Fifteen people were shot, three fatally, Tuesday in Chicago including a 19-year-old man who was fatally shot in Gresham on the South Side.

About 10:05 p.m., the man was running in an alley in the 8300 block of South Sangamon Street, when he was shot, Chicago police said. He was found in the backyard of a residence in the 8300 block of South Peoria Street, with a gunshot wound to the chest. The man was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.

Less than an hour prior, a 31-year-old man was shot to death in Ashburn on the South Side. The man was driving about 9:20 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Keating Avenue, when someone got out of a green-colored SUV and fired shots, police said. He was struck in the face and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.

A man was fatally shot in Canaryville on the South Side. The 29-year-old was in the 4600 block of South Normal Avenue about 3 a.m., when someone in a dark-colored SUV fired shots, police said. He was struck in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified him as Ryan Jackson, of South Shore.

In non-fatal shootings, a man was critically wounded in a drive-by that led to a vehicle crash in Bronzeville on the South Side. About 11:20 p.m., three men were in a silver Chevrolet Malibu when a vehicle pulled alongside them in the 2900 block of South Federal Street, and someone inside fired shots striking a passenger, a 21-year-old man, multiple times, police said.

The driver of the Malibu, whose age is unknown, continued driving to get to the hospital, but crashed into a Jeep Wrangler in the 1000 block of South Clark Street, police said. An Uber driver happened to be passing by and picked both men and brought them to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where the 21-year-old is in critical condition, police said. The driver of the Malibu is in fair condition at the same hospital, receiving treatment for a leg injury he received in the crash. The third person in the car refused medical treatment.

Two men were wounded in seporate shootings, minutes apart, the first in the Back of the Yards and the second in Woodlawn on the South Side.

A man was critically wounded in a shooting Tuesday in Back of the Yards on the South Side.

About 10:25 p.m., the 44-year-old was outside arguing with a group of males inside a silver Nissan Altima in the 1700 block of West 45th Street, when someone inside the car fired shots, police said. He was struck in the stomach and brought to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said.

About five minutes prior, a 24-year-old man was wounded in a drive-by in Woodlawn on the South Side. About 10:20 p.m., he was standing outside in the 6600 block of South Drexel Avenue, when someone in a passing vehicle fired shots, striking him in the leg, police said. He was brought to the University of Chicago Medical Center by Chicago fire officials in critical condition.

Two people were shot in Englewood on the South Side. They were sitting on the porch of a home about 9:55 p.m. in the 6800 block of South Justine Street when two male suspects opened fire from the street, police said. A 28-year-old was grazed on the knee and was transported to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition. A man, 57, was shot in the arm and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition.

Minutes prior, a man was grazed in a shooting in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood on the South Side. The man, 29, was grazed on the head about 9:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of West Cermak Road, police said. A friend drove the man to the University of Illinois Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition.

Three people were wounded in separate shootings, one in East Garfield Park and the other in Morgan Park on the West and South Sides.

Two men were in the 3800 block of West Gladys Avenue about 9:20 a.m., when someone fired shots at them, police said. The men, 23 and 24, were struck twice in the leg, and an acquaintance drove them to Stroger Hospital, where the younger man was in good condition and the older man was in critical condition.

At the same time A man was shot in Morgan Park on the Far South Side. Someone pulled alongside the man’s vehicle and opened fire about 9:20 p.m. in the 11400 block of South Vincennes Avenue, police said. The man, 35, was struck in the arm and torso and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was listed in good condition.

At least three others were shot citywide. Fourteen people were shot, one fatally, Monday.

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A man was critically wounded in a drive-by that led to a vehicle crash Tuesday night in Bronzeville on the South Side.

About 11:20 p.m., three men were in a silver Chevrolet Malibu when a vehicle pulled alongside them in the 2900 block of South Federal Street, and someone inside fired shots striking a passenger, a 21-year-old man, multiple times, Chicago police said.

The driver of the Malibu, whose age is unknown, continued driving to get to the hospital, but crashed into a Jeep Wrangler in the 1000 block of South Clark Street, police said. An Uber driver happened to be passing by and picked both men and brought them to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where the 21-year-old is in critical condition.

