Mask-free at last, it’s time to enjoy Chicago’s amazing lakefront, architecture, ballparks, playgrounds and ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
The list is endless, but if you’re traveling to the Windy City, especially for the first time, these are essential stops:
The Art Institute of Chicago: Truly a world-class experience, whether you prefer the classics or modern art. Don’t miss the much-loved Thorne miniature rooms on the lower level — shoebox-size, intricate recreations of tiny home and church interiors. Take note that it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and be sure to study the website [https://www.artic.edu/] before you go.
Historic Prairie Avenue and the South Loop: Visitors need only walk or take a quick train ride from the McCormick Place campus to experience engineering and architectural history.
Just three blocks from McCormick Place is Chicago’s historic Prairie Avenue, bounded by Cullerton Avenue (2000 South) on the south and 18th Street on the north (1800 South), and home to the Glessner House and Clarke House museums.
The Glessner House, https://www.glessnerhouse.org/ a National Historic Landmark, is known for its unique design by Henry Hobson Richardson, but engineers will note that it housed the Human Engineering Laboratory of the Armour Institute of Technology — predecessor to the Illinois Institute of Technology — for about a decade, starting in 1937. The Clarke House is Chicago’s oldest house, circa 1836, famous for its Greek Revival style.
Just two blocks to the west, at 1936 S. Michigan Ave., the Second Presbyterian Church, circa 1874, reflects its splendor with stained-glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Healy and Millet, and Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and its design by architect James Renwick, who designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Soldier Field and the lakefront campus: For a far-less-heralded architectural milestone, head back east three blocks to Calumet Street, cross the pedway toward Lake Michigan, and greet Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears football team. The 1920s-era stadium, heralded for its Greco-Roman architectural tradition, got topped off in 2003 with what critics likened to a space ship. Depending on one’s opinion, the renovation by architect Benjamin T. Wood is remarkable or outrageous for its stadium bowl rising above and hanging over the stately Greek style columns of the original. Soldier Field echoes historic moments such as the 1927 second heavyweight championship fight between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, and a Chicago Freedom Movement rally in July 1966 led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and featuring Mahalia Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Peter, Paul and Mary.
The Museum Campus: Soldier Field serves as a gateway to the Museum Campus, a 57-acre lakefront park that surrounds the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. These historic, internationally renowned museums offer scientifically and technically minded visitors hours upon hours of exhibits, shows and architectural details.
The Loop, the River, the Bridges and the Trains: Turn south and east to head to Millennium Park, famous for its Jay Pritzker Pavilion bandshell designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. The park, which opened in 2004 and is bounded by Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive, and East Monroe Drive, includes the much-heralded Cloud Gate sculpture, nicknamed “The Bean,” as well as wall-like water fountains lit up in varying colors and people’s faces, and the BP Pedestrian Bridge that winds its way in a serpentine fashion across Columbus Drive. Walk down the bridge to Maggie Daley Park https://maggiedaleypark.com/ and let the children burn off energy at mini-golf, the climbing wall, the play garden and an area for roller blades, rollerskates and non-motorized scooters.
Next, look up and down: Above are the elevated Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains, whose tracks form a Loop around the downtown. These “L” trains, which started passenger service in November 1893, began life as a private enterprise with a colorful history influenced by bribe-taking politicians and ruthless business opportunists.
The CTA trains also include an underground subway, whose construction started in 1938 with funding from then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s public works projects initiative.
Running through the center of Chicago is the Chicago River, spanned by movable bridges that have been cited as one of the great wonders of the world.
The Museum of Science and Industry: Rent a car and travel south on Lake Shore Drive to this museum, showcasing more than 35,000 artifacts and a variety of hands-on exhibits meant to inspire creativity. The museum sits at 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive in the 14-acre former Palace of Fine Arts, which hosted the famous World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893.
Lincoln Park Zoo: Drive back north to the Lincoln Park Zoo, home to dozens of species, such as zebras, sloths and hippos. Visitors can view the zoo’s furry (or scaly) friends in their natural habitats.
The neighborhoods: Chinatown, Pilsen, Little Italy, Hyde Park — the list goes on. Do your homework and prepare to visit the Chinese American Museum, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, among others.
