday, but before then some were being found in 23-50 feet off the pumphouse south of the St. Joe pier.

DERBY NOTE

The Kankakee River Fishing Derby was moved to Friday, July 9, to July 18. Click here to check updates

ILLINOIS FROG SEASON

Illinois’ bullfrog (only) season runs through Oct. 15. A fishing license is required. “Bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand, or landing net.” Daily bag limits eight, possession limit 16.

LAKEFRONT PARKING

Chicago Park District’s parking passes for the fisherman’s parking lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are on sale at Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport and Park Bait at Montrose Harbor.

Readers suggest SpotHero app downtown. Otherwise, here are some basics: Foster (free street parking or pay lot); Montrose (now a mix of metered and free street parking); Belmont (pay lots on north and south sides); Diversey (pay lot or street parking); DuSable Harbor (pay lot or fisherman’s lot); Northerly Island/Burnham Harbor (meters, pay lot or fisherman’s lot); 31st/Burnham (meter parking between McCormick Place and 31st Street Harbor); Oakwood/39th (meters); 63rd Street/Casino Pier (pay lot); Steelworkers Park (free street parking at east end of 87th); Cal Park (free parking).

AREA LAKES

It’s summer, go for largemouth early and late with topwaters; otherwise, fish bluegills on the weed lines or weed pockets.

And think big, as in see this note from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:

Forest Preserve’s Big Fish Contest begins July 1

The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Big Fish Contest begins Thursday, July 1, and runs through Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Monee Reservoir.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories for biggest bass, catfish and panfish by length. Even if you don’t have the biggest fish in one of the three categories, there is a chance to win a prize just for entering because one overall winner will be chosen at random from all entries. The contest is free and for ages 16 or older. Registration is not required.

To participate, just bring your catch to the Monee Reservoir Visitor Center, and staff will measure, photograph and record the fish to enter you in the contest. All the fish photos will be included on the visitor center’s Big Fish Contest display. Winners in the 2021 contest will be announced September 1.

The 248-acre preserve features a 46-acre lake. The lake is stocked with bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and channel catfish. And the visitor center offers fishing poles for rental and fishing licenses for purchase. The visitor center also offers bait, tackle and snacks for sale. Monee Reservoir is located on Ridgeland Avenue, south of Pauling Road in Monee Township.

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Click here for the preview.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said largemouth moved off beds to shallow weeds; crappie are suspending in open water; bluegill are shallow, some are still on beds; catfish are best at night in the river; a few walleye, best in the river north to Wisconsin line.

NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.

NOTE 2: The Stratton Lock and Dam is open 8 a.m. to midnight through Sept. 30.

CHICAGO RIVER

Provided

Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above and this on Sunday:

Multi species were caught, 2 crappies(11 and 12 in), a decent size rock bass, a green sunfish(beautiful colors underneath him), all were caught on a underspin jig with gulp minnows. Carp was the last fish caught as i was packing, he was 8 lbs

DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Delavan Lake 7/5/21 through 7/12/21

Fishing remains excellent. With the warmer weather, the northern pike have been biting very well. Northern Pike have been great. The fish are off the weedline anywhere between 20-25 ft of water. Look for the fish by the gray condos, willow Point or the west end by the island. The best approach is lindy rigging suckers. I fish the suckers on a 6500 Abu Garcia with a bait clicker, so when the fish bites, it will click out line and indicate that a fish is on.

Walleye fishing has been average. The fish are on the weedline in 15-24 ft of water. The fish I’m catching are on nightcrawlers fished on either a lindy rig or a split shot rig. This week it was kind of a battle to catch a legal fish. Every trip out I caught a couple but nothing to brag about. The best locations are by Browns Channel or west of the Yacht Club.

Largemouth bass can be either caught on the deep weedline in 17-20 ft or on top water lures first thing in the a.m. The best bait is chug bugs or white buzz baits. It’s best to work a depth of 8-10 ft. The fish I’ve been catching on the deep weedline, I’m catching on split shot rigged nightcrawlers. You want to concentrate on inside turns or the points on the weedline. A few fish have also been caught drop shotting Berkeley Gulp.

Bluegills are done spawning. They have moved out on the deep weedline. The nicer fish are in the 22-26 ft depth. Fishing so many nightcrawlers, I catch many right off the weedline. Some of the fish are in excess of 10 inches. Nightcrawlers or small leaf worms are the best approach.

Crappies have pulled off the weedline. They are suspending in 15 ft of water. The best approach has been purple plastic. Look for the fish over by Browns Channel or west of the Yacht club. I use a 1/32 oz Arkie Jig and a 3/0 split shot 1 ft above the jig. That allows you to cast a good distance and the fall rate is very effective.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

DOWNSTATE

POWERTON: Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 30.

EMIQUON: Access permits and liability waivers are again required. They are available Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounds Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Reopens May 15. Open through Sept. 6. Closed Mondays (except Labor Day). Check regulations at http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/dixon-paddling-fishing.

SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing.

FOX RIVER

Provided by Dicky’s Bait Shop

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery emailed the photo above and this:

Weekly Fishing Report from Dicky’s Bait Shop

This week, the water level on the Fox River in Montgomery has returned to the extreme low levels we were at prior to the rain storms 2 weeks ago. The fishing picked up above the dam briefly while the water level was up but has since declined. However, our customers have had good success fishing below the dam. I’ve included a photo of Simone Ziller, 6 years old, who caught this 20 lb catfish off the bank of the Fox near Oswego. The photo was submitted to us by her father, Bernard.