The driver of the Malibu is in fair condition at the same hospital, receiving treatment for a leg injury he received in the crash, police said. The third person in the car refused medical treatment.

There were no other injuries reported in the vehicle crash, police said.

Area Three detectives are investigating.

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Moon Alert

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 7:15 until 11 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Avoid financial decisions during the time of the moon alert. After the moon alert is over, your sense of adventure will grow! You will want to do something different. Talk to people from other cultures and explore new avenues in person or online.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Be accommodating with others this morning during the moon alert. Cooperation is the key. Do not volunteer for anything or agree to anything important during the moon alert. Afterward, financial matters will demand your attention.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You might encounter shortages at work this morning during the moon alert. Once it is over, your interactions with a partner or close friend will be significant. Be ready to accommodate their needs to make life easier for both of you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

You are creative and imaginative this morning, which is good news for those who are working on creative projects. After the moon alert is over everything will change, and you will want to work hard and be as efficient as possible. Remember Col. Saito? “Be happy in your work!”

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This morning you might sleep in and take it easy at home. However, after the moon alert is over, you want to explore fun diversions! Sports will appeal along with playful activities with kids. This is also a good day to work on creative projects.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Heed the warning of the moon alert this morning and do not make promises or volunteer for anything. Postpone important decisions. After the moon alert is over, your focus will turn to home and family matters. A family discussion might be important.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Avoid financial decisions and shopping during the moon alert this morning. (You can shop for food.) After the moon alert is over, it’s all systems go. The pace of your days will accelerate because of errands, tasks and possible short trips. Busy you!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This day begins with the moon in your sign, which makes you more emotional. However, it is also a moon alert, which means avoid important decisions and shopping. Once the moon alert is over, you can enter into financial negotiations and wheel and deal with your money.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

After the moon alert is over, the moon will enter your sign to stay for the rest of the day and tomorrow. This is good news for you. It gives you a subtle edge, a bit of extra good luck over all the other signs. (Sagittarians love good luck.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

After the moon alert, you will prefer to seek out solitude and work alone or behind the scenes because this is what feels best. It’s a been playful time with an emphasis on sports and fun activities with kids — perhaps you need a rest?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You are high visibility early this morning, especially during the moon alert. Do not volunteer for anything during that time. Do not agree to anything important. After it’s over, enjoy schmoozing with others. You might want to share your ideas about future plans with someone to get their feedback.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

It’s important to know that after the moon alert is over today, you will be high visibility. People will notice you more than usual and they will be more aware of personal details about your private life for some reason. Forewarned is forearmed.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Bridget Moynahan (1971) shares your birthday. You have a placid nature and enduring ambition. You are open-minded, logical and practical. You also love the discovery of new things, new ideas and new places. You finish what you begin. Speaking of beginnings, this is what will absorb you in the year ahead because it is a time to begin an entirely, fresh new cycle! Happy trails!

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A 31-year-old man was shot to death Thursday night in Ashburn on the South Side.

The man was driving about 9:20 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Keating Avenue when someone got out of a green-colored SUV and fired shots, Chicago police said.

He was struck in the face and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released details on his death.

The gunman was seen wearing a red t-shirt and black hat, according to police.

No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.

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WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday will hold a confirmation hearing for Candace Rae Jackson-Akiwumi, nominated by President Joe Biden to sit on the Chicago-based Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the very rare judge, if confirmed, who brings the perspective of a criminal defense lawyer to the bench.

A partner in a D.C. law firm only since last year, Jackson-Akiwumi spent a formative 10 years, between 2010 and 2020, as a staff attorney at the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Illinois.

If confirmed, as expected — Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin recruited her for the position — she will mark two milestones: Jackson-Akiwumi will be only the second Black woman ever on the Seventh Circuit and will be the only person of color currently on the Chicago appeals court.

And according to the Alliance for Justice, a liberal law group, Jackson-Akiwumi will be “only the third federal appellate judge to have spent a majority of their career as a public defender.”

