May 1, 2024
Aquaculture in the classroom helps inspire the next generation of students
When you think of fish in a classroom, you may not be picturing fish tanks the size of hot tubs, complete with recirculating pipes, biofiltration, and chemical management systems, but that’s just what some students across the state get to experience.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Efforts in recent years to clean up the Chicago River system have led to increases in fish numbers and diversity in this waterway, but the environment still poses challenges to fish living in the river system. Do fish have the conditions they need to thrive?
MoreMay 1, 2024
Few outdoor sports activities evoke the raw thrill of bowfishing. It’s an unique blend of archery prowess and angler finesse, where enthusiasts aim not for trophies mounted on walls but for conservation and ecological balance.
MoreMay 1, 2024
After decades of river modifications, siltation and habitat loss, the Upper Mississippi River has become a major focus of ecological restorations in the Midwest. Not only is critical habitat on the river being saved and restored through the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Habitat and Restoration and Enhancement Programs, but these projects also promote a healthier and more resilient Upper Mississippi River ecosystem.
MoreMay 1, 2024
One of the best aspects about fishing, especially for new anglers, is that it is budget friendly. Despite what outfitters, tackle companies and hardcore anglers might have you believe, functional fishing gear can be purchased for the cost of an oil change or fancy haircut. With proper care, fishing gear including rods, reels and lures, can be used for decades.
MoreMay 1, 2024
The April sun was just revealing itself as the strangely shaped boat crawled past the Waukegan Harbor lighthouse. The captain rocked the throttle, and the engine responded with an increased roar and the building whine of a turbocharger. Inside the belly of the vessel, IDNR Lake Michigan Program biologists settled in for a 45-minute run to the first of two bottom set gill nets set as part of the annual Lake Michigan Spring Index Assessment.
MoreMay 1, 2024
The diverse and unique habitats of southwestern Illinois’ Lower Mississippi River Bottomlands Natural Division host rare reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and fishes. Plan a trip to southwestern Illinois where you will find soggy landscapes reminiscent of swamps of the South that hold a gleam of promise as home to an amazing diversity of plants and animals.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Once in a blue moon, the fish at the end of the line of a long-fought battle is a personal best—and just may be a contender for a state record. Remarkably, from 2021 to 2022, 10 Illinois state records were broken, and already in 2024 one record-breaking fish has been certified. Read about some of these record-breaking fish and what it takes to have a fish certified.
MoreMay 1, 2024
Catching a fish on a fly, like ordering a pizza, requires that the provider know what the recipient wants on it, the address, and how to deliver it. By asking yourself five questions, and acting on the answers, you can dramatically improve ‘how to deliver your fly. Ultimately, you’ll impress your friends—and often the fish.’
MoreFeb 1, 2024
The Urban Fishing Program is gearing up for another season of fun-filled fishing with schools across the state. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is thrilled to announce that grant money is now available to cover the cost of transportation to fishing locations.
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A message from Chief Mike McClelland
Welcome to the May 2024 edition of the online magazine OutdoorIllinois Journal, featuring timely, seasonally based stories about the Prairie State’s wildlife resources, with an expansion of content to include a broader range of subjects—including endangered and threatened species and Illinois’ unique, high-quality habitats and the people working to preserve, protect and manage these resources.
