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Alzolay allowed three runs over six innings, striking out six. It was his first start of the season without a walk.

CLEVELAND – It looks like right-hander Adbert Alzolay is getting comfortable pitching in the big leagues and the results are starting to back that up.

There were going to be some ups and downs for Alzolay in his first full season in the Majors, but so far, he’s been able to improve on each of his outings this season

Alzolay has had to come with his best as he’s been matched up with some of baseball’s best arms recently and after facing Walker Buehler in his previous start, he took the mound against reigning AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber.

Getting those opportunities to face some of the game’s best isn’t something the Cubs’ young right-hander takes for granted.

“It’s been really fun. I’m looking forward to more matchups like this one,” Alzolay said after Tuesday’s 3-2 loss. “I think that’s the good part right now is that I’ve been matching really good pitchers lately, and I do like that.

The Cubs’ young right-hander went pitch for pitch with Bieber and looked better than his counterpart for most of the night.

Like his last start against the Dodgers, Alzolay got off to a fast start with the strikeout, striking out four of the first five hitters he faced. He induced 18 swings-and-misses in the game, including 15 coming off his slider.

“He’s getting more and more comfortable out there,” said Eric Sogard, who homered in the game. He has a great sense of all his pitches. When he’s getting ahead and using his defense behind him, it’s fun to watch.”

Alzolay was in cruise control and had Cleveland hitters off-balance, but it was the long ball that came back to hurt Alzolay, who surrendered a pair of homers in the fourth and fifth inning.

Jose Ramirez’s fourth-inning solo shot tied the game at 1 before Cesar Hernandez’s go-ahead, two-run blast in the fifth gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead. Both homers came on 3-2 counts.

“I thought Adbert threw the ball pretty well,” manager David Ross said. “I thought he made some big pitches, and didn’t give up a whole lot of hits. They had a little bit of damage there with Ramirez, trying to sneak a 3-2 fastball by him. Then to Hernandez, [he threw] a nice slider on 3-1, just didn’t get it there on 3-2. But yeah, I thought he threw the ball extremely well.”

Alzolay pitched well enough to win despite the homers and picked up his second quality start of the season. He allowed three runs on five hits over six innings, striking out six. It was also the fifth consecutive start he’s allowed three runs or less in a start and his first where he didn’t issue a walk.

“I definitely feel my body is getting more in rhythm to get deep into the game,” he said. “Today was a good day in the beginning, just missing two pitches in 3-2 counts [for home runs]. That happens when you’re in the big leagues and you miss your location against good hitters.”

The growth from the Cubs’ young starter from start to start has been impressive to start the season and he has slowly become one of the rotation’s most reliable options. If he can continue that upward trajectory, it’s clear he can get to another level this season.

“He’s been making the adjustments he needs to make each start,” catcher Willson Contreras said. “Today, he showed me that he will be capable of going more than six innings. I talk to him a lot about not rushing with two strikes. Whenever he gets to two strikes, he gets so excited.

“He probably misses the location the most on two strikes. I think that the next step for him is maintaining the same rhythm that he has before two strikes and then try to execute on two strikes.”

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The family of Erica Gibson, a 12-year-old girl who died as the result of a shooting in Hazel Crest, want the gun owner to be held responsible.

Dozens of loved ones gathered Tuesday evening on the Near North Side to remember Erica Gibson, a 12-year-old girl who was the victim of a fatal shooting Saturday in south suburban Hazel Crest.

Attendees released blue and purple balloons in front of the Cambridge Street row houses where much of the family still lives.

“She’s a dancing doll, and we’re going to continue to dance for her,” Erica’s aunt, Samyra McDonald, said Tuesday.

Erica’s closest cousin, Tykeena McDonald, 14, said the two were always dancing together and had been preparing for an upcoming competition.

“We both couldn’t wait,” Tykeena said. “Now I’m going to have to dance the competition without her, and I wish she could be there with me, just sitting on the bus with me. Hopefully, we win it for her.”

Tykeena and many of Erica’s family members expressed frustration about the shooting that led to her death.

“She didn’t have to go like that,” Tykeena said. “We could have still been here at my house or at her house just dancing and having fun together — now that’s all taken away because of a tragic accident.”

Family members said Erica was staying at a friend’s house when the incident occurred Saturday night and believe the gun’s owner needs to be held responsible.

Prosecutors and police released conflicting statements Tuesday about whether there will be any charges in the fatal weekend shooting.

After days of silence on the shooting, Police Chief Mitchell Davis issued a statement Tuesday morning calling the death of Erica Gibson a “tragic accident” involving children playing with a gun.

“A legal review by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office determined no criminal charges will be filed against the juvenile involved,” Davis said. “The investigation shows this to be another case of young people having access to an unsecured weapon in a home that had a tragic accident.”

But less than three hours later, a spokesperson for the Cook County state’s attorney office said the details of the shooting had not been “formally presented” to the office on whether charges should be filed.

