Police investigate outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School, where a student and guard were shot Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The shooting happened Tuesday afternoon outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School on Pershing Road, authorities say.

A 14-year-old girl and a security guard were seriously wounded when a gunman standing outside a high school in Bronzeville opened fire as the guard was opening a door to let students out.

The girl and the 45-year-old man were shot around 3:20 p.m. outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School in the 3800 block of South Giles, according to a statement from Chicago police.

The girl was shot three times in the abdomen and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, according to police. The man, shot at least six times, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition.

Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said the guard had just opened one of the doors when he was hit. The girl apparently was in the doorway inside the school. He reported no arrests and released few other details.

Students said the doorway where the girl and guard were shot is a popular exit for students heading home. Students were sent back into the school and told to wait for a family member to pick them up. Parents ran under police tape to reach their kids.

As of 4:30 pm, Marrissa Martin still had not been able to find her daughter. “I’m still looking for her, she didn’t call my phone or nothing. I don’t know if she was scared and went to her friend’s house and her phone died.”

Martin is an alum of the school and said she has never heard of anything like this happening to students or staff on campus.

Michelline Joseph came to pick up her senior son and was shocked to learn what happened.

“Kids should never have to go to school under that kind of environment, situation,” Joseph said. “These are good kids, they all come from good backgrounds, their parents work.”

Martin said she does not plan to send her daughter back to school this week. “She won’t be back here for a while,” Martin said. “She’s probably shaken. She’s a sophomore in high school.”

Reggie Thompson’s children don’t go to Phillips anymore but they walk by the school on their way home. His heart started racing when they wouldn’t answer their phones.

Panicked, he rushed to the school from work, praying they were okay. He pulled up in an alley and ran out of his truck, frantically asking, “What happened, Where are my kids?”

Moments later, he spotted his 14-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter walking down an alley carrying grocery bags, returning from a trip to Mariano’s.

He was relieved, but scolded them for not answering their phones. “Please answer your phones, that’s why you got them,” he said he told them. “My heart was gone, I was numb for a minute. Prayer do work.”

Thompson said he transferred his children out of Phillips to Dunbar about a month ago to avoid dangerous situations. “This is one of the reasons why. They just said themselves I’m glad you transferred us,” he said.

“The times have changed,” he continued. “The streets have no discipline anymore and that’s what’s happening. People have no consequences. If they do something, they feel like no one can tell them what to do, so it’s easy for them to do anything.

“It’s scary these days, it’s not like it used to be,” Thompson said. “My heart is still beating fast right now.”

In September, two 15-year-old students from Simeon Career Academy were shot and killed on the same day in separate attacks, one of them not far from the South Side campus.

“It’s ridiculous, you know the kids have to go to school, it’s just very unsafe now because we don’t know if the kids are gonna be safe going to school or picking up after school,” said an employee of Chicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles restaurant, around the corner from Phillips.

The employee, who did not want to be named, said they heard about four or five shots, then saw police cars flood the area.

“I just wish our city would be safer, I just wish it was more safety,” she said. “Our kids have to grow up here, our kids have to go to school here, we have a restaurant to run here. I just pray for our safety.”

At least 161 children 15 years old and younger have been shot in Chicago so far this year, a 24% increase over the number of children shot over the same period last year, according to Sun-Times data.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Police investigate outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School, where a student and guard were shot Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.Read More

Former Blackhawks video coach Bradley Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted a player in 2010. | Sun-Times file photo

Consolidating the negligence lawsuits makes sense because both “include similar allegations” regarding Aldrich, the former Hawks video coach who allegedly assaulted a player in 2010, Hawks lawyers wrote.

The Blackhawks hope to consolidate the two negligence lawsuits related to former video coach Bradley Aldrich’s alleged sexual assaults into one lawsuit, per a new court motion filed Tuesday.

The Hawks proposed consolidating the lawsuit filed by a former Michigan high school hockey player (identified anonymously as “John Doe 2”) whom Aldrich assaulted in 2013 into the lawsuit filed by a former Hawks player (“John Doe 1”) whom Aldrich allegedly assaulted in 2010.

Doing so makes sense because “the lawsuits include similar allegations, involve the same defendant, arise from the same underlying facts relating to [the] defendant, and, if allowed to proceed separately, could lead to inefficiency, inconsistent rulings and, potentially, inconsistent judgments,” Hawks lawyers wrote.

Both sides have battled through a lengthy string of motions, amendments and responses ever since the two lawsuits were initially filed in May and June. The Doe 2 case has already changed assigned judges once; the Doe 1 case is assigned to a different judge.

