Fishing News - Fresh
Fish Action In August
Summer sunshine in August is often a sure sign that the fish will not bite during the day. Most anglers switch to night fishing or at least early morning and late evening. That is not […]
Southern Illinos
Fishing Tips
Night Fishing Tips
Regardless of the species sought, catching fish at night takes some changes in tactics as well as special care for safety. If you have the energy to stay up late you just might find some […]
Bass Fishing
There’s Bass In Them Thar Rivers
River fishing is really a kind of hunting for “fishy water.” To be successful in finding bass, the river angler must know how to read the conditions. Water conditions and structure available are important to […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Fishing With Munchkins
Taking munchkins fishing is an opportunity for you and them to get closer and develop an appreciation for the outdoors. Only a few weekends remain this summer. Weekends that provides excellent opportunities to teach a […]
Panfish Fishing
Bluegil Action On Farm Ponds
Tips You Can Use All Over: Illinois anglers can find good early season bluegill action on farm ponds providing they pay attention to the tackle, the presence, absence, and location of vegetation. Very dense vegetation […]
Duck/Goose Hunting
Waterfowl Decoys History
In 1918, Joel Barber began a new era of waterfowl decoys. Barber spent much of his life collecting and showcasing various decoys and even wrote a popular book on the subject 1934 titled, Wild Fowl […]
Boat News
Boat Launching With Ease
Efficient launching of your boat gets you in and out of the water quickly and makes for more time enjoying your boating and fishing. At first glance, launching a boat from a trailer looks like […]
Catfish Fishing
Slip Bobbers and Catfish
My introduction to fishing came at the end of some black nylon line with a wine cork tied above a worm-baited hook. Between the two was tied a bolt. It was pretty rudimentary but functional. […]
Panfish Fishing
Go To Bushes In the Spring
Fishing the heavy buck brush and shallow openings is a key to finding early season crappie. Sometimes anglers must pole their boats far into the shallows to find the big ones. All kinds of jigs […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Carlyle Lake Bass
Three species of “bass” inhabit the tailwaters below the Carlyle Dam. The three are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and White Bass. The 26,000-acre impoundment that is Carlyle Lake can be located on Illinois 127 and […]
Panfish Fishing
Around The Gills
The Bluegill is easily recognizable by the blue or yellow green coloration, six to eight dark vertical bands down the sides and dark opercula flap behind the eyes. During spawning season a male may also […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Walking Streams In Spring
May is a time to explore the area creeks and streams in search of some off beat fishing holes. With a little planning and careful walking, the fisherman can find water that is his and […]
Panfish Fishing
Family Fun Had With Bluegils
The return of warm weather inspires anglers to dig out the rod and reel. The entire family can all take part in bluegill fishing. The many public fishing areas of southern Illinois provide ample space […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Two In A Day Fishing
When it comes to a good day, two Illinois public fishing areas are a good bet. Located about an hour southwest of St. Louis, Pinkneyville City Lake and the many lakes found in Pyramid State […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Tips For Spring Weather Fishing
Spring can be the best and the worst of times for the fisherman. The fish are active and so is the weather. It seems that spring is just one front after another. Some contain severe […]
Catfish Fishing
Kaskaskia River Catfish
Beginning with its headwaters in Champaign County, the Kaskaskia River flows some 280 miles to the southwest to join the Mississippi River. The upper reaches of the river above Lake Shelbyville do not produce large […]
Turkey Hunting
Public Land Turkey Hunting Tips
Modern day turkey hunters enjoy some of the best turkey hunting. Some overlook this opportunity because they do not have a place lined up to hunt. Illinois also has some of the country’s best public […]
Turkey Hunting
What Makes Great Turkey Hunting
Early life is the most hazardous time for young turkeys. An important sign of turkey population success is whether the young live through the summer. If conditions are right one year, the number of birds […]
Boat News
Getting Your Boat Ready
Do you want to operate your boat safely and effectively this year? There is some preparation it needs done. It is not difficult, but necessary. It might even save money in the long run. Just […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Fishing Unfamiliar Waters
High fuel costs and other boat expenses mean that many of us are fishing water closer to home and or perhaps areas we neglected in the past. Fishing a new lake, or seldom fished lake, […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Dunkin Worms For Trout
Spring catchable trout programs allow anglers catch these denizens of the cold water often not normally available the rest of the year. Rainbow trout live in water that remains below 72-degrees and within 4 feet […]
Fishing News - Fresh
PUT-N-TAKE TROUT
Put-and-take trout fishing requires more thought than most anglers believe. Sure it is possible to catch them with little effort. Consistently getting results after the first few days is a little more difficult. Finding fish […]
Fishing News - Fresh
Spring Bass Action On Lake Of Egypt
Although often fished the entire year, Lake of Egypt can be a fish factory in early spring. The weather may be unstable. It can be iced one day and 70 degrees the next. The fish […]
Panfish Fishing
Late Winter Crappie Surprise
The ice will soon be off our favorite lakes. Most of us as we get older tend to prefer the warm confines of home to fishing out on a lake in 40-degree temperatures. Kyle Schoenherr […]
Panfish Fishing
Cold Water Crappie Fishing
Preferring the warm confines of home to fishing out on a lake in 40-degree temperatures does not make one unusual. But a while back Kyle Schoenherr’s tales of 2-pound crappie became irresistible. In addition to […]
Fishing Tips
Cold Water Fishing
The cool water of late fall allows fish to spread out and find comfort zones in a variety of levels. Thanks giving weekend has given anglers in southern Illinois a chance for some very late […]
Panfish Fishing
Crappie In Crapy Weather
White crappie caught on rainy day teaches one to fish under hardship. Thunder and lightning punctuate the night time skies. But, we are anxious to get out on the water and catch some crappie. Rain […]
Hunting News
Late Season Muzzleloader Hunting
Fire and smoke belch out of the barrel. Once the smoke clears we have the opportunity to see if the bullet found its mark. Just as our forbearers in the Midwest did we are hunting […]
Small Game Hunting
Find The Food To feed Quail
Blazing fall colors and the dull ones that follow are sure signs of quail season. Humans and canines take to the field in search of a short, plump bird about 10 inches long and weighing […]
Hunting News
Choosing A Hunting Club
The two most important things in selecting a hunting club are good birds and good cover. Everything else is secondary. You can go to a lot of hunting preserves that have gorgeous clubhouses, expensive landscaping […]