“We are currently reviewing the case to determine if the evidence supports any charges,” the statement said. “We cannot further comment on an ongoing investigation.”

The office would not elaborate and there was no further comment from the police chief.

Officers responded to a call of a reported gunshot victim in the 17600 block of Arlington Lane in Hazel Crest around 10 p.m. Saturday, according to police.

Erica, who was from the Gresham neighborhood in Chicago, had been shot in the head and was taken to South Suburban Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:53 p.m., police said.

An autopsy ruled her death a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Erica had a passion for dancing. Prior to being a lead dancer on the Lil’ Ladies of Virtue junior team, she was the captain of the peewee squad for four years, according to her coach, Kamile Beal.

Provided

“Watching her dance brought excitement, I screamed her name and cheered her on,” Beal wrote in a message to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Beal described Erica as “silly” and “goofy” and said she was always laughing and joking with those around her.

“She will always be remembered for her excellent dance, energy and face,” Beal said. “She was so cheerful.”

This is at least the second accidental shooting by a minor in the last week.

A 12-year-old boy was critically wounded Thursday night on the South Side when he was accidentally shot by another child.

The boy was hit in the chest inside a home in the 3500 block of South Rhodes shortly before 7 p.m., Chicago police said. He was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, according to police and fire officials.

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Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have only played 14 games together, but he guard has called the process seamless and sees big things moving forward.

Thanks to a few bumps and bruises, as well as a stint in quarantine for Zach LaVine, the on-the-court time for the Bulls guard and fellow All-Star Nikola Vucevic is just 14 games after Tuesday’s contest against the Nets.

Yet, LaVine feels the gelling for the two has been fairly seamless ever since the former Orlando big man was acquired at the trade deadline.

“Whenever I’ve had the chance to get with him and talk with him and then when I play with him in the game, it’s been good,’’ LaVine said. “Even from the beginning, I think it’s been good. I think the part we had to get down was how we were going to assert ourselves with the lineup and rest of team, and what’s the correct lineup to go out there with us and the correct spacing in offense or what pace we’re going to play at.’’

According to LaVine, it’s the make-up of Vucevic that makes things so easy, specifically his laid-back, low-maintenance demeanor.

“A lot of his response with me is, ‘Whatever you want to do and I’ll figure it out,’ ‘’ LaVine said. “It’s pretty easy.’’

The best part of the relationship? The time it will have to continue to grow. Unless executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has a major trade planned this summer, Vucevic is signed for two more seasons, while LaVine is signed for one more season, but could see an extension offered this summer.

“We’re two guys who know how to play the game and we play pretty good off each other already,’’ LaVine said. “It will just keep getting better with time. And obviously going forward, they’re going to need both of us.’’

Ankle weight

Troy Brown Jr. missed his 12^th-straight game, still dealing with a left ankle sprain that has been tougher to get over than initially thought.

According to Donovan, he remained close and was actually cleared to play, but it’s about getting his conditioning back before just tossing him out there in must-win games.

“He’s had two days of contact,’’ Donovan said. “The biggest issue we’re having with him right now just from a medical side, from Troy’s side, is there enough of a ramp up time for him to compete? You know with the limited amount of practice and trying to create situations for him with player development guys where he can have some contact and play some five-on-five and three-on-three; he’s done that. But I do think he needs a little bit more time.’’

Brown was really the only significant injury, with Daniel Theis back in the lineup after missing the game with Detroit because of a sore hip.

Patriot game

LaVine said he is still interested in playing for Team USA in the Summer Olympics this offseason, but is in a holding pattern since he was added to the player pool.

“All I’ve gotten is that they’ve invited me so far,’’ LaVine said. “I don’t even think there’s going to be a tryout or anything like that. I think they’re just going to select 15 guys. We’ll see what happens. Obviously, I would love to go out there and represent my country. I think I’ve shown what kind of player I am and what I can contribute to a team.’’

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The excitement amongst Chicago Bears fans continues to grow this offseason after a strong showing at the 2021 NFL Draft. With former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields now in Chicago, the outlook on the upcoming season, and years ahead, looks a whole lot different than it did just a few months ago. Wednesday night, we […]

2021 NFL Schedule Leak: Chicago Bears rumored Week 15 MNF – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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An investigation following a mass shooting on the Southwest Side revealed three soldiers stationed in Tennessee allegedly were engaging in an illegal gun pipeline to Chicago.

An investigation following a mass shooting on the Southwest Side led to three U.S. Army soldiers being charged in federal court in allegedly supplying “dozens” of firearms to the streets of Chicago.

