Baker has the ingredients for good fishing

Anglers came from all over to pay homage to the aged Viking Canoe.

They brought wreaths, notes of thanks, strips of linen for ornaments, and even burnt offerings in appreciation of all those great trips this sea-worthy craft provided.

The Canoe was an 18-foot jon-type fishing boat used by Captain Darrell Baker on the Fox Chain. I spent many hours aboard it during fishing and duck hunting excursions. Baker retired the old girl right after duck season ended.

Radio co-host A.J. Paul sat perched atop the elevated front seat of Baker's new luxurious watercraft, a 21-foot YarCraft fishing rig with a 150-h.p. tiller-controlled outboard. Paul, however, was already into fish as if he was on fire. He caught three scrappy bluegills before Darrell and I could get our jigs to the bottom.

Baker runs his popular Midwest Guide Service out of Barnacle Bob's Marina on Lake Marie. And Baker's service has become so popular with anglers that out-of-state fishermen come to the Chain to have him guide them to fishing valhalla.

"Let's get a mess of bluegills and crappies first," Baker suggested.

Using tiny Mini-Mite jigs tipped with spikes or wax worms, we had non-stop action that lasted an hour or so. We were "in the zone" and a majority of the bluegills measured 9 inches. Baker then moved the boat about 15 feet and suggested we double up on the waxies and spikes.

"You watch what happens," Baker proclaimed. "We're liable to get a double grand-slam in the different-species department."

Baker was into the crappies first, taking both a white and black crappie in succession. Paul and I quickly followed with our own slabs.

I can be a happy angler all day long when I'm catching decent size panfish. The bluegills and crappie were so thick under our boat that Baker had a difficult time distinguishing the species.

"I'm marking lots of suspended fish on the fish-finder and they should be crappie," he called out.

He was right again.

And we even had a few bite-offs on that spot. I'm certain a small school of walleyes moved in and whacked our jigs. No hookups, though.

After a couple of hours, the front livewell looked like the fish counter at a local supermarket. It was jam packed, all because A.J. wanted to take fish home for dinner.

This has been a banner year for anglers on the Fox Chain, in that the crappie and walleye bite has continued to exceed expectations. Baker's customers continue to be surprised with muskie hookups on just about every other trip.

By the way, Barnacle Bob has a great selection of fishing boats and motors if you prefer to fish without a guide (847-395-2036). But if you want an exceptional angling session with a true fishing natural, call Baker (847-337-5559).

And bring your cooler with you as well.

Outdoors notes

Buying a federal duck stamp is about to get easier starting Sept. 1, when you can buy an electronic federal duck stamp.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and nine other states are partnering in a three-year pilot program. The goal is to make it easier to buy the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the duck stamp.

"This should really make it easy for hunters to get a duck stamp any time of day by phone or online," said Ducks Unlimited executive vice president Don Young.

Young also said DU wanted to make sure the e-stamp would not replace the rich waterfowling heritage of the traditional paper duck stamp and the federal duck stamp art competition.

States participating in the pilot program include Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Texas and Wisconsin. The fish and wildlife agencies in these states will handle the sales.

All it takes is a credit card to buy an e-duck stamp. You don't even have to live in one of the nine states.

Each agency will sell stamps electronically through their automated licensing systems. The purchaser is then given a unique code. The code is proof that the purchaser possesses a valid federal duck stamp for 45 days.

Fishing update

Fox Chain: Boat launches at Chain O'Lakes State Park and Oak Point are closed now due to flood conditions.

The IDNR has also changed Zone B (upper river) from No-Wake to CLOSED as of Wednesday.

Fox River: You can take advantage of the high water by working the shorelines in Elgin and Algonquin. Smallmouth bass will congregate near the banks.

Bangs Lake: Decent for largemouth right in the heavy weeds.

Deep Lake: Some large crappie are being taken on the west shoreline.