The most recent responses by plaintiffs’ lawyer Susan Loggans, filed Oct. 1, presented new claims that Doe 1 suffered anxiety, depression, severe sleep and anger problems, sexual dysfunction and marital problems resulting in divorce as results of Aldrich’s assault.

But Loggans also filed a new motion Friday. In it, she requested she be allowed to promptly depose James Gary, a former Hawks skills coach who allegedly convinced Doe 1 that the assault was his own fault, because the “circumstances of [Gary’s] availability have changed.”

The Hawks still have pending motions to dismiss in both lawsuits that have prevented them from progressing to the discovery stage.

Chalupa waived

The Hawks placed minor-league forward Matej Chalupa on unconditional waivers Tuesday for the purposes of contract termination.

Chalupa, 23, signed with the Hawks in May 2020 as a European free agent after breaking out in the Czech league. But he never caught on in North America, scoring just seven points in 27 AHL games last season. After being assigned to Rockford again this year — clearly buried deep down the forward depth chart — it seems the experiment has been abandoned.

Read More

Where to spread your generosity this holiday season.Read More

Read More

Read More

White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon, center, watches from the dugout with Andrew Vaughn, left, and Lucas Giolito against the Houston Astros in the third inning during Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) | AP Photos

Carlos Rodon allowed two runs in 2 2/3 innings

Carlos Correa knocked Carlos Rodon out of the game with a two-run, two-out double on an 0-2 pitch in the third inning, Alex Bregman scored two runs with a double on a 3-0 pitch from Garrett Crochet in the fourth, and the Houston Astros threatened to end the White Sox’ season by taking a commanding 6-1 lead in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Needing a win to knot the series at two games apiece and send it to Houston for a deciding game, the Sox were in jeopardy of losing it in four games for their second straight early exit from postseason. The Sox reached the postseason for the second time in a row for the first time, losing the best of three Wild Card series to the Athletics last season.

After two inspiring scoreless innings from left-hander Carlos Rodon, the Sox scored first on designated hitter Gavin Sheets’ solo home run to center field against Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. in the second. Astros center fielder Jake Meyers injured his right shoulder reaching over the wall and left the game.

Rodon, touching 99 mph in his first start in 13 days, struck out Bregman and Jordan Alvarez with Jose Altuve on third base after Altuve hit Rodon’s first pitch of the game, a 93-mph fastball, into the left field corner for a double.

Touching 99 for the first time since July, Rodon’s sequence of strikeouts had the crowd in a frenzy. Bothered by a sore shoulder much of the second half of the season, Rodon let out a triumphant scream as he came off the mound. In the second inning, Rodon allowed a leadoff single to Correa, then recorded three straight outs.

After striking out Martin Maldonado leading off the third, Rodon hit Altuve on the elbow pad with a pitch and loaded the bases with two outs by walking Alex Bregman and Jordan Alvarez, setting up Correa’s big blow giving the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Maldonado’s RBI single, a liner up the middle that made Kopech duck out of the way, scored Kyle Tucker to make it 3-1, and Bregman’s double made it 5-1 Astros. Brantley’s two-out single against Aaron Bummer scored Chas McCormick, who had replaced Meyers in center field. The Astros stole three bases on Rodon and Kopech and catcher Yasmani Grandal.

Rodon was charged with two runs and Michael Kopech, who replaced Rodon, was charged with three runs. Manager Tony La Russa said Monday that Kopech, who had thrown 47 pitches in the Sox’ 12-6 win in Game 3, would not be available.

McCullers was pulled after four innings and 73 pitches.

The Sox’ starting rotation had the best ERA in the AL this season, but Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease and Rodon allowed 14 runs lasting only 12 1/3 innings for a 10.22 ERA in four starts.

The Astros stole three bases on

Center fielder Luis Robert left the game in the sixth with right leg tightness.

The Astros led 6-1 in the seventh inning. A victory would put them in the ALCS to face the Red Sox, a series that would start Friday in Houston.

Read More

Radious Nalls caught a 25-pound blue catfish from the Mississippi River on a crawler, | Provided

Shoreline Chinook again lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, though that will change soon; but there’s also a couple nice blue catfish, the waiting on the fall feeding frenzy to truly kick in, and Illinois’ fall trout season opening Saturday.

Shoreline Chinook again lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, though that is going to change; but there’s also a couple nice blue catfish, the waiting on the fall feeding frenzy to truly kick in, and Illinois’ fall trout season opening Saturday.