The soldiers, Demarcus Adams, 21, Jarius Brunson, 22, and Brandon Miller, 22, are all stationed at Fort Campbell in Clarksville, Tennessee. The three were arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiracy and offenses relating to the alleged illegal purchase and transfer of dozens of firearms to the streets of Chicago, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The investigation began after a man was killed and seven others were injured when gunfire broke out at a “pop-up party” just after midnight March 26 in the Wrightwood neighborhood on the Southwest Side. Multiple firearms were recovered from the scene and traced back licensed firearms dealers in the Clarksville, Tennessee, area. The U.S. Attorney’s office alleges that Adams, Brunson and Miller were the “majority purchasers” of the guns.

The three have purchased 91 firearms from Federal Licensed Firearms dealers in Tennessee and Kentucky since September 2019 — most within the past five months, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Once the firearms were purchased, Miller allegedly would provide them to people in Chicago, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Forty-nine empty firearm cases were recovered during a federal search warrant at the home of Miller and Adams on April 29. “Many” of the cases matched firearms recovered by the Chicago Police Department at recent shootings and homicides, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Each soldier was charged with transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident, making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, engaging in the business without a firearms license, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit Title 18 offenses.

If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.

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“She takes things too personal,” Green told the Sun-Times. “Her vindictiveness, her personal vendettas. … That’s the game ball that she plays. If you’re not her friend, she is not willing to help you.”

Community activist Ja’Mal Green is accusing Mayor Lori Lightfoot of putting the kibosh on a $15 million youth center he wants to build on the site of a shuttered elementary school in Auburn-Gresham in retaliation for Green’s outspoken criticism of the mayor.

“She takes things too personal and has an allegiance to her friends only,” Green told the Sun-Times on Tuesday.

“Her vindictiveness, her personal vendettas. … That’s the game ball that she plays. If you’re not her friend, she is not willing to help you.”

Green was a mayoral challenger himself, before dropping out and endorsing Lightfoot over Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the April 2019 runoff.

But it wasn’t long before Green was publicly criticizing Lightfoot.

The first public break came when Lightfoot proclaimed as a “done deal” a $95 million police and fire training academy that Green and others called a symbol of Rahm Emanuel’s misplaced spending priorities. In fact, Lightfoot said the project needed to be made bigger, better and, undoubtedly, more expensive.

That was followed by Green’s outspoken criticism of Lightfoot’s selection of David Brown as Chicago Police Department superintendent, and also what Green viewed as heavy-handed treatment of protesters by CPD officers during civil unrest last summer.

Green also slammed Lightfoot’s decision to seal off downtown by raising the bridges after protests triggered by the death of George Floyd devolved into two devastating rounds of looting.

But the very personal and apparently final straw for Lightfoot came last month when the mayor took to Twitter to shoot down what she called “homophobic, racist and misogynistic rumors” about her own personal life.

In a now-deleted tweet for which he has apologized, Green declared, “Lori Lightfoot is resigning tomorrow in a stunning end to her mayorship.”

Now Green has unleashed yet another Twitter tirade against the mayor.

This week, he accused Lightfoot of holding up his plan to demolish Garrett Morgan Elementary School, 8407 S. Kerfoot Ave., and build an 80,000-square-foot job training and recreational center tailor-made to help young people avoid becoming perpetrators or victims of gang violence.

Besides recreational programs and a wellness center for mental health, the mecca Green calls “Morgan All-Stars” would include everything from flight simulators to train young people for careers in aviation, to coding development courses, to training rooms for entrepreneurship and the building trades.

Before the project can move forward and seek federal, state or city capital development funds, the Chicago Board of Education must convey the shuttered school to the city. The city then could sell or donate it to the development team Green has assembled.

“It’s probably the most revolutionary center to tackle the root causes of why young people are acting the way they are in our communities,” Green said.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Green said the project was moving along until a few weeks ago, when Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Samir Mayekar “told our developer, ‘We’re not moving on this project because Ja’Mal is involved and the mayor doesn’t like it.’

“I texted the mayor about it. She told me to stop contacting her. The mayor is blocking a project that will save lives. WOW! … Because I’m a part, no movement any more. Insane,” Green tweeted.

“Whatever we have between us has nothing to do with the community and our young people laying in pools of blood. … It’s not fair to our youth that hating me is more important than their survival.”

To underscore the point, Green included a screen shot of Lightfoot’s text to him. It read, “I have already told you several weeks ago to stop contacting me.”

The mayor’s office responded by saying Lightfoot “ran against a set of systems where people who screamed the loudest got silenced with payoffs.” Ja’Mal Green apparently “did not get the memo,” the statement said.

“There are no shortcuts or special treatment when it comes to the use of public funds or public property. Period. The Mayor and her team have repeatedly made that clear to Mr. Green,” the mayor’s office said.

The statement went on to say that Lightfoot’s “historic investments in youth”—including a first-ever Youth Commission, Youth Services Corps and in Chicago Public Schools—”speak for themselves.”

David Doig, the former city planning commissioner and Chicago Park District superintendent now serving as president of Chicago Neighborhoods Initiative, refused to discuss his negotiations with the city.

Doig is volunteering his time on the Gresham youth center project after spearheading construction of a massive youth recreational center in Pullman.