Jackson-Akiwumi was among those in Biden’s first wave of 11 judicial nominations, where he made good on a promise to diversify the white, male dominated federal bench as well as to draw on lawyers with different backgrounds – including, as is Jackson-Akiwumi, public defenders.

In her Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire, Jackson-Akiwumi reveals how her nomination was in the works even before Biden was president. She said Durbin’s staff reached out to her about the Seventh Circuit vacancy last Dec. 30, a few weeks before Biden was sworn-in. On Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, she was in contact with officials in the incoming White House Counsel’s office.

On Jan. 25 — four days after Biden became president — she said she interviewed with attorneys from the White House Counsel’s office and later was in contact with the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice.

“On March 4, 2021, I met with President Biden and White House Counsel Dana Remus at the White House concerning the nomination. On March 30, 2021, the President announced his intent to nominate me.”

The Chicago Urban League, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., and the National Council of Jewish Women were among those who submitted letters supporting her nomination to the Judiciary Committee.

Karen Freeman-Wilson, the Chicago Urban League President and CEO, said in her letter, As “a federal public defender and a long-term resident of Chicago’s South Side, Candace is also mindful and deliberative in applying her skills as a lawyer to facilitate fair decisions, engage in open dialogue, and positively impact those in underserved communities. Additionally, she displays great analytical and communication skills, an effortless rapport with her peers, and a profound respect and enthusiasm for human dignity and community development.”

The leaders of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., who include its founder, now retired Judge Ann Claire Williams — the first and only judge of color to sit on the Seventh Circuit and the third Black woman to serve on any federal circuit court — noted Jackson-Akiwumi’s leadership role with the group and her work “developing a pipeline program to promote and increase Black woman lawyer representation at large law firms.”

The National Council of Jewish Women noted the history-making aspects of the Jackson-Akiwumi nomination in their letter.

“If confirmed, Jackson-Akiwumi would be the third appeals court judge to have spent the majority of her career as a public defender, the first-ever former federal defender on the Seventh Circuit, and the only Black woman on the Seventh Circuit — currently an all-white court.”

After graduating from Princeton in 2000 and Yale law school in 2005, she had two clerkships, including one with now retired U.S. District Court Judge David H. Coar, one of the few Black judges to sit on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

After three years as an associate at the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Jackson-Akiwumi joined the Federal Defender Program.

She described those years as a federal public defender in detail in her Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire.

“During my decade as a federal defender, I represented over 400 clients accused of federal crimes at every stage of the process, from investigation to trial and pre-trial proceedings, sentencing, and appeal, including petitions for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.

“In case types ranging from fraud to firearms, I successfully advised grand jury witness appearances, negotiated pleas, and achieved hundreds of mitigated sentences. I tried seven federal jury trials. I briefed and argued five more appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

“In the hundreds of cases where my clients ultimately chose not to go trial or chose not to appeal their conviction or sentence, I nonetheless evaluated and advised on potential trial issues and potential appellate issues throughout the pre-trial, trial, and sentencing phases of the case.

“I drafted and argued a large number of substantive motions at the trial level including motions to dismiss and motions to suppress. I also litigated hundreds of contested hearings, ranging from bond hearings to revocation hearings, suppression hearings, and sentencing hearings. Additionally, in many of my cases I supervised teams that assisted me in investigating facts, developing sentencing mitigation, and securing resources for clients with mental health, substance abuse, housing, and other needs.”

One of her notable legal achievements was her work, with two other lawyers, of ending the practice of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives of establishing phony drug stash houses. She challenged the pattern of the ATF, she said in her questionnaire, of “bringing these cases largely against African-American and Latino defendants. . ..The litigation also resulted in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois no longer charging fictitious stash house cases.”

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The Blackhawks’ last remaining playoff hopes, existing only in implausible scenarios entering the day, died quietly Tuesday.

A 7-4 loss at the hands of the Lightning, tying a neat bow on yet another eight-game season series in which the Hawks won just once — identically to their Predators series — snuffed out the last flame.

Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton had subtly admitted earlier Tuesday that he knew the playoffs had become unrealistic. But he nonetheless hoped his team could stay alive a bit longer to test the team’s many young players in pressure situations.