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

I fished a couple of different Fox tribs before the extreme heat of the holiday weekend hit. One of the streams was still high and off-color from recent rains. I couldn’t fish my usual “milk run,” so I headed way upstream, near the source, until I found water clear enough for fly fishing. No smallmouths up there at the moment but I did get an assortment: chubs, shiners and rock bass. At least I know what the smallmouths are eating to get so big. I tried a different stream to the northeast of the first stream the next day. It is a higher gradient and usually clears up quickly enough after rain. It had dropped, but was still more off-color than I’d have liked. I did catch some sunfish and a few small smallmouths. And I do mean small: the two weight, my usual brook trout rod, was not too much gun for them. Judging from his reaction, I really startled a kingfisher who was patrolling under the canopy of trees; he must not have expected anyone to be there.

GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN

Arden Katz said there are two good bites now: a night bite for smallmouth in 15-20 feet on the south side of the lake on drop-shots or early or late in Geneva Bay for largemouth.

Dave Duwe emailed:

Lake Geneva 7/5/21 through 7/12/21

Fishing continues to be excellent. The bass bite is very steady and other species are now starting to turn on! The only problem has been excessive boat traffic with the holiday weekend but we’ve come to expect that.

The largemouth bass I’ve been catching are in medium depth weeds in 12-14 ft of water. The best presentation has been an Arkie Finesse jig with a green pumpkin Yum Houdini worm. The bass have been biting on the fall and on the initial shake of the rod. I vibrate the rod 5-6 times as soon as the jig hits the bottom and then check the weight and usually the fish is on the bait. During some guide parties the jigs have been out performing nightcrawlers. The best location has been Trinkes or in Williams Bay.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been slow for me. They started to move deep and I haven’t been catching many. I would look for them on the drop off near the spawing flats. The Military Academy and Rainbow Point are good locations to start with. I would use Lindy rigged nightcrawlers and start in 18-24 ft of water.

Lake Trout are biting in the main lake basin. I’ve been fishing 100-120 ft of water catching suspended fish at first light. The bait of choice are nickel and blue spoons. The fish have been suspended 85-95 ft down. The average weight thus far has been around 10 lbs.

The big bluegills are still aggressively hitting. The best depth is 17-19 ft of water. Most of my success is coming off of leaf worms or 1/2 nightcrawlers. I’ve been straight lining the worms underneath the boat with a small hook and split shot. The best location has been Elgin Club and Maytag Point.

Some Walleyes are being caught at night while trolling crank baits. Use Bandit shallow Walleye crankbaits or Rapala’s fished on planer boards. There has been a lack of floating weeds on the lake so trolling has been fairly easy. The best locations are Abbey Springs or Fontana Beach.

Northern Pike will be picking up in about 10 days once the Thermocline starts. I’ll be starting to try for them the 2^nd week of July.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Guide Mike Norris emailed:

Fishing Report 7/5/2021

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake – The bass have moved deeper, and we are catching both largemouth and smallmouth bass early in the day on topwater lures out to 40 feet of water. Right now, an Evergreen Custom Topwater lure in the bone color is luring in bass up to 5 lbs. Walleye fishing is good early and late in the day with crawler harnesses trolled over and just outside the deeper weed edges.

Little Green Lake – I am getting reports that largemouth bass fishing has slowed with the warmer weather, but muskie fishing remains good. Crappies are still the main attraction out in deep water, but bluegills are hanging in and around fallen trees along the shoreline and can be caught on redworms suspended on a small jig beneath a float.

Fox Lake – With weed growth maxing out, many anglers have turned to the frog bite to battle Fox Lake’s largemouth bass. Try the grass matted areas in “The Jug” with an artificial frog. Bass can also be found around Dead, Elmwood, and Brushwood Islands. Cast a Senko to the shoreline and work it back slowly.

To book a guide trip reach out to me via my Facebook page at mike.norris.7773 or email me through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR weekly report.

HEIDECKE LAKE

Provided

Bob Johnson emailed the photo above and this;

Dale -I had an opportunity to get my daughter back on the lake before she heads home to Texas. It was a pleasure watching her land some quality Smallmouth from the smallmouth factory, Heidecke Lake. I switched up lures going to a 3/8 ounce jig tipped with a crawfish tail in black and blue. Taylor used soft baits Green Pumpkin or black finesse worked well. ” Catch and Release” for another day.

Open 6 a.m. (6:30 bank fishing) to sunset. Click here for the promising preview.

ILLINOIS RIVER

River on a steady drop down below flood stage at Starved Rock and LaSalle

KANKAKEE RIVER

See derby info at the top.

Provided

George Peters emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale, . . . coming down to fishable level. Backwaters clearing enough to get Largemouth close to banks. Without big rain east in Indiana or south toward the Iroquois river, conditions should be ok by the weekend. G. Peters

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

Provided by Dicky’s Bait Shop

Spotty perch reports come from shore anglers, while boaters and charters report changing but generally good salmon/trout.

Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed the photo below and this:

Things changed quickly this week. We had the best fishing of the year early with a typical catch attached. Limits were the rule in 80 to 120. Things got tougher as the week went on. I know from my Chicago buddies things picked up fir them so I assume the Waukegan fish moved South. There are still coho and kings around on 60 to 100 mainly. They are coming in really shallow to feed but not staying there. Running flies from Jimmy Fly and Lake Michigan Angler in Blue, Aqua and Green 3 or 4 inches behind Red or chrome stubby Dodgers from 10 to 50 feet took the coho. For some coho and kings, Warrior XL size spoons in Those same Blues, Aqua and Green were good. Lance’s Two Face and Two Face continue to be standouts.