TROUT SEASON

Regular fall trout season opens Saturday, Oct. 16. Daily bag is five; those 16 and older need a fishing license and an inland trout stamp. Nearby sites include in Cook County (Axehead, Belleau, Busse North, Green, Horsetail, Sag Quarry East, Wolf), DuPage (Grove, Pickerel, Silver); Kankakee (Bird Park Quarry, Rock Creek); Kendall (Big Lake at Silver Springs SFWA); Lake (Sand Lake at Illinois Beach SP); McHenry (Spring Grove Hatchery Pond); Will (Lake Strini, Van Horn Woods).

Click here for the statewide release.

Early catch-and-release season for trout is open at a few select spots, closet are Rock Creek at Kankakee River State Park, White Pine Forest SP or Apple River Canyon SP.

SHORELINE/TRIBUTARY SALMON/TROUT

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

. . . over the weekend before the storms came through there was salmon still being caught casting and a few starting on bait. A few trout have shown up as well mostly rainbows not sure if there’s been any Browns yet but they have been hitting larger minnows and spawn. I also think there’s been a few coho in the mix.

Brian Caunter at Henry’s Sports and Bait said more kings at South Side harbors, including some good ones are being caught, last week.

WAUKEGAN: Capt. Dan Leslie at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan said

Spoons and spawn sacs working for primarily kings with a few coho.

NORTHWEST INDIANA: Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Few kings and coho and a steelhead here and there being caught in all nwi tributaries.

ILLINOIS FROG SEASON

Illinois’ bullfrog (only) season ends Friday, Oct. 15.

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

I think the cooler weather should start to kick in the crappie bite by the weekend.

Provided
Ken “Husker” O’Malley with a fall largemouth bass from an area lake.

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

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Area lakes-weather continue to inhibit fall patterns to develop as water temps remain abnormally high for this time of year.

Bass are good during evening hours on topwater baits and twitching minnow baits over the top of weeds. A few crappie and bluegill can be caught as well with this presentation.

. . .

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Tuesday, Oct. 19 is the final day of fishing.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Arden Katz said they had to vertical jig because boat traffic was so heavy that he could not troll (with cooler weather the traffic should reduce) with minnows or Mini-Mites for schooled white bass, yellow bass and crappie, with a bonus freshwater drum on Lake Marie.

Kyle at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said that muskie are good in 15-16 feet on bucktails, suckers and big plastics; the bigger crappie are in 15-20 suspended; big pike are shallow; as are channel catfish; perch are “everywhere;” walleye are variable in both numbers caught and depth where caught.

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.-8 p.m. through Oct. 31.

CHICAGO RIVER

Provided
Jeffrey Williams with a couple largemouth bass caught from the Chicago River.

Jeffrey Williams (who last week again caught some good perch downtown) messaged on the Monday the photo above and this:

caught a total of 16 bass, went through 4 dozen minnows in 3.5 hours. These 2 were 10 and 13 in

And this:

Also caught something thats not a fish

Provided by Jeffrey Williams
The surprise of a snake on the Chicago River.

DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Delavan Lake 10/11/21 through 10/18/21

Delavan continues to be in a transition period between summer and fall. Due to that fact, some days the fishing is really good and others it is quite slow.

Earlier in the week, walleye fishing was good on lindy rigged nightcrawlers in 20-21 ft of water. However, by the weekend, that bite was slow. The average catch has been about 10-12 fish an outing, with one or two being legal. The crank bait fishing is starting to heat up. I’ve been casting Wally divers along the weedlines in 16-20 ft of water. Chrome/Blue or Chrome/Black have been the best colors.

Northern pike fishing has been kind of sporadic. Most of the bigger fish are being caught suspended in 20-27 ft of water approximately 2 ft off bottom. Most of the success is still coming off of lindy rigged suckers. Some of the fish that have been caught are starting the fall feed bag and are very chunky. Look for the fish by the Village Supper Club, Willow Point or the south shore by Browns Channel.

The Crappies are starting to suspend over the deep water. When you can find an active school you can fill up a bucket in a matter of a few minutes. Most of the success I’ve been having is coming off of small plastics or a small fathead minnow. I slowly troll around looking at my locator until I find the active schools. The main lake points are the best places to start.

Bluegills have again moved shallow. Most of the success is coming near the Island on the west end. Most of the fish are coming on red worms or leaf worms. Work a depth of 14-16 ft of water. Anchored slip bobber fishermen are having most of the success.