“Our hope coming in…is that we could be competitive and play meaningful games for as long as possible and of course do it with a lineup full of young guys, which we’ve delivered there,” Colliton said.

“The longer we can stay in the race, the better for everyone. It’s a lot easier to prepare for these types of games, especially with no fans, if the games mean something in the standings. That’s something we want to get a win tonight to extend it just a little more, understanding the situation we’re in.”

Colliton unfortunately won’t get his wish. The Hawks are still mathematically alive, but no sane human can look at either the standings — where the Hawks still trail the Predators and Stars by big margins — or the Hawks’ 9-15-0 record since March 6 and see any possible route.

Colliton also called on the Hawks to “go down fighting” and they did do that to an extent Tuesday, cutting a 6-2 deficit to 6-4 to make the game semi-interesting late.

It obviously wasn’t enough, though. The Hawks began Tuesday with a 0.8% playoff chance, per MoneyPuck; after the loss, it might take a microscope to read their updated odds.

Much of the night was spent down to four defensemen. Adam Boqvist left during the second period with a serious-looking right wrist injury after being spun into the ice by an Erik Cernak hit and didn’t return.

Connor Murphy, meanwhile, missed 17 minutes due to penalties for fighting Cernak, who’d waited impatiently for the duel since tempers first flared between the two teams in early March.

Goalie Kevin Lankinen was pulled for the second time in four games after allowing eight goals on 11 first-period shots. Ridden harder than the Red Line over the season’s second half, Lankinen has finally faltered lately, posting an .866 save percentage over his last nine appearances.

On the forward end, Mike Hardman made his NHL debut and Dylan Strome reentered the lineup after two eye-opening games as a healthy scratch, but it didn’t particularly matter. Nothing does anymore this season, at least when it comes to wins and losses.

The Hawks still have some things they can use their seven now-meaningless remaining games to learn. Do Strome, Nikita Zadorov, Adam Gaudette and others fit moving forward — and if so, where? How many minutes of experience can they give their plentiful first- and second-year players? Will Collin Delia ever start in goal again?

But the most significant question — “Can they make the playoffs?” — was answered for good Tuesday.

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Wisconsin’s general fishing season opens Saturday, a hometown actor made good with a big king, big largemouth bass being caught, bluegill moving shallower, and a mix of big fish at Clinton Lake are part of the sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.

This sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report contains everything from a Chicago actor meeting a king to big bass pulling up to lots of varied big fish at Clinton Lake.

Actor Joseph Sikora, product of Notre Dame College Prep and Columbia College, found some time for fishing between some recent shoots.

Lifelong friend Chris Belz emailed the photo at the top and this:

Hey Dale,

Appreciate your column and have enjoyed it for years thank you!

Find attached photo of Chicago’s very one, actor Joseph Sikora, who caught this 18lb King off of St Joes thanks to In the Box Charters.

Joe is currently filming Power 4ce in Chicago and had time to go fishing in between shoots.

Thanks, Chris Belz

Sikora has and is starring as Tommy Egan in various incarnations of Power.

WISCONSIN OPENER

Wisconsin’s general fishing season opens Saturday, May 1.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that the 2021-2022 fishing season will open May 1, without any changes to season dates. All regulations and license requirements still apply.

Prospects look generally good. Weekend weather looks generally mellow. Various breakdowns for individual waters are in their usual places.

CHICAGO RIVER NOTE

The Daley Park launch (31st and Western) on the Sanitary Ship Canal/South Branch of the Chicago River is rented out Monday, May 3, and Tuesday, May 4, and will not be accessible to launchers.

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 (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

Some bigger largemouth are starting to go; crappie vary from good to scarce and bluegill should heat up with the weather.