Harbor fishing turned really, really good with nice perch and bass caught. Perch wanted little panfish jigs dressed with waxies. The bass I saw were on live minnows, artificials weren’t working.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

School of Fish Charters/ Manipulator
630-341-0550
schooloffishcharters.com

Provided by School of Fish Charters

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said fishing is as good as good as it can be, lots of coho around off both Chicago and North Point, primarily in 60-120 feet for coho, there’s a couple kings interspersed once in a while and a couple steelhead; ; Chicago is still good for lakers, too. “Definitely a good time of the year and there is a lot of bait around so we should keep the fish,” he said.

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait texted:

No perch reports. River fishing improving. A few crappie reports still at wolf lake. Not much else. Take care

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

There has been perch off and on. I’ve got a couple guys that have been finding some everyday, and the ones they are catching are really nice size. Last week before the storms there was a couple mornings early that a few guy’s got there limit but that was before all the weather changes. Basically it’s pretty hit or miss you just got to get out there and give it a try. There are some really nice rock bass at the mouth of the harbor. The Smallmouth are just swimming by and teasing, seems like the weather’s got them not wanting to hit either. I haven’t heard anything else. Have a great week!

LaSALLE LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Click here for the preview of prospects.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Provided

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photo above and this:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Southern strip pits have been very good for bass. Many 1 1/2 pounders could be had. Work top water bait at first light across the top of the weeds.. Best bait has been a Berkley choppo. As the sun becomes higher in the sky, work a senko wacky rigged along the outside weedlines.

Here is the nature pic of the week. A peaceful morning coming to an end.

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Both units are open for fishing 6 a.m. to sunset.

Provided

MENOMINEE RIVER, WISCONSIN

Provided

Guide Mike Mladenik of bigsmallmouthbass.com emailed the photo above and this:

As I predicted the topwater bite has been excellent. Topwater fishing on the Menominee River will peak in late July and August. Prop baits are working best.

Case Magic Stiks and Wacky Jacks are hot when smallmouth are tight to the bottom

feeding on crayfish. The 1/0 Spearpoint GP Finesse Hook is a must when rigging Wacky Style. When the bite it tough my River Swimbaits are getting the job done. When using swimbaits we have also catching some walleyes and pike.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:

Great weather for the celebration of the 4^th of July brought lots of people to the Northwoods and lots of boats (of all types) to the lakes of the Northwoods. Hot weather has shot lake water temps up over the weekend, with reports of surface temps over 80 degrees!

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Early in week, following high pressure and cool nights, mornings were tough, but as temps rose action increased. When things were tough, slowly working Wacky Worms or Ned Rigs through the thick weeds enticed reluctant bites. As things warmed, working swim jigs, tubes a little quicker and high through weeds better. Hot evenings providing good top-water action on Frogs, Pop-R’s and Jitter Bugs!

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Heat pushed some Smallie action out on humps where drop-shotting and fishing football jigs/creatures producing. Also working deeper coontail edges using the same techniques and heavy tubes also picking up nice fish in 14-18′.

Bluegills: Good – Gills active in cabbage of 8-12′ taking small leeches, worms or Mini-Mites tipped with waxies.

Musky: Good – Fast bucktail retrieves, swim baits moving fish still in weeds. Top-water action improving with heat, Top Raiders and Whopper Ploppers catching fish.

Northern Pike: Good – Spinner baits, chatter baits and Rattle Traps worked at weed top level popping fish. Swim baits in the 4″ range, especially those on a lipped jig head producing well.

Yellow Perch: Good – 1/2 crawlers, frozen soft-shell craws and medium leeches in deeper cabbage pockets (8-12′) and along coontail edges with sandgrass nearby in 18-22′.

Crappies: Fair-Good – Some very big slabs (13-15″) being caught in unusual areas! Anglers finding these fish in 3-5′ weeds, very unusual with surface temps as high as they are. Mini-Mites, tiny tubes and small Gapen Fresh Water Shrimp jigs tipped with waxies, under very small floats or without with long cast needed not to spook fish.

Walleye: Fair – Bite windows small. Locations vary by lake type and even on same lakes! Some weed fish by working redtails or full crawlers on weedless jigs. Others out over off shore humps of gravel or sandgrass using big leeches or Walleye suckers on Lindy style rigs.

A cool down following this hot weekend, with some rain, and lows in mid-40’s with highs in mid-70’s will make for pleasant weather, but once again, plan for changing patterns or bites due to this unstable pattern.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
Like us on FaceBook

NORTHWEST INDIANA

See the Fish of the Week, caught by Robert Buckmaster, for an idea of the steelhead that are around.

Provided

Capt. Rich Sleziak of Triplecatch Charters texted the photo above and added this note:

Still great action in 70ft of water. This was July 4

Here is his general fishing report from Slez’s Bait in Lake Station:

Action around the 3 corners area still good dodgers and Flys and spoons doing the job.

Some perch action in 15 to 30ft of water west of the mouth of burns ditch and east of the doughnut. You must move around and pick away at them

Catfish good at night in deep river and burns ditch triple s stinkbait does the job.