Baseball parks: Whether your allegiance is to the White Sox or the Cubs, enjoy fun times at Guaranteed Rate Field or the historic Wrigley Field. Even better, plan your trip around the Crosstown Classic and watch the teams play each other.
Most of all, eat. Chicago is home to world-renowned pizza, Italian ice, ethnic cuisine and unique food experiences. Dive in and power up.
It was the last meeting of our two-year journey as the Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership — a task force of researchers, community groups and journalists discoursing best practices for disseminating research that can reduce health inequities.
Candace Henley, founder and executive director of the Blue Hat Foundation, a group promoting colorectal cancer awareness, stunned us at the start of the meeting.
Her 27-year-old nephew, Joseph Barbee, fell victim to Chicago’s 2021 gun violence bloodbath 2 1/2 hours earlier, killed in the middle of the street, at mid-afternoon, in the Auburn Gresham community, one of the deadliest in the city.
It was Henley who got the phone call with the gut-wrenching wails of a mother who had just lost her son.
Henley was angry. At her family’s loss. At unfathomable gun violence that has claimed at least 388 lives in 2,273 shootings this year, according to statistics compiled by the Chicago Sun-Times.
More than anything, though, she was angry that no one, not one soul out there when the shooting happened, would tell police what they saw.
“Joseph’s sister was inside the house and heard gunshots, looked out the window and saw him on the ground. When she called my sister, she said paramedics were working on him, but he wasn’t moving. We high-tailed it to Christ Hospital,” said Henley.
The father of two sons, ages 1 and 5, was pronounced dead by the time the sisters got there.
Candace Henley, founder and executive director of the Blue Hat FoundationProvided
“My nephew was a loving soul. He was not perfect, and his mom will tell you that. She’s not one of those parents. But society has dehumanized our children in this violence,” she said.
“Joseph was loved. He was somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, somebody’s nephew.
“We still don’t know why this happened. The police haven’t told us much, but a neighborhood gossips. We’ve heard all kinds of stories, yet no one has told police that they saw anything. Let me say to any mother, ‘If you think this can’t happen to you, think again.’ “
It brought back memories of the murder of her own father, Joseph Barbee, for whom her nephew was named. Henley was 19 when her father was beaten to death in a street robbery on the West Side where she grew up.
A 19-year survivor of colon cancer, Henley has made it her life’s work to battle racial and socioeconomic health inequities characteristic of that disease and so many others.
“Joseph was somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, somebody’s nephew,” said Candace Henley of her nephew Joseph Barbee (far right). From left, his stepfather, James Tucker; mother, Nicole Barbee Tucker; grandmother Kathy Barbee Morris; sister Zoraya Logan; and aunt Sharon Porter.Provided
Long recognized as a public health crisis, gun violence poses greater risk of mortality for low-income communities of color — fueled by the same structural racism that helped COVID-19 wreak disparate death and infection rates upon South and West Side communities held hostage to gangs and guns.
African Americans make up 82% of Chicago’s gun deaths; Hispanics, 12%; nine of every 10 killed are male.
“Joseph was very talented. My father was a wonderful artist, and my nephew was talented the same way. He could really draw. He was highly intelligent, especially in math. He could calculate numbers off the top of his head. A brilliant life that didn’t have a chance, because he didn’t have resources,” said Henley.
“The economic downfall perpetrated on our communities, the removal of community centers, arts and sports programs that were available when we were kids — when they removed those things, they got exactly what they knew they were going to get: chaos.
“You now have all these kids with all this talent and energy and nowhere to take it but the streets. And the streets will welcome them any day. This is not rocket science,” she lamented.
Joseph Barbee, 27, was killed July 15. The father of two is seen here with his son Javari and sister Zoraya Logan.Provided
We spent a huge portion of that task force meeting reflecting on similar impacts of gun violence and COVID-19 on disadvantaged communities, and the need to ensure research with potential to reduce inequities gets to those communities via trusted communicators.
On Monday, when I checked in on her, Henley and her family were just returning from the morgue and the mournful task of identifying her nephew’s body. It was a difficult day.
“They showed her the original photos. So we saw the trauma he endured,” said Henley.
“We now begin funeral arrangements, and the wait for police to complete their investigation, hoping someone will come forward to share who did this,” Henley said.
“I’m angry, not just because gun violence has hit home, but because it’s another shooting in our community where no one saw or says anything. I’m sick of watching the news and seeing members of the community mad at the police, the mayor and everybody else.