Provided by Rob Abouchar

Rob Abouchar emailed the photo above and this update, mostly from Busse:

Hi Dale

I wanted to email before things get real busy with school, music and other things. It was a great day at Busse Lake South Pool on Saturday. It was an outing that reminds one why we fish. I had the Leyden Bass Club out for sectionals practice and it was the kind of morning you could tell they might be hitting. Muskrats, White Egrets, and red wingers were abundant and the lake was like glass. Fish were bioiling and jumping, with minnows moving in the shallows. First time fisherman and new club member Jelainie Gutierez had a day she will most likely remember for a long time. 40 bluegill and other panfish; possibly shiners caught on her first time fishing ever. Beginners luck or a natural I don’t know. Other club members got in on the panfish action as the bass were still very reluctant to bite. Even Robert the Bus driver got in on the action as he was due to catch just a fish. To cap the day off coach Mike Hurt was able to coax a pre-spawn Largemouth out of the still cold waters with a Jointed Rapala in black and white as the sun started to come out and the temps warmed.

Next up hopefully a trip to farmer Bobs farm pond in Wisconsin Kettlemoraine area near Alpine valley this weekend.

Tight Lines and Good Health

Rob

OK, that just makes me happy.

Provided

Bryan Missey emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale,

This bass weighed 6.07lbs on my digital scale. I caught it on a spinnerbait at a Cook County pond. She put up an awesome fight, but I managed to bring her in on 8lb test line. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Bryan Missey

He added:

That’s the third six pounder I’ve caught and released there. Let them spread their genes.

Bryan

Provided

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

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Area lakes- the cold front that hit during the week had waters temps going down the the low 50’s. Fish have pushed off fom the shallows to the main basin and outside weed lines .

Bass have been decent on lipless crank baits fished in the main basin. Ripping the bait off the top of the weeds caused a reaction bite. Slow crawling a jig and craw trailer along the bottom got a few bigger bass.

Crappie are along the outside weed lines. Use crank baits to find the schools with active fish. Then follow-up with a variety of plastics fished under a float. A few decent bluegill can be had as well with this presentation.

Here is the nature pic of the week. A reminder that spring is still present.

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Provided

Rico Cantu emailed the photo below and this on Monday:

Hey Dale I got this nice bass last Friday it weighted about 4-1/2 lb and was 20 inches, I’m still looking for the crappies to start but this spring has been a strange one and we need rain, we’ll take care and be safe.Rico Cantu Lockport IL.

Rico Cantu from Lockport IL.

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported that when targeting largemouth in west suburb ponds you need to work through the slow periods to the sporadic windows.

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

Interesting weekend. I fished three different bodies of water and found 55 degree water in all of them. The warming appeared to have leveled off last week: those temperatures weren’t very different than I’d found the week before. However, with three consecutive days near 80 degrees, the warming trend has likely resumed.

I fished a couple of Kane County F.P. ponds/lakes on Friday and Saturday. I got a mix of bluegills and bass, nothing noteworthy as far as size. Fish did bite well, but once hooked were pretty docile in the cold water. A lot of the bass were in very close (staging for the upcoming spawn?) in shallow water. I probably spooked more of them than I hooked. Bluegills were out deeper.

. . .

Pete

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

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

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Provided photo

Pat Karpinski sent the photo above and this:

Got my pb musky 41 3/4 last week on the chain had a great day we boated the 3 fish that ate and had action from another dozen fish! It was an amazing day

Arden Katz said crappie were still in the channels, but will probably move out by the end of the week; bluegill are starting to pull into the channels.

Staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said largemouth are prespawn with lots on riprap and in the channel mouths; crappie are in the deeper channels and starting to move out to the brushpiles; walleye are spawned out and good in the river or around bridges and some are on shad schools; white bass slowed; lots more smallmouth in the river; panfishing has picked up; a few flatheads have been caught already and otherwise channel catfish being caught.

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

NOTE 2: The Stratton Lock and Dam reopens Saturday, May 1. Here is the word from the IDNR:

IDNR Announces 2021 Operating Schedule for Stratton Lock

MCHENRY, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced the operating schedule for the William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock facility on the Fox River in McHenry County.

The lock will open Saturday, May 1 for the 2021 navigation season. Normal operating hours will be seven days per week from 8:00 a.m. until midnight for the months of May through September, and 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. for the month of October.