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale! I hope you & your family enjoyed the holiday. Here’s what’s happening in our area:

Perch fishing getting better every day. Some anglers have been limiting out in a couple of hours; others have had a more challenging time with limits being caught after fishing most of the day. Regardless, they are being caught! Beemoths, red worms, crawfish, & smaller minnows are what we’ve been getting the most requests for.

Bass are doing pretty well recently; Smallmouth Bass started quite an upswing as of late, with nightcrawlers, larger minnows, & crawfish being the baits of choice. They’ve been very close to shore in shallow waters, on the hunt for the smaller fish fish that hug the shoreline.Stripers have also been caught in huge numbers, with shad & shrimp working well.

Channel Catfish are doing great! Pine Lake, Wolf Lake, & Burns Ditch have been hotspots as of late. Large-sized catches are the norm, with Liver, Green & Jumbo Nightcrawlers, & Dough/Stinkbait having the most success.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.

SHABBONA LAKE

Staff at Boondocks reported bluegill are close to shore and in the trees; crappie and walleye are mostly in the trees; smallmouth and walleye are along the dam face; hybrid stripers are going on jigheads and chicken liver, mostly in deeper water.

All concessions are going. Site hours through Oct. 31 are 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Click here for the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said winds kept perch guys off the lake on Monday and Tuesday, but before then some were being found in 23-50 feet off the pumphouse south of the St. Joe pier; a few steelhead off the pier; it is mainly catfish and some smallmouth in the river.

Paddle and Pole hosts the Berrien Springs Fish Ladder Camera.

WOLF LAKE

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait texted:

A few crappie reports still at wolf lake.

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:

The water is starting to drop, with temps holding in the mid to upper 70’s. Crappie are in the wood and near current breaks. Bluegills should start any day. Walleye action has slowed.

Read More

Improving coronavirus numbers have made more summer events possible. Here’s the latest updates on this year’s changing entertainment landscape.

By

John Silver

Updated

Jul 6, 2021, 3:56pm CDT

Read More

Zack’s Media Blog

• About Me

Debunking the Chicago Media’s Myths About Black Teens

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By Zack Isaacs-Raz,
today at 4:46 pm

Every time we turn on the news, the Chicago media (typically) shows the worst of Black teens and young adults. For Generation Z, our local news reporters can’t see “the ‘hood” for the ratings. It’s all sensational reporting designed to promote fear-mongering of black juveniles. For years, I was guilty of judging those same young people- until I realized that I used to be one of them.

CLEVER AS A “FOX” NEWS

Being a lifelong resident, I’ve seen that Chicago is liberal on the outside- but conservative on the inside. Don’t let our voting patterns fool you; this city still has a lot of racism being practiced by whites of all political parties. That’s not an opinion; that’s an immutable fact. Equity and diversity are just buzz words in most parts of our city. Our “allies” say that they care but rarely back up their words with actions. In my opinion, it’s the main reason why Sunday’s gathering in the Loop occurred.

[embedded content]

When I was growing up, the Taste of Chicago was the premiere summer event held in Grant Park. Millions of people came and there weren’t usually problems until the late 2000s. In fact, I was there that night in July 2008 when a shooting occurred at the Taste. Since then, the City has shortened the festival and changed the start date (until after the 4th). Still, it hasn’t addressed the growing racial and socioeconomic inequities going on in this city.

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

Most black teens in this city are good kids. As a former sub for Chicago Public Schools, I know this as a fact. I’ve taught at over 30 schools and some of my best students come from the worst neighborhoods. Yet, the “bad” students tend to be products of their environments. It’s not their responsibility to be born to the right parents. Instead, it is our duty to provide hope and resources from them to build appropriate social skills. When we fail to do that, their “idle minds” cause them to turn Chicago’s elite neighborhoods into the Devil’s playground.

Young people don’t have places where they can gather without the police shutting it down. On the South and West Sides, they can’t gather for pop-up block parties without the police shutting it down. So, they head downtown to a larger space that it designed for large crowds. Even then, they get turned away. However, the media won’t tell you that part of the story because that doesn’t fit the narrative.

CREATING A NEW NARRATIVE

We should have more events downtown for youth. Chicago Public Schools should partner with CPD and private security firms to create a safe environment for our kids to have fun. This is their city, too. They have been pushed away from the Water Tower, pushed back on to the CTA Red Line Trains, and pushed out of activities that white Chicagoans enjoy.

As Labor Day approaches, Chicago’s DCASE (Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events) should partner with Kids Off The Block, My Block, My Hood, My City, and Good Kids, Mad City to create events downtown to show youngsters the RIGHT WAY to enjoy our beautiful city. Instead of being criminalized, they deserve a little more hospitality. Take off the handcuffs and give them a helping hand.

You wouldn’t do white kids like this. Treat our kids with the same love and respect and you will get it right back.

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After nearly a year and a half of Zoom dance class and virtual performances, Chicago Tap Theatre is trading in clap emojis for applause from a live audience in a return to the big stage with their new production, Tap Secret!, which will be performed in two shows at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts on July 10.

“We kind of felt like it’s been a tough enough couple of years for all of us, and what everybody deserves right now is cotton candy,” says Mark Yonally, CTT’s artistic director and choreographer of Tap Secret!. “There certainly is some subtext to this show, but taken on a surface level it’s just a joyful, funny kind of show.”

To maintain social distancing, only 350 tickets from this 1,000-seat theater will be available for purchase per show. While Tap Secret! will not be livestreamed, the company is planning to film a high-quality rendition of the show that will be released at a later date.