“What are you doing? You can’t have it both ways,” she said. “If you want the violence to stop, we have to do our part. If you don’t step up and say what’s happening in the community, how can they help change it? We live here. They don’t. Tell what you know.”
The White Sox announced the signing of first-round draft choice Colson Montgomery, a left-handed hitting high school shortstop from Southridge (Huntingburg, Ind.) High School.
Selected with the 22nd pick, the 6-4, 190-pounder was the first high school player taken by the Sox in the first round since the 2012 draft, when outfielder Courtney Hawkins was picked 13th.
A three-sport star, Montgomery had designs on playing baseball and basketball at Indiana but instead signed for a $3.027 million bonus, which is full slot value for the 22nd pick.
“Coming to the stadium, signing that contract and putting on a White Sox jersey is a dream come true,” said Montgomery, who signed at Guaranteed Rate Field before the Sox played the Twins Tuesday night.
Montgomery, 19, spoke to reporters about an hour before he was slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Montgomery batted .338 with seven homers, nine doubles, 23 RBI and 41 runs scored during his senior season, leading the Raiders to the IHSAA Class 3A state championship in 2021. He was an All-America Second Team selection by Baseball America and MaxPreps. He will attend a minicamp with other draftees soon before reporting to the Sox training complex in Glendale, Ariz.
“Baseball is my life right now,” Montgomery said. “I’m very excited to get after it and put all the work in for it.”
Montgomery is the first shortstop taken by the Sox since Tim Anderson in 2013. Twelve of the 26 players on the Sox’ active roster came through the farm system, including first-round picks Anderson, left-hander Carlos Rodon (’14), catcher Zack Collins (’16), third baseman Jake Burger (’17), left fielder Andrew Vaughn (’19) and left-hander Garrett Crochet (’20). First baseman-outfielder Gavin Sheets was picked in the second round in 2016.
Montgomery’s parents and four siblings were in attendance Tuesday.
“My parents raised me right, being humble and everything that,” he said. “I’m not worried about the money or fame getting to my head because I know I have people bringing me down to reality.”
He was inside of a vehicle about 5 p.m. in the 7100 block of South Indiana Avenue when someone approached and opened fire, striking him in the head, Chicago police said.
If Chicago wants to keep a City Council with 50 members, it makes sense for the aldermen to appoint ward superintendents in their wards.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), plans to introduce an ordinance at Wednesday’s City Council meeting to make it clear the job of ward superintendent is a Shakman-exempt position, with hiring and firing controlled by the local alderman. The Shakman decree bans political considerations in city hiring and firing, except for some supervisory positions.
Earlier this month, Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson said under current law, ward superintendents are covered by the Shakman decree. But that concerned aldermen, who are used to having a say in who their ward superintendent is. They are acutely aware that aldermen who do a bad job of constituent services are most likely to lose elections. The unwritten rule is that if an alderman hates the ward superintendent, then that individual usually gets dumped.
Ward superintendents, who technically are part of the Streets and Sanitation Department, oversee plowing streets, repairing sidewalks, trimming trees and removing graffiti. Ward residents who call 3-1-1 without getting complaints resolved expect to get results from their alderman. Without any direct control over ward superintendents, aldermen fear they won’t be able to resolve constituents’ complaints.
The job of ward superintendent shouldn’t be a political plum, which is an argument for making the job a career position, not a political appointment.
But there is also a case to be made that as long as aldermen are expected to be the ultimate Ald. Fix-It, they should have the authority over the ward superintendent to ensure they can get the job done. The job is critical to the ward, and aldermen should have the ability to complain about superintendents who are not doing a good job.
A weekly overview of opinions, analysis and commentary on issues affecting Chicago, Illinois and our nation by outside contributors, Sun-Times readers and the CST Editorial Board.
“It’s a key policy position that, in many ways, can make or break an alderman’s reputation,” Hopkins said. “If you do a good job maintaining your ward and the streets are plowed, the trash is picked up, the trees are trimmed, the graffiti is removed, your voters will likely forgive you for a lot other things that you do that they might not agree with.”
One alderman, for example, told how after he was first elected, it took him six months to get rid of an ineffective ward superintendent. “We could never find this guy,” the alderman said, except for two occasions where the alderman found the superintendent asleep in his truck.