The Stratton-Bolger Lock facility is closed for the winter season each year from November 1 through April 30.

DELAVAN/GENEVA/WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed this preview:

Outlook for Opening Day; Walworth County

It’s like Christmas for most outdoor enthusiasts, the opening day of inland fishing season. After a long winter it’s time to catch some game fish. Opening day for game fish on most inland waters is the first Saturday in May.

Walworth County in Southeastern Wisconsin is blessed with many great fishing waters. The county has one of the deepest lakes in the state in Lake Geneva along with a bunch of shallow fast warming bodies of water such as Lake Como and Whitewater Lake.

In early May, Lake Geneva has some disadvantages being so deep and big. The water tends to be really cold and the fish aren’t usually that active. Most of the smallmouth bass are being caught suspended, not associating with any structure. They can also be very active chasing bait fish pods near their spawning flats. I work the suspended fish in 12-15 feet of water. My preferred presentations are Kalin Grubs in Avocado color fished on a darter head or Arkie Jigs Shinee Hinnee (a small crappie hair jig that resembles a shiner). The spawning flats I focus on are the near the South Shore Club (formerly the Military Academy), Elgin Club or near Knollwood.

Largemouth bass will be the most active in the shallows, in such places as Trinkes, Abbey Harbor or in Geneva Bay. I like using baits such as a Yum Dingers or a Texas rigged plastic worm. Green pumpkin or watermelon are always my best colors.

The larger bluegills will be in the warmer shallow waters around the emerging weeds and shallow structure. The best presentation is Thill slip bobbers with Lindy’s Toad ice jigs. I prefer using wax worms or leaf worms. My favorite bluegill spots are Abbey Harbor, Geneva Bay near the library or by the South shore club.

Statewide, Delavan Lake is known as one of the best fishing lakes. Since it is so well known as an awesome fishery, it will also be one of the busiest lakes on opening day. The crappie fishing has already been pretty good for the first few weeks of April. The best depth is in the 8-12 foot depth range. I like mini-mites or small plastics in purple or yellow. For live bait fishermen, Thill slip bobber rigs tipped with small fat head minnows also produces a lot of fish. Look for the fish by Browns Channel or by the island on the west end of the lake.

Walleyes in early May are shallow. Delavan is very clear this time of year and that can make the walleyes a bit skittish. The fish are in the emerging weeds in 5 to 10 feet of water. Night or low light conditions produce the most fish. Trolling shallow diving crankbaits typically produces the most fish.

Largemouth bass will be cruising the shallows in pre-spawn. The best approach is Yum Dingers fished Texas rigged in 3-5 feet of water near the outlet and by Lake Lawn Lodge.

While Delavan and Geneva are both great for fishing, personally I prefer some of Walworth Counties shallower lakes for opening day. The lakes tend to have a much higher water temperature and that helps keep the fish more active. The smaller lakes also receive a lot less fishing pressure and can be very productive. My favorite lake choices are Whitewater, Como and Tripp lakes. Work the shallow emerging weeds in 3 to 5 ft of water for largemouth bass. My lure choices are a Booyah white spinnerbait in ¼ oz or a Texas rigged Yum Dinger in Green pumpkin. Being such shallow lakes, the weed growth can be tremendous so early May can be the best fishing of the year on these bodies of water.

Shore anglers in Walworth County can have good action as well on opening day throughout the county. Turtle creek has a decent smallmouth and pan fish bite along with the requisite suckers and carp. Shore anglers are welcome to fish in the Town of Delavan’s community park for a small fee. The Kettle Moraine State forest also has some great shore opportunities on and near Whitewater lake.

The opportunities are abundant here is Walworth County. Come and enjoy opening day. For guide parties contact Dave Duwe of Dave Duwe’s Guide Service at 262-728-8063.

DOWNSTATE

There are updates on Hennepin-Hopper and Emiquon.

Provided by Jim Shell

CLINTON: Jim Shell emailed the photos above and below and this:

Dale,

Here’s a report to go along with the pics..

