Cold-front setbacks not stopping top guides
An angling sage told me this week to have plenty of patience with regard to our constantly changing weather patterns.
Donald K. of Hoffman Estates e-mailed to offer solace and encouragement because of what appears to be a never-ending string of cold fronts.
But I can report, that two local guides have been scoring on walleyes and bass.
Hall of Famer Spence Petros is setting records with his clients on Lake Delavan. I wouldn't dream of telling you the numbers of bass Petros and his clients continue to catch. And on the Fox Chain, guide Chris Taurisano has found the walleyes tucked in very close to current areas.
Crappie action on the Chain has slowed, but even with higher water on the Fox River, some smallmouth in several spots are hanging tight to shoreline structure like deadfall trees.
Lake Michigan salmon are a tad slow, but rainbow and lake trout seem to favor the shallower depths, especially outside Waukegan.
Float your boat:
Even though you may already put your boat in the water, Illinois Conservation police officers will be at locations throughout the state Friday performing courtesy boat inspections to help prepare boat owners for the 2014 season.
CPOs will not write tickets during the free safety checks that day, but they will go through a safety checklist that includes working life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation lights and battery covers.
Officers will also be available to answer any questions about boat registration, titles and water-usage stamps.
For those of us in Northeast Illinois, the inspections will occur from 3-7 p.m. on Lake Michigan (31st Street Harbor, Winthrop Harbor and North Point Marina boat ramp) and at Chain O' Lakes State Park boat ramp in Spring Grove.
Bowfishing championships:
The Bowfishing Association of Illinois, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Recourses, will host the annual Directors Shoot / Innerloc State Bowfishing Championships, July 19-20, on the Illinois River at Starved Rock State Park near Utica.
• Mike Jackson can be reached via e-mail at angler88@comcast.net, and you can catch his radio program 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.