Strict criteria for the job
If aldermen do keep the unfettered ability to appoint ward superintendents, there should be a screening process to prevent abuses, such as when Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) picked her son to be ward superintendent, even though at first he didn’t have a driver’s license and couldn’t drive around the ward to look for problems that needed fixing.
Hopkins’ ordinance, for the first time, sets criteria for the job. The ordinance calls for at least five years of work experience in municipal refuse collection, street cleaning or snow removal operations. Three of those must have been years spent “in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position” or “an equivalent of education, training and experience.” Candidates must also “possess a valid State of Illinois driver’s license.”
Chicago has 50 aldermen who are expected to act as more than just legislators. They’re supposed to make sure trash gets picked up and burnt-out street lights get fixed.
As long as aldermen are expected to pick up the phone and deal with their ward’s problems, they need the tools and authority to get the job done.
A man who was wounded in a shooting last week in West Garfield Park has died.
Andrew Hall, 46, was pronounced dead at 10:28 a.m. Sunday at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Hall was struck multiple times about 6:20 p.m. July 14 when someone fired shots at him in the 4000 block of West Jackson Boulevard, officials said.
An autopsy found he died of complications from his gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide, the medical examiner’s office said. Hall lived in East Garfield Park.
The many choices of summer lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
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
The Forest Preserve District of Will County offers a taste of night fishing:
Midnight Madness: 7-11:59 p.m. Saturdays, July 24 and Aug. 21, at Monee Reservoir, Monee Township. Free, all ages.
Let the kids stay up late and bring the family to enjoy fishing under the stars at the Forest Preserve District’s Monee Reservoir. The parking lot is well lit, and the shoreline is accessible. Bring a flashlight and bug repellent. The concessions building will be open for sales; no boat or equipment rentals will be available. Registration is not required.
Joel Wilson found good crappie fishing at a forest preserve.Provided by Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson emailed the photo above and this:
Hi Dale –
Buddy of mine Joel Wilson caught some nice Crappie on a small spinnerblaid at a forest preserve pond. I believe the total count was 15.
Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed this and the photo below:
Hey Dale,
Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.
Area lakes-the cold front slowed the bass bite some. Fast moving baits were replaced by plastics. Pitch senkos on weedless hooks into open pockets along thick weeds. Watermelon has been the best color.
. . .
Here is the nature pic of the week courtesy of Hailey O’Malley. Hitching a ride.
TTYL
—
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team
A natural hitchhiker.Hailey O’Malley
BRAIDWOOD LAKE
Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Click here for the preview.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Art Frisell at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said white bass are probably the top bite, best on Fox, on small minnows or spikes; catfish are good, as always, on medium roaches or stinkbaits; walleye are fair, mostly around current areas or main lake points, leeches top bait or troll crankbaits shallow; bluegill are fair on small ice jigs, best on Spring.
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
Jeffrey Williams with his PB channel catfish.Provided
Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above and this on Thursday:
new PB from the river
He’s also finding crappie.
I fished and watched others Friday and the bluegill were active.
DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN
Dave Duwe emailed:
Delavan Lake 7/19/21 through 7/26/21
Fishing overall on Delavan remains very consistent. There are many anglers trying to test their talents on the wary fish.
Yellow Perch have been biting in front of Township Park in 12-14 ft of water. Locate yourself in front of the beach area for the best success. The best presentation has been using Thill slip bobbers tipped with a leaf worm or a hellgrammite. Most of the fish have been positioned a foot off bottom. The other method for using the leaf worms is fishing a split shot rig straight beneath the boat.
Northern Pike fishing has been up and down. Earlier in the week you could catch as many pike as you had suckers. It did slow as the week went on however. The best success has come off of medium suckers fished on a lindy rig. The tight schools have dispersed so it’s been kind of hit or miss as you troll down the weedline. The best location has been west of Willow Point in 20 ft of water.
Largemouth bass remain on the deep weedline. They can be caught on nightcrawlers fished on a split shot rig or drop shotting 4 inch finesse worms. They haven’t been schooled as heavy as they were in past years. The key is to keep your boat moving to find the active fish. In years past you could sit on a school for 4 hours and catch them non-stop but that isn’t the case this year yet. The best location is by the Island or by the Village Supper Club.