Fished Clinton Lake this past Saturday, late afternoon and Sunday morning. Our target species were the wipers (hybrid stripers). We ended up boating 3 adult wipers (biggest was 6lb-11 oz), several smaller ones, (2) 15” walleye, many large drum and some BIG blue catfish. The (3) biggest weighed 20, 28 and 37lbs! ALL fish were caught trolling a Buck Perry spoonplug, the series 250 which has a running depth of 6 to 9 ft. All fish caught were very active. It was a very fun trip for the both of us!

Jim & Casey Shell

Hello Buck Perry.

Here’s their video:

POWERTON: Summer hours, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., beginning Saturday, May 1.

EMIQUON: As of Saturday, May 1, access permits and liability waivers are again required. They are available from Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounts 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

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported slower fishing, but some smallmouth are hitting below the dams and in the shallows as water levels remain very low; water was 59 on Monday (probably into the 60s now); reports come of the first flatheads, primarily in the North Aurora area.

Provided by Pete Lamar

Pete Lamar emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale,

Interesting weekend. I fished three different bodies of water and found 55 degree water in all of them. The warming appeared to have leveled off last week: those temperatures weren’t very different than I’d found the week before. However, with three consecutive days near 80 degrees, the warming trend has likely resumed.

. . .

I fished a Fox trib on Sunday. Near the mouth, just upstream of the Fox, the stream bottom was covered with suckers on their spawning run. I made a few casts and drifts through the pool. It was far more likely that I would foul hook a sucker, but somehow a smallmouth found my marabou leech in that crowd. It too, was pretty docile and came to hand quickly. Farther upstream, I hooked the 18 inch smallmouth in the photo. It also ate the marabou leech.

Pete

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Provided

Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above and emailed this:

Fishing Report 4/26/2021

Mike Norris

Lake Puckaway – Puckaway is best known for its northern pike and walleye fishing and very few anglers target bass on this body of water. Well, that may change. The Wisconsin Elite Series stages both bass and walleye tournaments across Wisconsin. One week after staging a walleye tournament on Puckaway the group returned there last Saturday to hold their first bass tournament of the 2021 season. The results were impressive. The winning weight for five bass was 19.59 lbs. and the big bass was a smallmouth bass weighing in at 5.46 lbs.

Big Green Lake – The smallmouth bass bite remains good. The bass are holding on secondary drop offs waiting for the shallows to warm. Water temp remains in the low 40’s but I’m hoping to see bass show up in the shallows as warmer weather approaches this week.

Fox Lake (Dodge Co) I’m continuing to target this lake for early season largemouth bass and northern pike. While my clients are not catching numbers of bass, the size has been impressive. Blade baits worked over shallow rocky points is the ticket right now.

To book me for 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

Water is reaching that magical mid-60s range. Click here for the FOTW for a big muskie, a really big muskie, caught Friday while fishing for walleye.

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

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

SMELT: Season, such as it was or wasn’t, ends Friday, April 30.

The winds haven’t helped with a slow-down in shore fishing; more smallmouth bass being seen. The warmup today should bring out more anglers, which might help with the catches.

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait texted:

No reports on smelt. Cold weather slowed down anglers and reports.

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

Hi Dale Fishing around Montrose area has been slow. Waiting on the baitfish to move into the harbors and then hopefully a few Trout and Salmon will follow them in. Absolutely no word on any smelt or smelters.Have a great week.

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said that out of North Point on Tuesday (where the wind switched north midday and temperatures dropped nearly 30 degrees) fishing was so-so for coho (the bait has disappared) and most of their bites came in 40-150 feet (one caught shallow) with some big lake trout in 40-50 and a couple steelhead in 140-150. Coho had bugs in their bellies, lakers all had gobies. Out of Chicago, as of Sunday, no coho, but the good laker bite continues in 35-60 from off McCormick Place to the R-4.

Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:

Hi Dale

Waukegan and Northpoint boat anglers had to be adaptable. Tuesday through Friday fishing was good for coho, browns and lakers in 15 to 30 feet from Great Lakes NTS to north of the state line. Saturday things changed. The shallow coho chasing the alewife moved North. Waukegan and Northpoint boats had to move out to 70 to 100 feet off Waukegan and 80 to 130 off Northpoint to find the bug eater coho. 2.0 to 2.5 inch slider style files were the key in Blue/Green/Gold, Green/Gold, and Pearl/White from Jimmy Fly, Stanley Stinger or Lake Michigan Angler run in the top 5 feet. There were some suspended lake trout taken from 20 to 60 feet down. The lakers preferred spoons, mostly orange Warrior spoons in Orange Killer, Steelhead Candy and Halftime patterns on divers and downriggers. A couple of boats had the first kings of the year.

Chicago and Wilmette had catches of mostly lake trout with a king or coho here and there. Again spoons were most effective in the patterns above.

I saw some nice bass moving around Waukegan harbor this weekend. But most shore fishermen were targeting salmon, since they will have the whole summer to catch the warmer water species. Early in the week when the shallow alewife eating coho were in, the shore guys were doing very well, with the casters outperforming the power liners.

Capt. Scott Wolfe
schooloffishcharters.com630-341-0550

LaSALLE LAKE

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

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Going into the opener, Gene Dellinger at D&S Bait said water levels are low; bass have been pretty good during the catch-and-release season; water is cold (Mendota was 46 Tuesday); some catfish on the north end of Mendota; bass regulations go to the state regulations on opening day.

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Both units are open for open-water fishing or ice fishing.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

General fishing season opens Saturday, May 1 and weather looks stunning good for opening weekend.

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua said that the warm early April has walleye post-spawn, so target them around fresh green weeds with jig and minnow or something similar; pike are on the weeds, too, but deeper; largemouth season opens Saturday, too, target shallow soft-bottom bays that warm faster; crappie moved out with cold, expect them to come in in with weekend warmup (60s and 70s).

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Provided

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted the photo above and this:

Fishing good from Michigan city to burns ditch in 40 to 50 ft of water using spoons and dodgers and flys best

a few kings around also

Crappie on lake George in Hobart using minnows

Bluegill and redear will really heat up next couple weeks use crickets,red wigglers and waxworms

Catfish decent fishing deep river and burns ditch using cut bait as the water warms up triple s stinkbait really takes over for best bait

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

Hi, Dale. Here’s what the past week’s news has been. Hope you’re enjoying this gorgeous weather!

Fishing is starting to heat up with more and more Kings showing up on the lakefront & subsidiary waters everyday. Anglers are catching a lot of limits (mostly Coho), but Kings are in the catches also. A few Walleye are being caught on Leeches & Nightcrawlers, but it’s a little early yet. Inland lakes are doing good with Bluegill and Crappie, mostly on Spikes/Beemoths, Butterworms, & Worms.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin DNR emailed:

The spring steelhead migration is winding down, and the Root River Steelhead Facility has been shut down for the season. A total of 596 steelhead were handled in the facility this spring. Operations will resume in the fall for the Chinook and coho salmon runs.

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

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Note the photo at the very top, so there are at least a few good kings out of St. Joseph, as Joseph Sikora showed.

In recent days, fishing is relatively slow fishing or hampered by wind on Lake Michigan.

Paddle and Pole hosts the Berrien Springs Fish Ladder Camera.

SHABBONA LAKE

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

Concessions are closed and for sale.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

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

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:

Walleye action is picking up with the water dropping. Minnows on jigs or rigs, and dragging crawlers on jigs working best. White bass action still slow with water temp around 50 degrees

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The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.

WASHINGTON — Americans will have more time to get the Real ID that they will need to board a flight or enter federal facilities.

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday extended the Real ID deadline until May 3, 2023. The deadline had been Oct. 1, 2021, but it was becoming clear that many people wouldn’t make it, in part because the COVID-19 outbreak has made it harder for states to issue new licenses.

Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission.

The updated cards will be required for airport check-in and to enter federal facilities.

People are getting compliant IDs as they renew, but it takes time and the process has been slowed by the pandemic, with many state agencies operating at limited capacity.

DHS says only 43% of all driver’s licenses and identification cards are compliant.

Older IDs will be suitable to allow people to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos. Travelers also can use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

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