This week’s field notes
OUTDOORS March 25, 2011 11:40PM
Dale’s mailbag
A: Westrec Marinas expects yearly launch passes to be issued beginning May 1, just before the harbors open. That is something that should be tweaked, especially with the jump in launch fees and enforcement the last couple years.
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM
WILD OF THE WEEK
Bill Peak sent a bunch of photos from around Wolf Lake. Here’s one of a monk parakeet building a nest by the Department of Natural Resources office. WOTW will run until Morel of the Week photos start arriving in a few weeks. Send nominations for either to straycasts@sbcglobal.net.
SPRING TROUT
Spring trout season opens Saturday on select waters across Illinois. For those 16 and older, a fishing license and inland trout stamp are required. Area lakes include Axehead, Belleau and Sag Quarry East (Cook County); Grove, Pickerel and Silver (DuPage); Gebhard Woods State Park Pond (Grundy); Bird Park Quarry and Rock Creek at Kankakee River SP (Kankakee); Big Lake at Silver Springs SP (Kendall); Sand Lake at Illinois Beach SP and Banana Lake (Lake); Lake Atwood, Hollows Conservation Area, and Piscasaw Creek (McHenry); Lake Milliken at Des Plaines Conservation Area (Will).
WILD TIMES
HEIDECKE LAKE
Friday: Former cooling lake near Morris reopens to fishing. Boat launch opens at 6 a.m., bank angling opens at 6:30 a.m.; close is dusk.
BANQUETS
Saturday: Will County Cutters chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation, Beecher AMVETS Hall Post No. 67. Contact Troy Claus at blacklab99@comcast.net.
ILL. PERMITS/SEASONS
Thursday: Beaver trapping, woodchuck hunting and conservation order hunting season for light geese end.
Friday: New hunting, trapping and fishing licenses required.
Friday: Smelt netting opens on Chicago lakefront.
Saturday-next Sunday: Youth turkey hunt, north zone.