Walleyes have remained consistent. The best action has been coming after dark. However, I’ve been catching fish during the daylight too. I’ve been averaging a legal fish every other trip. My best success has come off of leeches or nightcrawlers. I’ve been using lindy rigs with an 1/8 oz sinker or a split shot rigged nightcrawler.
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 Mounts Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported slow, other than catfish. A 22-pound flathead caught by the North Aurora dam.
Pete Lamar emailed:
Hi Dale,
Only creek fishing on which to report this week. I didn’t fish the Fox, but it was low and clear (clear by Fox River standards anyway). It’s also pretty warm and there seems to be a lot of algae above the dams; that’s got to be making oxygen scarce. I did fish a couple of tributaries. They came up in last week’s rains, but were dropping fast (but still off color) when I fished them. Good numbers of fish around, but they were in a neutral mood. Some would eat; others would follow the fly and take a half-hearted bite at the tail; the rest wouldn’t show any interest at all. There is a lot of food-minnows, crayfish, frogs, tadpoles and grasshoppers-around, so that should influence our fly/lure/bait choices.
GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN
Arden Katz said night fishing is best on south side from Military Academy west with drop-shots in 16-20 feet, biggest largemouth 4 1/2 pound, also smallmouth and some rock bass.
Dave Duwe emailed:
Lake Geneva 7/19/21 through 7/26/21
Lake Geneva continues to be really good fishing but it also continues to be super busy with pleasure boats. Plan to fish early a.m. or late p.m. for a safer, more productive trip.
Lake trout continue to bite in the main lake basin. The best time to try for them is early a.m. as the sun in coming up. Look for the fish 90 ft down in about 110-118 ft of water. The best action has been on nickel/blue or nickel/green spoons. I’ve been placing the lures 40-50 ft behind the down rigger balls.
Walleye continue to bite decently at night. The best hours to try for them are 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. They tend to bite better when there is a slight chop on the water. Try #13 Rapalas in fire tiger or chrome and black for the most action. The best location has been by Yerkes Observatory or Trinkes.
Largemouth bass are on the deep weed points in 20-25 ft of water. Look for the fish by the 700 Club, the west side of the narrows or by Colemans Point. With the fish so deep, the best presentation is Carolina rigging green pumpkin lizards or drop shotting Yum Hoodini worms. Some of the fish last week were over 5 lbs. A lot of fish are still shallow so the early morning top water bite is still productive. You want to use chrome/blue or chrome/black chug bugs.
Rock bass fishing has been excellent in 12-15 ft of water. The fish are biting on split shot rigged nightcrawlers or small white hair jigs. The best location has been by the Military Academy or by Colemans Point.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been improving. They are on the deep weed points like the Military Academy or the 700 Club. They are aggressively hitting nightcrawlers fished on a lindy rig. You want to fish a 24 inch leader and the lightest sinker you can get away with. I’ve also been using a heavy lindy rig with a small perch and catching several really nice fish. Both northern pike and smallmouth bass have been biting on the small perch. I’ve been fishing them almost exclusively in greater than 20 ft of water.
Northern Pike action has been improving with the heat. Most of the action has been in 35-40 ft of water. The best location has been by Fontana Beach or the hump in Williams Bay. There aren’t the numbers as there were in recent years, so if you catch one in 15-20 minutes you are doing well. The good news is that the average size is quite a bit larger. Remember you need a 32 inch fish if you want a keeper.
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
Randy Poenitsch with a largemouth bass from Fox Lake, Wisconsin.Provided by Mike Norris
Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above and emailed this:
Fishing Report 7/19/2021
Mike Norris
Big Green Lake – Smallmouth bass are in their summer pattern, and I am catching them along weed lines in 14 to 18 feet of water. Swim baits, drop shot rigs and structure jigs with beaver tail plastics are all accounting for smallmouths up to 4 pounds. Water clarity remains good on Big Green and the bite should continue to be good with stable weather forecast for this week. Largemouth bass can be found in shallow weed pockets and under piers.
Fox Lake – Largemouth bass are right up to the shoreline throughout the lake. Try casting Senko’s right up to the shoreline rocks. Expect the bite to come on the initial drop. We are also finding bass along the edges of the rock piles to the west of Elmwood Island. Walleyes are active and anglers are trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses along breaklines in 12 to 15 feet of water.