When Green endorsed her in March 2019, Lightfoot’s campaign posted a statement on its website quoting Green: “We’re going to disagree. But we’re going to give her a chance to make this city the great city it could be for our kids, for our teachers, for students, for re-entry citizens, for those suffering in poverty, for the homeless.”

Tuesday, Green argued Lightfoot’s decision to oppose the youth center is no different than her threat to Black aldermen a few months ago.

She warned those who dared to vote against her 2021 budget, “Don’t ask me for s–t for the next three years” when it comes to choosing projects for her $3.7 billion capital plan.

“This is the biggest character flaw of the mayor. … This is how she governs,” Green said.

“She’s probably not gonna get another term because she runs this city in a very vindictive way and she can be spiteful with those who go against her. That’s no way to be mayor.”

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Big largemouth bass being caught from local lakes and ponds, big smallmouth bass being caught from area rivers and the Chicago lakefront, and a big walleye caught from Heidecke Lake are among the reports in the sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.

The big fish of May continue for this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, from big smallmouth bass on the Chicago lakefront and area rivers to a big walleye at Heidecke Lake to big largemouth on local ponds and lakes.

Capt. Mike Hanson of Starved Rock Guide Service messaged the photo at the top and this:

Douglas Wagner with a 27” walleye from Heideke lake fishing with Starved Rock Guide Service

Released

PERCH CLOSURE

Perch fishing in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan is closed through June 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 (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

Cold and rains knocked back fishing a bit, but a long stretch of stable weather should help.

Provided

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

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Area lakes- some bass are on beds whiles others are still staging. Water temps dropped along with clarity from the weekend rains. Majority should be on the beds with the warmup later in the week.

Bass have been good on buzzbaits and chatterbaits during early morning hours. Senkos are starting to take good numbers during mid-afternoon hours.

Here is the nature pic of the week taken by my daughter Hailey from her apartment balcony. The calm before the storm.

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Hailey O’Malley

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported largemouth are picking up on around the ponds lakes in the western suburbs.

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

In an indication of the bass fishing, it was the only IHSA sectional in the area where every boat weighed fish last week during the sectional.

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

CALUMET SYSTEM

BoRabb Williams texted the photo below and this:

We getting Slab crappie in the Calumet system …also in Indiana Cedar Lake and Willow Slough…. excellent… water is 59-60 degrees almost PERFECT

Provided

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said some walleye are being and a lot of crappie are, too, both in the channels and moving out; with the forecast warmup, bluegill should be going well by the weekend.

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.

DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Delavan Lake 5/10/21 – 5/17/21

The weather continues to cause fishermen trouble. This past week it was cold and the very high winds that made fishing difficult. Overall, the fishing has been pretty good considering Mother Nature’s challenges. With a few warm days, the fish should really turn on. However, the forecast is for continued cool temperatures.

The best action continues to be the bluegills and crappies. Bluegill fishing has been best in 3-4 feet of water. I’ve been getting all of my fish by the outlet dam, Lake Lawn Harbor and the Viewcrest Channel. I’m still using leaf worms. A few people I’ve spoken with are telling me that hellgrammites are producing larger fish for them. This year I’ve been catching quite a few smaller fish compared to prior years. It’s still relatively easy to catch enough quality fish. Crappie fishing was also good this past week. I caught most of my fish in front of Lake Lawn and in front of Lake Lawn Harbor. The fish are in a pre-spawn pattern. I caught several 13 inchers off of some of the main lake boat docks that I fish consistently all year. Last week, I caught all of my fish on small shiners fished beneath a bobber. I did not boat a fish on the popular plastics. With warming water, the crappies throughout the lake should begin to spawn and become very easy to catch.

The best game fish bite has been the largemouth bass, although this bite is just starting. The best success has been around boat docks and shallow water with sand bottoms. The fish have started to spawn. I prefer using spider grubs or white spinner baits. This past week, the best action was when the winds were calm, making sight fishing possible. The best locations were by the condos near the outlet and by Assembly Park piers.

Walleye fishing continues to be rather slow. Only a few fish are being caught during the day, with no legals reported. The best action has been at night. The fish have been in 6-8 feet of water. The best approach has been a small jig, 1/16 oz with a large fathead minnow. Some warm stable weather will help this bite tremendously. With the water clarity so high, night fishing is the only way to go.

Come on Sun!!! Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063

DOWNSTATE

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

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.

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

FOX RIVER

Jim Sanaxay messaged:

Hi Dale, my son got another on the Fox River this evening. The small mouth are really starting pick up now with the warming temperature.

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported the river is about the same as it has been; best story came Monday when a woman caught muskies of 36 and 32 inches on her first two casts at Montgomery.

Ken Gortowski

Ken Gortowski emailed (be still my beating heart) another report and the photo above:

Dale,

Hmmm, another fishing report. Maybe hell actually did freeze over.