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

DOWNSTATE

POWERTON: Winter hours–8 a.m.-4 p.m.–are back. Last day for boat fishing is Oct. 24. Bank fishing runs through Oct. 29.

SPRING LAKE: Oct. 22 is the last day for boaters on the main lake; boat fshing is allowed from the Sky Ranch Road ramp to Maple Island buoy during waterfowl seasons. Bank fishing along South Lake Road is not allowed until after 1 p.m. during waterfowl season.

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

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

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed for the season. Check regulations at http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/dixon-paddling-fishing.

FOX RIVER

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported that the Batavia dam was “on fire” for smallmouth; a 28-pound flathead caught and a 40-incher in North Aurora; rains helped the levels.

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

Things finally changed this week: the Fox and its tributaries came up a bit, at least in places, last weekend. That’s even more true now after all the rain yesterday. At last, there is some current and depth. I caught fish in a couple of outings, but not in big numbers. All fish were on the smaller side. I’m hopeful the larger smallmouths will begin to move to their normal Fall haunts now with the higher water. It’s also about time to start looking for crappies in some of the deeper and slower pools.

. . .

Pete

GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Lake Geneva 10/11/21 thru 10/18/21

The lake still remains awesome for fishing. The lake hasn’t turned over yet. It will probably take another 3-4 weeks.

Smallmouth bass are still in the 20-25 ft depth range. With the warmer water temperatures, nightcrawlers continue to be a safe bet. For the artificial fishermen, Berkley Gulp Finesse worms in the 4 inch length are catching quite a few fish. Green pumpkin is producing most of the fish. The best location is by the Military Academy and both Cedar and Conference Points.

Northern Pike are active in the shallows. The best approach is trolling large spinner baits. Chartreuse or White are the most successful colors or trolling Bandit Shallow diving Walleye crankbaits in the perch pattern. Look for the fish in 10-12 ft of water. The best location is in Williams Bay or in Fontana Beach.

Yellow Perch have moved into their fall pattern and can be readily caught in the 10-12 ft range. The best baits are small fathead minnows or wax worms. I prefer fishing them on slip bobbers. Some of the fish are also being caught on small twister tails fished on a small Arkie lead head jig. The best location is by Knollwood and Rainbow Point.

Largemouth bass have moved shallow. They can be caught in the 10-14 ft depth range. Spinner baits or Rattle Traps have been producing most of the action. Look for the fish in Geneva Bay or by Trinkes. Some of the fish can also be caught dragging nightcrawlers with a split shot rig in the same depth range.

Bluegill fishing has been very good. Most of the bigger bluegills are in 20 ft of water. You can catch a boat load of 5-6 inch fish in the 10-12 ft range. The best bait is small leaf worms fished on a split shot rig. For the bigger fish and the deep water bite, try lindy rigs fished with a small leaf worm.

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

Provided by Mike Norris
Chicagoan Marty Schechtel with a largemouth bass from Fox Lake in Wisconsin.

Guide Mike Norris emailed:

Fishing Report – 10/11/2021

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake – Smallmouth bass are scattered, and I am just picking up one here and there. But they are good ones when I do. Weed edges and rock-strewn points are still getting most of my attention with swim jigs and tubes the lures of my choice. Surface temp on Big Green remains in the upper 60’s, but the cooler weather forecast for later this week should start cooling the lake down. I checked my records and found Big Green Lake is currently ten degrees warmer right now than this time in past years, a result of global warming? The incoming cooler weather should start grouping the smallmouth bass and the bite will improve.

Fox Lake – I guided Joe and Marty Shechtel from Chicago on Fox Lake last Saturday. We caught largemouth bass and northern pike in two feet of water with both Senko’s and Chatterbaits. The bass here were also scattered and we could not locate them in groups. Other anglers are reporting catches of walleye in shallow water also. Muskie fishing is slow, but the crappie bite is picking up along outside weed edges.

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

Lake closed for the season today, but Bob Johnson sent a wrap-up with several key points and the photo below from last week:

Dale – The chances of catching a trophy Muskie on Heidecke have gone up in this boat! We witnessed another boat and this one lucky (unlucky) fisherman hook into and fight a giant only to lose the fish at the boat attempting to net it. Wow! Joel and I had a sub par day only hooking a handful of Smallmouth and one Walleye to end this year on the lake. Water temp at 71 in October is proof global warming is here. The landscape of the lake is changing too. Exposed rocks everywhere on the south end due to low water levels. This area could handle big snow this off season.