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
Ken “Husker” O’Malley holds a smallmouth bass from Heidecke Lake.Provided
Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photo above and this:
Hey Dale,
Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.
. . .
Heidecke-water temps are 74-75 with a slight algae bloom. Smallmouth, while running on the small side, have been decent on chatterbaits, drop shotting, and pitching jigs with craw trailers. Start shallow along the rock dikes and gradually work deeper as the morning hours progress.
. . .
TTYL
—
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team
Bob Johnson with a couple good smallmouth bass from Heidecke Lake.Provided
Bob Johnson emailed the photo above and this;
Hi Dale –
Heidecke did rebound as expected with weather change. Smallmouth once again were caught using 3/8 oz jig and black and blue crawfish tail. Also caught a few on black finesse worm on a shaky head. Had some hits on drop shot but couldn’t land any. Caught a (small) Crappie today too, rare for Heidecke lake.
The crappie isn’t rare, it’s the small part that is rare.
Open 6 a.m. (6:30 bank fishing) to sunset. Click here for the promising preview.
KANKAKEE RIVER
George Peters holds a good smallmouth bass from the Kankakee River.Provided
George Peters emailed the photo above and this:
Hi Dale, sorry about last weeks report. Overnight thunderstorms near Watseka pushed the water up again. Hopefully that’s it for an unusual July, Got this 18″ near shore, water clears near the banks first, G, Peters
Drum are going at Montrose Harbor.Provided by Jason Le
Jason Le texted the photo above and this on Monday:
On yesterday and today at Montrose harbor
When I commented that they seemed the right eater-sized, he replied;
4lbs is the biggest
I Don’t see any sizes bigger yet
But there are big ones is coming
Staff at Henry’s Sports and Bait said there are some trout around the lakefront; smallmouth are around to a lesser degree than during the spawn, but some being caught; pike are around, too, but less aggressive.
Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor said that it is quiet, except that drum are being caught, especially on the Montrose Horseshoe.
Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said fishing is mostly lake trout out of both Chicago and North Point; there are the occasional stelehead, occasional coho and a few kings; in 130-160 feet off Chicago and 160-260 out of North Point; so-so at North Point, better numbers off Chicago but it is a long ride; fish are on the bottom and suspended, spoons are more important lately, slow trolling is key.
Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:
Hi Dale
Waukegan boat fishing was inconsistent and unpredictable this week. We had terrific trips, followed immediately by trips where it was tough to get a handful of bites. The fish seem scattered and all are deep. The shallowest fish we took all week was 71 down on a downrigger and most were below 100 feet. It seems you can take a boat about anywhere from 110 feet out as far as you can go and have about the same success.
On the positive side, fish are still there. Sometimes a week of NE winds will move all the fish out of the area, but that was not the case. There are fish to be taken, roughly 1/3 kings, 1/3 coho and 1/3 lake trout. We had kings up to 22# this week and most trips have had multiple kings. There are still coho too. They haven’t pushed back to the Platt River yet.
For tactics, downriggers below 100 feet, 300 and 450 copper lines and wire divers out over 150 feet took fish with metal Luhr-Jensen dodgers and big white, green and Aqua combinations from Smokin Fish and Jimmy Fly and Warrior spoons also in green and white patterns, like Two Face, Lance’s Twoface, Hey Babe, Colville Crusher, and Green Spoiler all worked.
No report from the harbor. I didn’t have time to fish it and got no reports. If anyone did anything from shore they were tight-lipped about it.
The topwater bite continues on the Menominee River and Prop baits are the bait of choice. We are also catching some smallmouth with poppers.
Water levels are dropping to normal water summer levels something we have not seen over the past 2 years. Some of the largest smallmouth were caught in non typical summer spots. The big fish are not feeding on crayfish and prefer baitfish. Find baitfish and you will find big smallmouth.
–More mild like Northwoods summer weather has prevailed with temp fluctuations not so severe as to throw patterns off. This being said, not everything has been “hunky dory”, but many species are reacting well to this summer pattern.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good – The Boys (and Girls) of Summer! Mornings through afternoons in thick cabbage beds. Work swim jigs, swim baits, pre-rigged plastic worms, and spinnerbaits mid-range through cabbage of 7-12′. Not so active? Go deeper with Ned rigs, Wacky worms, and jig and creature combos. Evenings are a great time for topwater action on buzz baits, frogs, Whopper Ploppers, and jitter bugs! Lots of action and size this week!