In a normal year the Fox River in the spring flows along high, fast and muddy for weeks because of the spring rains. The creeks that feed the Fox normally come down relatively quickly regardless of rain quantity. That’s one of many reasons I’ve always fished the creeks in the spring. Another reason being the fish that take advantage of normal water levels and migrate into the creeks for spawning and easier meals. The smaller scale of the creeks makes these fish much easier to catch.

That didn’t happen this year. Up until this past Saturday night we hardly got any rain in the Fox Valley and all flowing water was ridiculously low.

Hit two creeks on Saturday, a couple of hours on one and about 15 minutes on the other. As soon as I got to the shore of the first creek, I knew I should put on either a helgie or a small crayfish and drag them along the bottoms of what was left of deeper areas. The creek was really low and clear. Laziness kept me from reaching into my pocket to look for either of those so I left the twister on from the previous week.

Managed to catch 3 smallies and 3 rock bass. Biggest smallie 13 inches. Last week I sent you a picture of the biggest fish of the day, this time I’m sending you the smallest, a little smallie. It was smaller than the rock bass, but still impressive I think.

The second creek is where I spent only 15 minutes. Pretty devoid of life under the surface of the water and I knew I would have to put in a good half mile of wading to accomplish catching anything that looked like a fish.

Wasn’t worth it.

Some are saying we got 3 inches of rain in my area Saturday night. Won’t bother checking the river gauges like I used to obsessively do, but if my interest level in creek fishing remains, I might go again next weekend.

We’ll see.

. . .

Ken G

GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Lake Geneva 5/10/21 – 5/17/21

The main lakes water temperature is still hovering around 49 degrees. Unfortunately fishing on Lake Geneva is tough but should be improving if we get some nice weather that sticks around for a while.

The bass have not yet begun to spawn. This bite is very predictable once the water starts to warm. With the very cold water, the fish are hard to pattern. If you find the bait fish, you will find the small mouth bass. Most of the fish are suspended 8-10 ft down in 20 ft of water. Some of the best locations are by Knollwood and the Yacht Club. Most of the success has been by casting small jerk baits or slowly reeling Kalin Grubs.

Crappie fishing has been relatively good. The best location has been off of the Bible Camp or by Gage Marine. The best depth has been 8-10 feet of water. Use small shiners fished with slip bobbers for the most action. Warming water temperatures will make this action more consistent.

Bluegill fishing has been relatively good in Geneva Bay off the north shore. The fish, however, have been relatively small. Leaf worms or red worms have been producing most of the fish. Abbey harbor has also been producing fish.

With the cool water temperatures, rock bass have not been concentrating in the shallow water. They are suspending off the break lines. With warming water these fish should move into the 10-12 feet depth, hopefully within the next few weeks.

Walleye has been really good at night. Cast the shallows with Rapalas or other stick baits. Look for the fish by Maytag Point, Fontana Beach, and Williams Bay beach.

The cold water hasn’t affected the bite.

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

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Provided by guide Mike Norris

Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above and emailed this:

Fishing Report 5-10-2021

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake – Water temperature is 49 degrees and smallmouth bass have transitioned from their deep wintering zones and are spreading out onto adjacent flats in 12 – 16 ft of water. This calls for a more horizontal presentation and covering water with jerkbaits, bladed jigs, and umbrella rigs comes into play now. I am also catching largemouth bass in back channels and shallow bays. Though I am not pursuing them, I am seeing big bluegills lurking deep beneath the piers.

Fox Lake – The up and down fluctuations in the daily air temperatures have slowed the movement of largemouth bass onto their spawning areas. Bigger bass have become harder to catch, and the number of smaller bass caught per angling hour is also down. Northern pike remain active but good patterns for panfish are almost non-existent. A few anglers are catching walleye in shallow water on swim jigs and chatterbaits.

Beaver Dam Lake – Crappies are spawning, and fishing is good right now on mid-lake structure. Anglers trolling with crankbaits for walleye are also catching crappies. Water temperature was near 60 last week but has fallen back to 56 degrees.

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

Provided by Mike Hanson

Capt. Mike Hanson of Starved Rock Guide Service messaged the photo at the top and the one above as well as this:

Also a pair of 23” walleye with Matt Schmit

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

KANKAKEE RIVER

The basin received significant rain over the week, more than 2 inches in some areas, and the river is high, stained and fast, some of the tributaries are too.

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

Smallmouth are the talk of the shoreline, lake trout anchor the catches in deeper water.

Provided by Ken Maggiore

Ken Maggiore messaged the photo above and this from Sunday on the lakefront:

6.5 lber. Size 15 boot for comparison

First off, I had to doublecheck if he really wore No. 15s; second, that is a helluva smallmouth.

Quinn Voss tweeted the photo above and this last week:

Provided

smallmouth are really pumped for Justin Fields/ Red DT-10’s.

I am really pumped for Justin Fields, too.