Provided
Bob Johnson with an end-of-season walleye from Heidecke Lake.

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

Brian Caunter at Henry’s Sports and Bait said more kings at South Side harbors, including some good ones are being caught, last week. He also said some nice northern pike are being caught at some harbors.

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

Good morning Dale I’m not in the shop for a couple days this week but over the weekend before the storms came through there was salmon still being caught casting and a few starting on bait. A few trout have shown up as well mostly rainbows not sure if there’s been any Browns yet but they have been hitting larger minnows and spawn. I also think there’s been a few coho in the mix. Couple nice Northern also. Have a great week.

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said there have so many different winds that the lake hasn’t really had time to settle, that said, the focus is on lake trout around the reefs, out of North Point and Chicago; a few kings mixed in with the lakers. “Not on any one reef any more, so they are relating to underwater structures, deep-water reefs in 130-200-plus, relating to the bottom.

Capt. Dan Leslie at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan said

Spoons and spawn sacs working for primarily kings with a few coho.

SALMON SNAGGING: Here are the details from the IDNR:

4) Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon. B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

d) Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged salmon and paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly, in accordance with Article 5, Section 5-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

LaSALLE LAKE

Provided
Daryl Turner with one of his classic big blue catfish from LaSalle Lake.

Daryl Turner, whom I haven’t heard as much from this year, sent an end-of-the-season shot of one of his big blues (above) from LaSalle.

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Friday, Oct. 15 is the final day of fishing.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset. Tuesday, Oct. 19 is the final day of fishing; but Monster stays open all year.

MINNESOTA

Provided by McQuoid’s Inn
Amber Peterson with a Mille Lacs smallmouth bass.

Justin Lederer emailed the photo above and this from McQuoid’s Inn in Isle, Minn.:

Justin Lederer checking in from McQuoids Inn Lake Mille Lacs. The smallmouth are still biting on suckers right now they are in 8-14 feet around the reefs temperatures are starting to drop soon they will be stacked up on boulders in the deeper water. Walleye are still sporadic should start feeding more as the water temperature drops. It’s almost giant Muskie time late October into November they really start to put on the feed bag. Have a great week everyone.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Provided
Ken “Husker” O’Malley with a fall northern pike from northern Wisconsin.

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

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

. . .

Northern Wisconsin-abnormally warm October temperatures have fish in a holding pattern. Water temps are holding in the mid sixties. Not a bad thing when checking out the fall colors with the wife.

Smallmouth can be caught on shaky head jigs with max scent hit worms fishing rock piles.

Northern pike are decent on Mepps spinners fishing weedlines as there are plenty of green weeds remaining.

Here is the nature pic of the week [below]. A picture perfect fall day in Northern Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Vickie O’Malley.

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Vickie O’Malley
A fall scene in northern Wisconsin.

That sets the mood.

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

Feels like we’ve been in a “forever September” with afternoon temps in the 70’s holding lake surface temps running 63-67+ degrees. Beautiful weather, most days with almost no wind, lots of sun, but not what us anglers are looking for this time of year.

Fish continue to seem as perplexed as anglers for the most part. Mostly just us anglers, not finding the fish where we expect them or in the quantity.

Musky: Good – Following a poor rating last week, went out and had a 3 fish day, all on suckers. Fish have been moving and action should only improve once weather cools. Smity Jerks, Mantas and 7″ twitch baits moving fish best, but bucktails still moving fish also.

Crappies: Fair-Good – While wood fish remain scattered, anglers finding good action working 10-13′ of weeds, keeping minnows at weed top levels, 3-4′ off bottom, working best as are mini-mites and small hair jigs. A little surprised to find crappies in this location at this time of year but with water temps running above average and 10-12 degrees warmer than this time last year, nothing should be surprising.

Yellow Perch: Good -Fair – Some good catches of 9-12′ perch being caught using 1/16 oz weedless jigs tipped with medium fatheads in 8-9′ weed edges and pockets.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Some good action on nice eaters in shallows with weeds and signs of small 1-2″ yellow perch. Jig and minnow, #3 Mepps spinners, and 1/4 oz spinnerbaits producing.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Picking fish up in small groups from gravel/mud transition areas. Large fatheads, suckers, and black chubs on 1/8 – 1/4 oz jigs. Drowned wood holding eyes in 10-14′ of water, slip-floats holding crawlers just above logs best.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Best off shore humps and hanging around sandgrass flats. Drop-shotting best approach, yet live bait meant for walleyes also providing action.