Founded by Yonally in 2002, Chicago Tap Theatre has set itself apart from other dance companies through its story shows: a play with an original story line conveyed through tap dance.

“We have done story shows that were kind of heavy before. We’ve done ones that were dealing with really tough subjects,” Yonally says. “We made a very conscious effort that this is not that.”

While a play that replaces dialogue with tap dance may seem unconventional, CTT dancer and rehearsal director Sterling Harris views tap dance as a very clear form of storytelling.

“Tap has a very innate ability for communication. When I’m watching tap, I can really tell what someone’s emotional consciousness is behind a certain step,” Harris says. “Even though we don’t have words, the rhythm of our feet can do a pretty good job of taking over.”

While tap dance is used as the primary storytelling medium in Tap Secret!, audiences can also look forward to a one-of-a-kind story line and original score from beloved Chicago artist and CTT’s music director, JC Brooks.

Many fans know Brooks as the lead singer in JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, a soul and funk band that tours across the U.S. and internationally. But alongside his work with his band, Brooks carries a robust love for musical theater and performance.

“Theater’s been a constant thread through my life, even with the band,” Brooks says. “As far as trying to score a piece, I never imagined doing that 20 years ago when I was getting a degree. So that’s a little bit of a departure, but it’s also something that at this point feels inevitable because of my love for music and musical theater specifically.”

The director of Tap Secret!, Mike Weaver, also comes from a unique musical background. In addition to holding degrees in filmmaking and piano jazz performance, he is one of the most well-known show choir choreographers in the country and the coauthor (with Colleen Hart) of the book Sweat, Tears, and Jazz Hands: The Official History of Show Choir from Vaudeville to Glee.

Collectively, these artists hope to craft an original yet vibrant viewing experience for their live audience. From the very beginning, their creative process has relied upon collaboration as they bring together elements of tap dance, music, and storytelling.

“We took JC’s plot, and Mike turned it into a script. Then, I worked with Mike to play with some of the story details to make everything work and to play to some of the strengths of tap dancing to tell the story,” Yonally says.

Tap Secret!, which is set in the 90s, follows Paulie (played by Harris), a sound engineer who embarks on a journey to save the music industry with his love for rhythm. Paulie starts to become alarmed by the rise of over-manufactured pop music that is overshadowing “the beauty and intricacy of music rooted in polyrhythm,” Yonally says.

“He works in a lab where they’re testing out some new technology, but he sees that it is actually hypnotizing people and is conflicted about it and wants to do something,” Brooks explains. “He gets recruited by a group of rhythm spies to help defeat this new evil plot to enslave the world through pop music.”

Even more, the music conglomerate that Paulie works for is called “EmptyV.” Sound familiar?

From the very beginning, Brooks knew he wanted to set the story line in an easily identifiable time period. Ultimately, he landed on the 90s due to his own personal connection to that era.

“That was when I came of age, so it’s just the music that I gravitate towards,” he says. “I saw this clip of this MTV interview where David Bowie is asking why MTV doesn’t really play Black artists and that was the motivation for this war that was playing out in the original draft of the script.”

As he crafted the score for Tap Secret!, Brooks drew from familiar pop sounds from the 90s in addition to more intricate rhythms such as jazz and Afrobeat.

“I was trying to draw the dichotomy between this Max Martin style of overproduced pop and the polyrhythmic world,” Brooks says.

Along with Brooks’s compelling score and story line, audiences can look forward to enthralling choreography from Yonally and his dancers. Recently, some younger, fresh faces have joined the company’s ranks, but unfortunately the pandemic has limited their performance opportunities. Now, they can finally share their passion for tap dance with a live audience.

“We got some pretty heavy-hitting talent right now,” Yonally says. “So I think people are really going to enjoy the level and sophistication of the artistry and technical prowess that these dancers are capable of.”

In Tap Secret!, CTT’s company members aren’t just dancers, but musicians and storytellers. This unique expression of artistry is something that audiences should look forward to, Harris says.

“I think the show is very exciting. It’s a way to experience a story line that may be unique to you, and familiar at the same time,” Harris says. “It’s full of energy and it’s full of joy and it’s full of tap dance.” v

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Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be sunny with a high near 92 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 73. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a 50% chance of thunderstorms and a high near 85.

Top story

Chicago’s top cop blames the courts — again — after one of the most violent Fourth of July weekends in years

After the most violent Fourth of July weekend in four years, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown once again blamed the court system in Cook County, complaining it releases too many violent criminals.

“Chicago police officers are doing their job by arresting people and charging them with murder,” Brown said today, a day after a long holiday weekend that saw more than 100 people shot, 19 of them fatally.

“That’s doing our part,” he said. “And what’s happening in the courts, it’s creating this unsafe environment for all of us.”

It’s an argument both he and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have repeatedly made as this year’s violence continues to outpace last year, which was the most violent for the city since the mid-1990s.

Brown pointed to more than 90 people who’ve been charged with murder but were later released back into their communities on electronic monitoring.

“If the cops’ productivity was down and not unprecedentedly high, I would be arguing we need to do more as police officers, that’s not the case here,” he said, noting officers recovered 244 illegal guns over the holiday weekend, resulting in 86 arrests.

This holiday was the most violent Fourth of July weekend since 2017, when at least 101 people were shot, 14 of them fatally. However, that holiday was on a Tuesday, so the tally covered four full days, not three like this year.