Provided

Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above and this on Wednesday:

wow burnam was on fire today for the smallmouths

between me and my brother we caught 7 with biggest being 4 lbs 7 oz

all using a small silver jighead with a gulp minnow

Dale Bowman

Saturday I gave smallmouth bass a shot at Northerly Island (casting crankbaits with fair success), coming back I passed James Hay just before he landed one. It made my afternoon.

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters texted the photo above and this on Wednesday:

Provided by Capt. Bob Poteshman

Ron nicholson from st charles,59 years old, 22lbs on boga grip, 35.5” long his is dedicating this fish to his son that passed away Easton Nicholson

Today by the Wreck off Montrose on the Confusion C4

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

Hi Dale fishing has been pretty slow there’s been a few Coho out on the end of that horseshoe and that is about all I’ve heard.

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said lake trout fishing off Chicago is “spectacular; as far as salmon, I am sure they are here but God knows where.” Best laker bite, on virtually every typical laker presentation, is in 40-60 feet of water off Navy Pier.

“Out of North Point, quite a few lake trout, but it is mainly coho, it has been very good, but they move around. Letely they are on the hill in 40-100 feet, but it changes every day. Hopefully they stay.” Little Dodgers and little flies are best.

Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan texted:

All good, boats anywhere from 30 to 100 feet, south. Pier good as well, mainly coho, bait and spoons.

Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:

Hi Dale

Waukegan boat fishing continues to be very good. The fish are pushing out to deeper water. By the weekend good catches of mixed bags of coho, kings, lakers and steelhead were in 80 to 120 feet. Lake trout were taken in the bottom 10 feet and again preferred spoons like Warrior Psycho Perch and Colville Crusher over traditional Mo Rigs. Kings, coho and steelhead were taken in the top 40 feet mostly on Downriggers and dipsey divers with orange spoons like Warrior Steelhead Candy and Orange Killer. Stubby dodgers with Jimmy Fly green and green/gold patterns were also good. A few coho continued to be taken on traditional 00 dodger and peanut flies on trolling boards. Waukegan harbor saw less success with the fish moving out.

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

Our first good king is attached, held by Capt. Mike Fuys, caught on a Warrior Steelhead Candy.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

schooloffishcharters.com
630-341-0550

LaSALLE LAKE

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

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Both units are open for fishing.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

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

Couldn’t shake out o f these cold mornings (mid 20’s to low 30’s) this past week enough to get a good solid bite going. A few afternoons temps rose enough to spark some activity, but overall bites were tough to dig out most days.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Pike like the cool. And when they don’t have to compete with Walleyes, they tend to pick up the slack. While most reports came from anglers jigging minnows or leeches for Walleye, casting spinner baits, chatter baits and jerk baits all picked up some decent action depending on the conditions (artificials worked better as temps rose)!

Crappies: Good-Fair – Wind and cold has been the biggest hurdle. Anglers finding Crappies staging in bays with tall narrow leaf cabbage in 8-14’ of water. With surface temps hovering in the upper 40’s to just over 50 degrees, these fish just are not ready to move in. Most action on slip-bobbers and small minnows. Small plastics will produce better as water warms. When temps reach the upper 50’s (57-59 degrees) the spawning will start!

Walleye: Fair – Cool weather can be blamed for this prolonged, post spawn duldrums. Shallows are not warming up fast enough, nor enough fresh green weed growth to pull bait fish into typical early May zones. It should be coming. There have been signs of Eyes feeding on small Perch, Gills and even leeches, but the better bites have come from a little deeper water of 10-16’ as nightly colds keep the shallows from filling up with life.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Surprisingly a few more anglers targeting than usual. Black Marabou jigs in 1/16 – 1/8 oz worked over dark bottomed bays in the afternoon. Mid-day, chatter baits and swim baits drawing some weed flat action.

With slowly rising temps starting this Thursday (5/13), look for action for all species to pick up. Mornings in the 40’s warming to 60’s in the afternoon will put anglers and their quarry in a more active mood.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
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NORTHWEST INDIANA

Provided by Capt. Rich Sleziak

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

Good fishing last week for salmon and trout when weather aloud

From Gary light to the pink house just west of Michigan city in 40 to 50ft of water was full of bait fish and salmon and trout

Dodgers and spindoctors and flys along with spoons took lots of fish

Willow slough starting to get full of weeds but boat fisherman moving around are doing really well on bluegills and red ears.

BoRabb Williams texted:

We getting Slab crappie in the Calumet system …also in Indiana Cedar Lake and Willow Slough…. excellent… water is 59-60 degrees almost PERFECT

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

Hi, Dale! I’m hoping you’re well & all geared up for the beautiful forecast. Stay safe!

Fishing is really starting to get hot from the Chicago lakefront all the way east to the Portage Riverwalk & St. Joseph River; a good number of Coho & Kings are being caught on Skein, Nightcrawlers, & Cut Salmon. Trollers are doing very well on small spoons & dodgers & flies.

