Outdoors notes for March 27

Cold or warm weather? It won't matter to those fans who have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Heidecke Lake. The lake opens Tuesday.

One sure thing is you will need your new 2008 Illinois fishing license to partake.

New hunters are taking to the field, thanks to laws that remove unnecessary restrictions. Since 2004, more than 87,000 apprentice hunting licenses have been sold.

A recent report shows states that have introduced apprentice hunting license programs have seen hunting license sales increase from 10 percent to 111 percent. Much of the new legislation is the result of the Families Afield initiative, a cooperative effort among the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation that seeks to remove legal barriers and get youth involved in hunting.

Fishing report: We have turned the corner. While the far north country is still encapsulated in some places with close to 3 feet of lake ice, we are seeing a major breakthrough here.

Several boats have been spotted working the current on the Fox River near the McHenry Dam.

Fox Chain: There are some open water spots on the southern lakes, but to the north, the die-hard ice fanatics are still working 5-8 foot depths for some of the big crappie and bluegills.

Lake Michigan: Navy Pier continues to improve in the perch department. Not many jumbos though.