Bluegill: Fair – Few reports, but some larger gills taking small minnows meant for crappies over weed tops in 10-13′.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Poor – Not sure why, but finding largemouth not easy over the weekend. Could be musky relating to shallower weeds putting a damper on largemouth bite.

These reports are from info I gather from my own trips, customers, and people I meet at landings. Thikngs change, sometimes quickly. For example – last week I gave musky a poor report then went out and had 3 boated in one trip. Cant’ catch ’em if you don’t try.

If forecast holds true (sounds of eyes rolling) we could see some cooler weather by the weekend, the musky, walleye, and crappie bites should spike up. Watch for surface temps to dip into upper 50’s to get things going.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
Like us on Facebook

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Few kings and coho and a steelhead here and there being caught in all nwi tributaries.

Bluegills on stone lake in Laporte for boat fisherman jumbo redworms fishing weed edges has been solid.

Crappie at dusk on crappie minnows on lake George in Hobart. Fishing around the bridges.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

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

SHABBONA LAKE

Josh Oman at Boondocks reported some walleye in 7-8 feet over the weekend; trollers catching some catfish.

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 it’s been slow; charters are taking a few steelhead in the river; a few walleye are being caught in the river.

Paddle and Pole hosts the Berrien Springs Fish Ladder Camera.

WISCONSIN RIVER

Provided
Joe Schatz with his muskie from the Wisconsin River and Rob Abouchar (right).

Rob Abouchar emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale

With an extra day to fish over the weekend I headed back to Merrill to fish The Wisconsin River and The Alexander flowage. There was a rainbow on Friday on the way up so I wished for some good fall fishing. The bite continued hot for big smallmouth bass. Saturday in foggy cloudy clearing conditions the bass were hitting green pumpkin senkos on a wacky rig. Some fish of all sizes were caught in 2-6 feet of water around rock, wood and eel grass. A few pike also were hitting the senko but no Muskie. Sunday I was joined again By Joe Schatz of the Schatzee lure company. I continued my quest to catch a muskie on a wacky rigged senko but it was Joe who hit the target species. He landed a nice 30 inch Muskie on one of his own Schatzee chatterbait lures in the ghost minnow pattern.. We also had some nice action for pike and smallmouth bass on Senkos and chatterbaits. The big dogs are walking late as the season heads into cooler nights as predicted for the northwoods this week. We witnessed an eagle grab a fish out of the water, fly to a nearby tree where another eagle flew to join it. Then a Red Tail Hawk joined in. It was quite a scene as we had just launched the boat. The rainbow leads to big fall fish for a few more weeks at least.

Tight Lines and good health

Rob

“Big Dogs walking late.”

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:

White bass still good on the sand bars, crappie action is slow, and more walleye are

I plan to fish with him later this week.

Read More

Chicago police work the scene where multiple people were shot near the Grand Avenue, Halsted Street and Milwaukee Avenue intersection, in the West Town neighborhood on Sept. 29. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times file

A car that was fraudulently rented in Texas was used in the brazen shooting in West Town last month, according to Texas court documents

Investigators believe a brazen shootout that shocked the city and left multiple bystanders injured in West Town late last month is tied to a crew of rental car thieves who used bogus information to rent cars in Dallas and drove them to Chicago where they’d be sold.

A detective with the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport police asserted his belief that “people involved in the fraud conspiracy are also involved in the shooting which occurred in Chicago,” according to an affidavit seeking a search warrant that was filed Oct. 7.

The shocking scene played out Sept. 29 in the midst of rush-hour traffic as two gunmen hung from the window of a silver Audi and fired shots near Grand and Milwaukee avenues at a vehicle they were chasing, according to the affidavit, which cites a Chicago police report about the shooting.

The Audi used in the shooting had been fraudulently rented Sept. 16 in the Dallas area, according to the affidavit filed by detectives in Texas who last month stumbled upon a single case of rental fraud that blossomed into what appears to be a much larger scheme.

Law enforcement antenna quickly went up after receiving a call Sept. 9 from a car rental company employee at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport about a man trying to use fraudulent information to rent a vehicle.

Five Chicago-area residents — four men and one woman — were quickly taken into custody. A slew of fake IDs and credit cards were found in their fraudulently rented car. Multiple key fobs were also recovered, according to the affidavit.

Each was charged with fraudulent possession and use of IDs, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, fraudulent possession and use of credit card and debit card information, vehicle theft and engaging in organized crime.