Inland lakes are steady, & Walleye fishing is slowly getting better, with Wolf Lake being the local hotspot. Nightcrawlers, Leeches, & Crawfish seem to be the baits of choice. The little warmer upcoming weather will do wonders.

Catfish & Smallmouth Bass fishing is really good on most rivers, including the Calumet, St. Joseph, & Kankakee, with anglers lucking out using dip & doughbaits, Livers, Shrimp, & Golden Roaches, respectively.

Crappie fishing is steadily picking up, but action slowed down slightly with the sudden drop in temperature; the warm weather rise this week will certainly be welcomed. Dowling Park, Lake George, & Wolf Lake have all been doing fairly well, with most anglers finding success using Redworms, Beemoths, & smaller minnows.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

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

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said it’s mainly coho and lakers with a few nice kings in 150-200 feet of water, coho are shallower and lakers everywhere.

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.

VERMILION RIVER

Provided

George Peters emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale just got back from great winter fishing in Florida. Made it out Friday before the monsoon! Did get this nice 19” smaller in the vermillion river at Peru Il. George Peters, Plainfield.

Been too long since I fished the Vermilion.

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:

Water temp yesterday afternoon was 55.5 degrees, still a bit cool. Some white bass are near the spawning areas, and picking up some males in deep water. Keeping our fingers crossed the warm weather later this week will fire up the river.

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The death toll in Gaza rose to 32 Palestinians, including 10 children, according to the Health Ministry. Over 200 people were wounded. Three women in Israel were killed by rocket fire, and dozens of people wounded.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel on Tuesday stepped up its attacks on the Gaza Strip, flattening a high-rise building used by the Hamas militant group and killing at least three militants in their hideouts as Palestinian rockets rained down almost nonstop on parts of Israel.

It was the heaviest fighting between the two bitter enemies since 2014, and it showed no signs of slowing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to expand the offensive, while Gaza militants unleashed a fierce late-night barrage of rockets that set off air-raid sirens and explosions throughout the densely populated Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Three women in Israel were killed by rocket fire, and dozens of people wounded. The death toll in Gaza rose to 32 Palestinians, including 10 children, according to the Health Ministry. Over 200 people were wounded.

In another sign of widening unrest, demonstrations erupted in Arab communities across Israel, where protesters set dozens of vehicles on fire in confrontations with police.

The fighting between Israel and Hamas was the most intense since a 50-day war in the summer of 2014. In just over 24 hours, the current round of violence, sparked by religious tensions in the contested city of Jerusalem, increasingly resembled that devastating war.

The booms of Israeli airstrikes and hisses of outgoing rocket fire could be heard in Gaza throughout the day, and large plumes of smoke from targeted buildings rose into the air. Israel resumed a policy of airstrikes aimed at killing wanted militants and began to take down entire buildings — a tactic that drew heavy international criticism in 2014.

In Israel, the nonstop barrages of rocket fire left long streaks of white smoke in their wake, while the explosions of anti-rocket interceptors boomed overhead. Air-raid sirens wailed throughout the day, sending panicked residents scurrying for cover.

In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu said that Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant groups “have paid, and I tell you here, will pay a heavy price for their aggression.”

He claimed that Israel had killed dozens of militants and inflicted heavy damage on hundreds of targets.

“This campaign will take time,” he said. “With determination, unity and strength, we will restore security to the citizens of Israel.”

He stood alongside Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a political rival, in a show of unity. “There are lots of targets lined up. This is only the beginning,” Gantz said. The military said it was activating some 5,000 reservists and sending troop reinforcements to the Gaza border.

The current violence has coincided with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a time of heightened religious sentiments.

Critics say heavy-handed Israeli police measures in and around Jerusalem’s Old City helped stoke nightly unrest. Another flashpoint has been the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where dozens of Palestinians are under threat of eviction by Jewish settlers.

Confrontations erupted last weekend at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, which is the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism. Over four days, Israeli police fired tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinians in the compound who hurled stones and chairs at the forces. At times, police fired stun grenades into the carpeted mosque.

On Monday evening, Hamas began firing rockets from Gaza. From there on, the escalation was rapid.

In a televised address, Hamas’ exiled leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Israel bore responsibility. “It’s the Israeli occupation that set Jerusalem on fire, and the flames reached Gaza,” he said.

Palestinian health officials gave no breakdown on the death toll in Gaza, but Islamic Jihad confirmed that three senior commanders were killed in a strike on their hideout in a Gaza City apartment building. The Health Ministry said 10 children and a woman were also killed.

Netanyahu said Israel had attacked hundreds of targets. The fiercest attack was a set of airstrikes that brought down an entire 12-story building. The building housed important Hamas offices, as well as a gym and some start-up businesses. Israel fired a series of warning shots before demolishing the building, allowing people to flee and there were no casualties.

The Israeli military said hundreds of rockets were launched toward Israel. Two women, including an Indian caregiver, were killed in separate rocket strikes in the southern city of Ashkelon.