Mitch Dudek and Andy Grimm have the full story here.

More news you need

1. Twenty years ago this summer, Tionda and Diamond Bradley went missing and Chicago launched what investigators say may be the city’s largest missing persons investigation to date. Still, two decades later, family and friends ask: Where are they?
2. Larry Hoover, convicted of ordering a murder in 1973, was denied a sentencing break today by a judge who cited concerns the Gangster Disciplines co-founder could still “convince others to commit illegal acts on his behalf.” Hoover, 70, is serving a life sentence in a federal “supermax” prison.
3. For the first time in nearly 16 months, Illinois went a full day without losing someone to COVID-19, according to state data. The good news comes with the caveat that it’s still possible one or more fatalities could eventually be added to the rare zero-total.
4. President Joe Biden will make his first presidential visit to Illinois tomorrow when he travels to suburban Crystal Lake. Sources told us that Biden, unless plans change, will appear at the McHenry County College to promote his American Families Plan.
5. Health advocates for years have warned of potential side effects of certain sunscreen ingredients that can enter the bloodstream, while sunscreen manufacturers claim the presence of these chemicals doesn’t mean they’re bad. The FDA is still trying to determine who’s right, creating plenty of confusion over what’s safe.
6. Last week, it was announced HBO won’t be producing another season of the critically acclaimed series “Lovecraft Country,” which was set and shot largely in Chicago and surrounding areas. So Misha Green, the show’s creator, decided to tease what she was planning for season two.

A bright one

Mural in Austin aims to give the neighborhood some people to look up to

Four Chicago artists say they hope to inspire kids to reach for and achieve their dreams with a new mural in Austin that features Maya Angelou and other Black figures.

Barrett Keithley, Missy Perkins, Ahmad Lee and Dwight White included seven figures in the mural at Chicago and Lockwood avenues: Angelou, Malcolm X, Angela Davis, Harriet Tubman, the fictional superhero Storm and a Black woman and girl not based on any particular person.

Provided

For Keithley, working on the mural felt like he was paying homage to his ancestors and all Black Chicagoans. Growing up, he says, he didn’t see many Black people doing this type of art. He says he hopes it can inspire kids to reach for their own dreams.

Lee says that, as a Black American, he feels connected to all the imagery of Black Americans in the mural.

“That wall was just a beat-up wall on the side of a rundown store until we had a chance to actually throw some historical figures on there, some superheroes,” Lee says. “Just showing the youth that you can be whatever you want to.

“If you see it, you can achieve it.”

Lu Calzada has the full story behind the mural here.

From the press box

Your daily question ?

How do you feel about the fireworks fired off throughout the city during Fourth of July Weekend?

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

On Friday, we asked you: What song sounds like summer to you? Here’s some of what you said…

“‘Summer Nights’ from Grease. So cheery and upbeat. Positive energy.” — Nicholas Franghias

“‘Whispering Waves’ by Donna Summer — chirping birds that are perched in the stunted trees in my front yard, the silence of the searing hot afternoon sun.” — Maria Victoria Casanova Ante

“‘Hot Fun in the Summer Time’ by Sly and the Family Stone, ‘Saturday in the Park’ — Chicago, ‘For those who like to Groove’ –Ray Parker Jr., and Radio, ‘The Smurf’ — Tyrone Brunson, ‘Just a Touch of Love ‘ — Slave, and ‘Come and get your love’ — Redbone.” — Francois Bossier

“‘Dancing in the Streets.’ I graduated in 1965 from high school in Chicago, Wendell Phillips. That was the song that summer.” — Walterene Coleman Martin

“‘Incense and Peppermints’ by the band Strawberry Alarm Clock — it just fits.” — Elliott Avant

“‘Lit Up by Buckcherry’ or ‘Been There Lately’ by Slash’s Snakepit. It takes me right back to the summer I first heard them.” — Nick Goldsmith

“‘Summertime’ — DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. The lyrics paint a picture of summertime in the neighborhood like no other. Best song ever for summer vibin’.” — Darlene Gordon

“‘Cruel Summer’ by Bananarama. It just sounds like an open fire hydrant in the 80s.” — Wolfy Hernandez

“‘Beach Baby’ by First Class. Used to ride around Chicago and the suburbs waiting for it to come on.” — Melinda Vaughn

“‘Reality’ by Lost Frequencies — you feel like you are on the road traveling.” — Jo Na Lyn

“‘Brandy’ by Looking Glass — no specific references to summer, but it just evokes the feeling of strolling down a pier or boardwalk.” — Elyce Block

“‘Southern Girl’ by Franky Bev. & Maze. Just sounds like a hot summer day song.” — James McCreary

“‘Summer Nights’ by Lil Rob because it’s something I love to cruise to with my lady, enjoying life.” — Jude Quesada

“Seals and Crofts’ ‘Summer Breeze.’ A classic summer song. 1972, No. 1 hit and still a hit with me.” — Pat Vogt

“‘Saturday in the Park’ by Chicago. It reminds me of an afternoon at Ravinia back in the 1970s, when I was in high school. It was a magical day.” — Tom Griffin

“Santana’s ‘Oye Como Va’ always brings memories of sitting on my cousin’s boat at their home in Paw Paw, Michigan. Used to go there for my mom’s family reunion. We’d water ski on the lake, and take turns riding the Sea-Doo!” — David Kowalski

You can stream readers’ picks for song of the summer in a Spotify playlist we’ve pieced together here or press play below:

Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.