Authorities in Texas couldn’t immediately provide bail information, but according to a KXAS-TV report, all five were released on bond several days after their arrest.

One of the men told investigators he was in Texas to assist in transporting the fraudulently rented vehicles back to Chicago where they would be sold. He said their current haul included between 10 and 15 vehicles — all located at a hotel he refused to name, according to the affidavit.

Police put the word out to car rental companies and soon received information about multiple cars that were recently stolen.

Officers located one batch and found a locksmith who’d been hired to rekey the cars by a man with a 773 area code who claimed he bought the cars for his mother but lost the keys.

Another man who was arrested admitted to using the phone app Telegram to communicate with “Zoe God” — a term used on the street to denote the fraudulent “kingpin” of an organized crime group.

The affidavit submitted to a judge in Tarrant County, Texas, on Oct. 7 was seeking access to the cellphone of one of the men who was arrested.

On the day of the shooting, investigators in Chicago reached out to their counterparts in Texas to let them know a rental car from Texas had been used in the shooting, according to the affidavit.

Chicago police have made no arrests in the case and on Tuesday declined to provide an update on the investigation or comment on information included in the affidavit.

Police in Chicago cataloged 30 bullet casings and noted that stray bullets hit several parked cars and entered surrounding apartments, according to the affidavit.

Four bystanders, including a passenger inside a rideshare vehicle, were wounded. Another person described as a suspect was also wounded.

Read More

Bears outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu tackles Raiders running back Josh Jacobs on Sunday. | Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Bears have lost backup outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu for the year after he tore his pectoral muscle Sunday against the Raiders, a league source confirmed Tuesday.

The Bears have lost backup outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu for the season after he tore his pectoral muscle Sunday against the Raiders, a league source confirmed Tuesday.

Since signing a two-year deal in March, Attaochu has played at least 30 percent of the Bears’ defensive snaps in all five games. Second-year player Trevis Gipson will get extra snaps going forward; he’s posted a sack in each of the last two games.

“Whatever opportunities are given to me, I’m going to try to make the most of them,” Gipson said Sunday when asked about Attaochu leaving the game.

The Bears also lost backup placekicker Brian Johnson, who was signed off their practice squad by the Saints. He’ll become the Saints’ starter after former Bear Cody Parkey hurt his groin Sunday and was cut with an injury designation Tuesday.

With an open practice squad spot, the Bears signed inside linebacker Rashad Smith.

Read More

Justin Fields completed 12-of-20 passes for 111 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a 91.9 passer rating against the Raiders on Sunday. | Chris Unger/Getty Images

This looks like it’s going to be a long process. But Fields also presents the prospect of a breakthrough performance against a quality team. That’s the fun of watching Fields at this point.

In March, the prospect of Andy Dalton vs. Jordan Love against the Packers was looking pretty good to Bears fans. But Justin Fields vs. Aaron Rodgers is not a bad alternative.

The specter of facing Rodgers is as daunting as ever. The three-time league MVP has a 114.7 passer rating — with 10 touchdown passes and one interception — since a disastrous performance in the Packers’ 38-3 loss to the Saints in the season opener. And Bears fans can recite by heart Rodgers’ record against the Bears — 20-4 with a 107.2 passer rating (55 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) in regular-season games he started and finished. Plus the NFC Championship Game loss.

But Fields provides hope regardless of the outcome. No matter how painfully Rodgers might torture the Bears on Sunday — five or six touchdown passes in a first-half beat-down, an uncanny late throw to win a tight game — if Fields is still standing at the end, the Bears have real hope that someday that torment will end and better days are ahead.

We’re still at the cherry-picking stage of that process with Fields — a well-thrown deep ball to Allen Robinson, a third-down dart to Darnell Mooney, an athletic recovery of his own fumble and an 11-yard scramble for a third-and-four conversion serving as evidence of future greatness.

The big numbers have yet to come — 209 passing yards against the Lions; 111 against the Raiders. Four rushes for 14 yards. This looks like it’s going to be a long process. But Fields also presents the prospect of a breakthrough performance against a quality team. That’s the fun of watching Fields at this point — and underscores the importance of Matt Nagy’s decision to make him the full-time starter: You never know when it’s going to happen, but it could happen at any time.

2a. For the record, Fields will be the eighth Bears quarterback to start against Rodgers and the first rookie — Mitch Trubisky’s lone start against the Packer in his rookie season of 2017 came against Brett Hundley — a 23-16 loss at Soldier Field.