Then, late at night, Hamas said it unleashed a barrage of 130 rockets toward Tel Aviv in response to the destruction of the high-rise. As the rockets rose into the skies, mosques across Gaza blared with chants of “God is great,” “victory to Islam” and “resistance.”

One rocket killed a woman in the city of Rishon LeZion, and another struck a bus in the nearby city of Holon, wounding three people, including a young girl.

The violence was beginning to spill over to Israel’s own Arab population, where angry demonstrations erupted across the country.

In the central city of Lod, thousands of mourners joined a funeral for an Arab man killed by a suspected Jewish gunman the previous night. The crowd clashed with police, and set a synagogue and some 30 vehicles, including a police car, on fire, Israeli media reported. Paramedics said a 56-year-old man was seriously hurt after his car was pelted with stones.

The city’s mayor, Yair Revivo, described the situation in the mixed Jewish-Arab city as “civil war,” and the government ordered a deployment of paramilitary border guards from the West Bank to Lod.

In neighboring Ramle, ultra-nationalist Jewish demonstrators were filmed attacking cars belonging to Arabs. In the norther port town of Acre, protesters torched a Jewish-owned restaurant and hotel. Police arrested dozens of others at Arab protests in other towns.

Diplomats sought to intervene, with Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations working to deliver a cease-fire. All three serve as mediators between Israel and Hamas.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded a halt to the “spiraling” violence, a U.N. spokesman said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to the Israeli foreign minister to condemn the Hamas attacks and “reiterate the important message of de-escalation,” the State Department said.

The escalation comes at a time of political limbo in Israel.

Netanyahu has been caretaker prime minister since an inconclusive parliamentary election in March. After failing to form a coalition government by a deadline last week, his political rivals have now been given the opportunity.

The support of an Arab-backed party with Islamist roots is key for the anti-Netanyahu bloc. But the current tensions might deter the party’s leader, Mansour Abbas, from joining a coalition with Jewish parties, at least for the time being.

The sides have three more weeks to reach a deal. If they fail, Israel would likely be plunged into an unprecedented fifth election campaign in just over two years.

___

Akram reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Associated Press Writer Ilan Ben Zion also contributed to this report.

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Vaughn batting .324 in last 11 games but still looking for first home run.

A home run would be nice.

Andrew Vaughn knows it.

But he’s not going to force the issue.

“It’ll happen eventually,” the White Sox left fielder said before the Sox opened a three-game series against the defending AL Central champion Twins Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “It’s not something I’m going out trying to do. I pride myself on being a hitter first, and I’ve always said that. That’s the biggest part of my game, getting into that groove and just going at it every day.”

Perhaps getting his most consistent playing time of the season will lead to his first home run. Vaughn entered the game on a 12-for-37 (.324) streak including four doubles and two RBI in his last 11 games, raising his hitting line to .261/.350/.362. Before that, the No. 3 overall pick in 2019 was batting .188/.333/.281 while playing in 11 of the Sox’ first 18 games.

“It’s definitely seeing more reps,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn, who hasn’t played above advanced Class A, batted .278/.384/.449 with six homers in 55 minor league games. Last year’s minor league season was canceled, so it’s been an uneven entry into the majors. And when he got there, he was thrown into an unexpected position change because of Eloy Jimenez’ torn pectoral muscle.

A first baseman who figured to make the Opening Day roster the Sox DH this season, Vaughn’s transition to left field has been uneventful. He is making the routine plays and even laid out to make a catch in Kansas City Sunday.

“It’s still new because I haven’t been out there for a super long time,” Vaughn said. “But it’s getting better, getting all the reads out there and seeing the ball. I’m getting more comfortable out there, 100 percent.”

Struggling Twins

The defending AL Central champion Twins entered Tuesday with a 12-20 record but manager Tony La Russa isn’t writing them off no matter what happens in the series, the first of 19 games between the teams.

“No, it’s way too early,” La Russa said. “Whatever the results, there’s so much time to make up for it.

“Whichever way this series goes, it doesn’t say anything about what’s going to happen in the second half of the season. Just right now we have something going and the Twins are in our way.”

Good looking ballclub

Crowds have been limited by COVID restrictions but lively all over baseball.

“Not only have I noticed it but the guys have mentioned it,” La Russa said. “Just the atmosphere is totally different with so many thousands.

“If you look at our club, it’s a very attractive club. The pitchers are attractive, position players, everybody’s got something the fans like about them. We’ve got a real shot to be entertaining and competitive and contend all summer.”

This and that

Nursing a sore knee, Adam Eaton returned to the lineup after playing twice in the previous five games over eight days because of three off days. “He’s pretty close to 100 percent,” La Russa said.

*Wednesday starter Dallas Keuchel is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA over 24 innings in his last four starts.

*Michael Kopech is the only pitcher in the major leagues with 35-plus strikeouts over 22 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched or less.

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