Crude behavior costly

It may take years for a very special Pennsylvania trout stream to recover, while there's the possibility that father and son Andrew and Christopher Horton may spend some of those years behind bars, if they're found guilty.

The pair were arrested by Pennsylvania State Police for allegedly opening spigots on seven crude oil tanks. Meter boxes were also destroyed as well, along with a generator valued a $500,000. It's believed 36,000 gallons of oil were released into a couple of fine fishing creeks.

Officials noted that the oil spill polluted 4 miles of Chappel Fork and almost 2 miles of Indian Run, two excellent trout streams holding wild fish. Biologists found quite a number of dead trout and other species of fish floating on the surface as well as on the banks of the two streams. The streams eventually flow into the Allegheny River.

Fishing report:

Fox Chain: despite the changing weather patterns walleye fishing on Lake Marie is very good. The same holds true for the crappie angling, with fish in the 13-15 inch range being taken from 10 feet of water. Muskie action continues on Lake Catherine, especially after dark when some larger fish go after surface baits on outside weed edges.

Fox River: Some decent crappie activity is keeping anglers busy near the Carpentersville Dam. Smallmouth action is slowly picking up at South Elgin and Batavia. A few walleyes have been snatched from the slack-water pools just below the McHenry Dam.

Bangs Lake: There's excellent bluegill fishing 50 feet due north of the Wauconda Boat docks. Bass are chasing surface lures after sunset and a few walleyes are hitting leeches and minnows in 18 feet of water.

Lake Michigan: The best news concerns Chinook salmon near Waukegan. Some larger fish are being taken at depths ranging from 80-100 feet straight out from the harbor.

•Mike's Jackson's radio program can be heard 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM, and you can e-mail him at angler88@comcast.net.