Sign up here to get the Afternoon Edition in your inbox every day.

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Robert Buckmaster caught this 32-inch, 15.5-pound steelhead last week.

” Trolling a deep-diving crankbait in fire tiger in 32 feet of water out of Burns Ditch in Portage, Indiana,” he emailed. “Hope you can use it.”

I can use it. After all, steelhead are in and near the streams and creeks in northwest Indiana. That was well documented in the Skamania Mania the last weekend in June in Michigan City. Click here to see the listing on winners in Skamania Mania.

It’s worth a second look.

Provided

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and their stories (the stories matter, as this one shows) around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays in the paper Sun-Times. The online posting here at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors goes up at varied days of the week, depending on what is going on the wide world of the outdoors.

To make submissions, email ([email protected]) or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).

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An official review of Unidentified Flying Objects, now called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena by the Pentagon, has been released.

The declassified report has stirred varied reactions because it is inconclusive on the key point, which is whether these objects are being operated by aliens from outer space and, if so, whether our government and others have hidden the truth from the rest of us.

Most disturbing is that the report fails to address the question of why an alien race with superior intelligence would spend hundreds of years and the equivalent of trillions of dollars sending interstellar vehicles to our planet instead of destroying it or taking it over as we might when encountering a species we considered inferior or inconsequential.

The obvious answer: Reality programming.

Our own earliest interactions with different species are recorded on cave walls, much to the delight of viewing audiences on History Channel today. Imagine how delighted an advanced alien race, say on the distant planet Kepler-442b, might be watching the antics of our ancestors as they tried to figure out not only what spaceships were, but the simplest of scientific advances such as fire.

It’s obvious we would be an instant hit on the equivalent of the Comedy Channel on Kepler.

Haven’t we all spent hours watching our own scientists studying insects on a forest floor, monkeys in the wild or those sweet dolphins trying to communicate with a more intelligent human race.

Well, that’s what’s going on here.

I can imagine an alien race introducing a concept such as a sharpened stick. Just to see how we, these creatures here on Earth, might use it as tool.

For days, nothing happens. Then suddenly one of the creatures pokes another in the eye. To the horror of alien scientists, but to the joy of viewing audiences throughout galaxy and beyond, there is a massive escalation of violence as sticks on Earth are sharpened and turned into spears and arrows.

Seeking a better understanding of this behavior, the Kepler Education Channel then launches an expedition to track the movements and habits of the natives of Earth by inserting devices into their bodies.

These are completely painless procedures. Specimens are captured and beamed up to research vessels, where the tracking devices and tiny cameras are inserted.

Then, in an early experiment, giant rocks are dumped in an ancient field in a random pattern.

Hundreds of Earthlings gather round and begin to chant. Some begin to kill animals and place them on the rocks as a form of tribute. Getting no response, someone suggests bashing fellow tribal members in the head and hilarity ensues.

Kepler-442b soon undergoes something of a social evolution as ratings for its Education Channel triple and the demand for stories about the Earthlings surpasses every other type of programming, including its version of The Bachelor.

You can imagine animal rights groups on Kepler raising concerns about the mistreatment of less intelligent life forms and the masses ignoring their pleas, just as we do here on Earth.

Kepler TV producers next introduce a simple sphere into Earthling culture. This generates obsession bordering on madness as the Earthlings kick it into nets, throw it at each other at amazing rates of speed, and design machine tools to hit tiny balls into holes.

The Earthlings invent a prolate spheroid and violently bash into each other while wearing armor. They are filled with joy. They paint their faces in tribal colors and consume vast quantities of alcoholic beverages.

For reasons that baffle and mystify the viewers on Kepler, there are constant wars on the planet Earth. Humans of different shades of skin color murder each other for no obvious reason. Some humans murder each other in self-declared efforts to save the souls of their enemies.

A Kepler government committee determines that termination of the alien creatures is best for the salvation of Earth’s environment and other animal life forms nearing extinction, especially the panda bear, which is much beloved on Kepler-442B.

But there is a backlash. Loyal reality show viewers demand the Earthlings be spared because of their “entertainment value.”

Our antics remain an intergalactic sensation. And so, we survive.

It is the only explanation that makes sense.

Email: [email protected]

Send letters to [email protected].

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Scarlett Johansson has had quite a bit of time to think about a ” Black Widow ” movie. After all, she’s played the character in seven movies spanning 10 years.

Yet unlike many of her fellow Avengers who got grand introductions in movies and sequels bearing their names on the marquee, she built the enigmatic Natasha Romanoff as a sideline scene stealer beginning with her introduction in 2010’s “Iron Man 2” through her exit in “Avengers: Endgame.”

By the time her name was called for a coveted standalone, she knew that, above all, she wanted Black Widow’s film to be unexpected. And as the first lead actor to serve as a producer on a Marvel film, she actually had a say.

The character, introduced in the comics in 1964, is inextricably tied to a Soviet-era spy aesthetic fitting of James Bond. But that seemed like the easy route.

“I didn’t want it to be an espionage film,” Johansson said. “I think we avoided that.”

Instead, “Black Widow” helps peel back the layers on a hard-to-grasp character, with a little bit of an origin story, a little bit of a coda and the introduction of people outside of the Avengers who mean something to her. Johansson also personally recruited Australian indie director Cate Shortland, another unexpected and inspired choice, to helm.