Smallmouth Bass: Very Good/Good – While some nice fish are being found shallow (hunting in 6-8′ cabbage) for numbers work off-shore humps of 16-24′ using drop-shot rigs, football jigs with plastic craws and Ned rigs.
Bluegill: Very Good/Good – Active with water temps in the 70’s. Work deep outside weed edges to find suspending gills 6-8′ down along 16-22′ coontail using small leeches and jigs with tiny plastics. Evenings using poppers on small “ants” or sponge spiders in the shallows.
Northern Pike: Very Good/Good – Better during the early A.M. using spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and 4″ swim baits over and through 6-9″ weeds.
Musky: Good – Topwater action good with evening and early mornings using loud tail baits (Whopper Ploppers and Top Raiders) followed up by more subtle top baits such as Creepers and Hawg Wobblers.
Yellow Perch: Good – Lots of perch activity in weeds on medium fatheads, leeches, and pieces of crawler. A few reports from anglers fishing deep sand grass on frozen soft shells.
Crappie: Fair – Scattered and hard to locate #’s. Small 1-2″ twister tails on 1/32 – 1/16 oz jigs worked through weed tops is best
Walleye: Fair/Poor – Following reports of other mayfly hatches last week, walleye understandably slow. A few nice fish here and there but mostly smaller fish in heavy weeds in the A.M. Small chubs on 1/2 crawlers best.
While walleye and crappie action still off, overall other species biting better this past week. For action and fun, summer bass can’t be beat!
Hi, Dale. I hope you’re doing well. Here’s what’s going on this week.
Fishing remains strong out of the local ponds & lakes, as well as Lake Michigan access points near East Chicago & Hammond & the Port of Saint Joseph. Trolling in waters of 125-175 FT using small spoons, spin doctors, & meat rigs.
Perch fishing is steady with some very nice size perch. Minnows & Beemoths are going like crazy.
The Walleye fishing on the rivers has picked back up.
Lots of Smallmouth & Catfish are also being caught.
ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN
Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.
SHABBONA LAKE
Staff at Boondocks reported some keeper walleye on Monday in the deep trees and the road bed; catfish are doing well; largemouth are also going around.
Concessions are all open. 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 perch are slow, some in 40-50 feet off the Chalets or Warren Dunes; salmon/trout are fair 70-150 feet on north troll.
A Cook County judge Tuesday handed down a 42-year prison sentence for the getaway driver who drove 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton’s killer away from the South Side park where she was shot more than eight years ago.
Kenneth Williams, now 28, was convicted in 2018 of the 15-year-old King College Prep student’s murder, but an appeal as well as the global coronavirus pandemic delayed his sentencing for nearly three years.
In her ruling, Judge Diana Kenworthy said Williams was more than just a getaway driver in the shooting.
“[Williams] was not taken by surprise,” judge said of the shooting. “They were looking for people to shoot.”
Hadiya Pendleton’s parents, Cleopatra Cowley (center) and Nathaniel Pendleton Sr. (left), walk with supporters Tuesday afternoon into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Williams was behind the wheel of a white Nissan that sped away after gunman Micheail Ward fired multiple times into a crowd of Chicago students in January 2013, striking Pendleton and two others, less than a mile from President Barack Obama’s Kenwood home.
Pendleton, a majorette, had performed at at Obama’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., just two weeks earlier.
Ward and Williams were arrested on the day of Pendleton’s funeral.
During an interrogation by detectives, Ward initially admitted to being the shooter and said he had acted on Williams’ orders, though he later claimed he was innocent of the crime.
Three people were wounded Tuesday afternoon in a shooting in West Garfield Park on the West Side.
Around 2:10 p.m., they were near a sidewalk in the 3900 block of West Gladys Avenue when a vehicle approached and someone inside began shooting, Chicago police said.
A male was struck in the leg, while another was shot in the shoulder, police said. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
A 26-year-old man was grazed in the calf but refused medical attention, officials said.
No one is in custody. Area Four detectives are investigating.
Less than 24 hours earlier, a man was shot a few blocks away in the 3500 block of West Fulton Street.
Around 4:10 p.m. Monday, the man, 22, was standing outside when someone in a light-colored vehicle opened fire and struck him in the neck, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition.
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