Trubisky was 1-6 against the Packers. The lone victory came at the absolute peak of the Nagy era in 2018 — a 24-17 victory at Soldier Field after beating the 11-1 Rams the previous week.

The others: Mike Glennon (0-1), Matt Barkley (0-1), Brian Hoyer (0-1), Jay Cutler (2-11), Josh McCown (1-1) and Kyle Orton (1-1).

2b. The last Bears quarterback with a winning record against the Packers is Brian Griese (1-0), who threw two touchdown passes in a 27-20 victory over Brett Favre and the Packers at Lambeau Field in 2007.

3. The worst part about a rookie’s first Packer Week is when we prod him to gin up some sudden understanding of the Bears-Packers rivalry and hatred for the Packers when he’s never, ever been a part of it.

For what it’s worth, when Fields played at Ohio State, he was 1-0 against Michigan — 14-of-25 for 302 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 56-27 rout of the Wolverines in 2019 at Michigan Stadium.

4. With former Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine on Nagy’s staff, the Bears would seem to have as much useful and relevant intelligence on the Packers’ defense as they’ve had in recent years.

“He’ll have his input on what he sees and what he thinks and that sort of thing,” Nagy said. “But if it’s something we think we want to use, we’re obviously going to use it.”

Nagy also said Pettine’s knowledge could come in handy on the other side of the ball. “He’s [gone] against their offense and that quarterback [Rodgers] the whole time, so there might be some things,” Nagy said.

The key is not to over-think it and out-smart yourself.

“You’ve got to be careful. You start getting into the whole thing of this and that and before you know it …” Nagy said. “He’ll do a good job of helping us out in certain things.”

5. Packers coach Matt LaFleur took the blame for a miscommunication that led to Tom Brady’s 39-yard touchdown pass to Scotty Miller with one second left in the first half in a 31-26 loss to the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game — but still let Pettine go after the Packers’ defense finished ninth in yards and 13th in scoring last season.

The Packers’ were shaky in their opener under new defensive coordinator Joe Barry, but have recovered since then — even without leading pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, who was put on injured reserve after Week 1 with a back injury.

Over the past four weeks, the Packers are second in takeaways (eight), seventh in yards (322.8 per game) and 10th in scoring defense (21 points per game). But they are also without cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was put on IR last week with a shoulder injury.

6. The biggest play for Fields — and the Bears’ offense — was Fields’ 13-yard bullet to Mooney to convert a third-and-12 situation with the Bears leading 14-9 with 7:26 left in the fourth quarter. How many times do the Bears throw a yard short of the first-down marker on a play like that?

7. With a pair of 46-yard field goals in the fourth quarter, Cairo Santos has made 34 consecutive field goals — 10th on the NFL’s all-time last and 10 away from Adam Vinatieri’s record of 44.

But after kickers missed 13 PATs in Week 5, Santos’ store of 25 consecutive PATs is not to be overlooked. Santos, in fact, has made 43 consecutive kicks (18 field goals, 25 PATs) and 75 of 76 (98.7%) since he missed a 46-yard field goal attempt against the Falcons in Week 3 last season.

8. Bits & Pieces: NFL kickers were better from 50-59 yards in Week 5 (11-of-12, 91.7%) than on 33-yard PATs (63-of-76, 82.9%). … With Danny Trevathan active, Alec Ogletree still started vs. the Raiders. Trevathan played 10 snaps on defense. … Former Bear Nick Kwiatkoski, whom the Bears let go in free agency in 2020 to re-sign Trevathan, played 12 snaps off the bench for the Raiders. … Sunday’s game marked the first time in NFL history that two Gipsons had sacks in the same game — Bears linebacker Trevis Gipson and safety Tashaun Gipson. … Khalil Mack also had a sack as the Bears moved up to first in the NFL in sacks per pass play. … In his last 13 games against the Bears, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 34 touchdown passes and two interceptions — Tracy Porter (2015) and Eddie Jackson (2018) have the picks.

9. Josh McCown Ex-Bear of the Week: Falcons running back Mike Davis scored on a three-yard with 2:19 left in the fourth quarter to all but clinch a 27-20 victory over the Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Davis had 13 carries for 53 yards (4.1 avg.) including a 17-yard gain.

10. Bear-ometer: 7-10 — vs. Packers (L); at Buccaneers (L); vs. 49ers (W); at Steelers (W); vs. Ravens (L); at Lions (W); vs. Cardinals (L); at Packers (L); vs. Vikings (W); at Seahawks (L); vs. Giants (W); at Vikings (L).

Read More