Marvel veteran Eric Pearson had the task of writing the script and took advantage of the fact that the character seemed to change and become more emotionally vulnerable between “Civil War” and “Infinity War”/”Endgame,” which is when “Black Widow” is set.

“We’re looking at what happened there,” Pearson said. “What happened when she went back and confronted her past that unlocked her heart and kind of opened her up to the world and eventually led her to make that all-time sacrifice at the end of ‘Endgame.'”

Part of that involved introducing a sort-of sister character in Yelena Belova, played as an adult by Florence Pugh, who also had the traumatic experience of being trained in the “Red Room” as a child.

AP

“Florence is so vibrant and interesting to watch that you think, ‘OK… there’s going to be life here,'” Johansson said.

Despite not really knowing one another beforehand, they quickly connected on set, partly due to a natural chemistry between the two and partly due to the extreme nature of filming a big budget action thriller.

“Our Day One was me throwing her against a cabinet and we both had our hands in each other’s armpits. And it was in that moment that I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I have a sweaty armpit. And Scarlett Johansson is touching me,'” Pugh said. “Once that ice is broken, you know, best mates. Weird first day, though, to start with.”

It was a fittingly epic endeavor, shooting over 87 days in London, Norway, Budapest, Morocco and Atlanta, with showstopping fights, motorcycle stunts, car chases and even a skydiving sequence. For Pugh, who is more known for slightly less spectacle driven films like “Midsommar” and “Little Women,” it was an eye-opening experience.

“It was just so impressive to see so many departments doing so many things. And you were completely involved into the process and the creating of it. And I just really appreciated how much you were expected to be there for the whole journey,” Pugh said. “It only made then waiting and watching the film a year later just even more exciting because you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, that took so many days to shoot and there we are flying through the air on a bike.'”

“Black Widow” has the distinction of being the first Marvel movie debuting day-and-date on a streaming platform, after being delayed over a year due to the pandemic. Like a handful of Disney releases over the past year, it’ll be available Friday in theaters globally and to rent on Disney+ for $30.

The film isn’t just a tribute and a goodbye to a beloved character, though. It also kicks off “Phase Four” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after an unplanned two-year gap in Marvel theatrical releases following “Avengers: Endgame” (and, technically, “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”)

The stakes for big budget Marvel movies are always high, but “Black Widow” will also be a litmus test not just because of the unconventional release strategy, but also as a gauge for audience interest in the cinematic juggernaut going forward.

After the 23-film build to “Endgame,” which currently holds the title of second-highest grossing film of all time after a re-release of “Avatar” during the pandemic, Marvel is going into unchartered territory with new characters in films like “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” set for September, and “Eternals” in November. But Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige isn’t stressing much about that. This new phase, he said, is one of “new beginnings” moving forward.

“Within our movies, there’s this big shared experience that all the characters had with this, what we call the blip. Now, in real life, we all, as human beings on earth, have had the shared experience of this pandemic, of this lockdown. So there is an interesting parallel that we’re that we were playing on in our stories,” he said. “It’s been two years since we’ve had a film in theaters and we are ready. I hope the fans are ready.”

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The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

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Biden to visit ice cream shop in Crystal Lake, Illinois

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By Dennis Byrne,
today at 2:50 pm

Won’t stop on Chicago’s South Side where Republicans shot 104 people over the weekend.

No official word from the White House yet about which of about a half-dozen ice cream shops located in and around suburban Crystal Lake he’ll visit.

No official word that he’ll stop at an ice cream shop, but I’ll lay odds that he does, because that’s what Biden does.

Nothing against Crystal Lake, former home of the former outstanding Illinois legislator, Cal Skinner. But isn’t it, well, noteworthy that Biden chose to stop in the peaceful suburb some 35 miles northwest of Chicago rather than Chicago’s blood-soaked West or South sides.

Chicago now can reclaim it’s title, “Beirut on the Lake,” in reference to the  Lebanese Civil War of the 1980s. That supposedly was for Chicago’s “political and racial strife,” but not its street violence. I demure. Beirut was a dangerous place in the 1980s, just as is Chicago today.

Gang wars, revenge shootings, infants and kids killed and wounded in the crossfire. Police handcuffed and disrespected. Cops retiring without sufficient replacements. Structural violence.

And yet, unless I’m wrong, Biden will be shown licking an ice cream cone. Disgraceful. Rome burned while Nero fiddled. Chicago weeps while Biden licks. Perfect.

To subscribe to the Barbershop and be notified when I post, type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.

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For the one in six kids living with sensory processing disorder, finding clothes that are both comfortable and stylish is no small task. Fortunately, those kids — and the adults responsible for making sure they don’t run around naked in public — have River North mom Dina Lewis looking out for them. “Every morning used to start with a meltdown,” says Lewis, whose 9-year-old daughter refuses to wear socks, long sleeves, or pants that press too hard on her skin.

“So I said, ‘Let’s make something cool. Kick-ass kids’ clothes that are easy on the senses.’ ” Enter: Minor Details, a line of sensory-friendly, gender-neutral clothing that’s designed and tested by kids (check out the Scribble Tee, which looks like something Jackson Pollock could have sold for a million bucks). Each garment is tag-free and made with flat seams and ultrasoft fabric, which keeps itches to a minimum. For those who prefer loose-fitting clothes, the tie-dyed slouch pants offer plenty of leg room. Or if feeling snug is your kid’s thing, try out a comforting weighted cardigan with hidden interior pockets that Lewis points out are “perfect for a stash of raisins.” minordetailskids.com

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