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Spring Catchable Trout Program opens April 1
Fishing for catchable-sized rainbow trout gets underway at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 1. More than 60,000 trout, each about 10 to 11 inches in length, will be stocked at 36 locations throughout the state. Funds generated from the sale of inland trout stamps support the stocking program. The stamps are available for $6.50 each at DNR offices in Springfield, Chicago, Alton, Benton, Champaign, Spring Grove and Sterling, at many municipal, township and county clerks' offices, and at many sporting goods stores and bait shops. To participate in the catchable trout fishing program, anglers must have an Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp or a 24-hour license that includes trout fishing privileges. Licenses are required unless anglers are under age 16, blind or disabled, or Illinois servicemen or servicewomen home on leave. The daily possession limit is five fish. More information about the trout stocking program is available from the DNR Division of Fisheries by calling (217) 782-6424, Ameritech Relay 1-800-526-0844, TTY (217) 782-9175, or by calling 1-800-ASK-FISH. Stocking sites for the spring catchable trout program: Adams County: Siloam Springs State Park Lake; Boone County: Belvidere City Park; Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway; Cass County: Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (formerly Site M) Gurney Road Pond; Champaign County: Lake of the Woods; Coles County: Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston; DuPage County: Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District; Grundy County: Gebhard Woods State Park Pond; Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond; Jo Daviess County: Apple River. Also: Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake; Kankakee County: Bird Park Quarry, Kankakee, and Rock Creek, Kankakee River State Park; Kendall County: Big Lake. Silver Springs State Park; Lake County: Sand Lake, Illinois Beach State Park; Macon County: Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District; Marion County: Boston Pond, Stephen A. Forbes State Park; Massac County: Fort Massac State Park Fairgrounds Pond; McLean County: Miller Park Lake, Bloomington; McHenry County: Lake Atwood, Hollows Conservation Area, McHenry County Conservation District and Piscasaw Creek; Moultrie County: Wyman Lake, Sullivan; Ogle County: Pine Creek. And: St. Clair County: Frank Holten State Park main lake and Jones Park Lake; Sangamon County: Illinois Department of Transportation Lake and Washington Park Pond, Springfield; Shelby County: Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville; Stephenson County: Waddams Creek and Yellow Creek; Vermilion County: Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Park: Wabash County: Beall Woods Lake; Wayne County: Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area Trout Pond; Whiteside County: Coleta Trout Pond; Will County: Lake Milliken, Des Plaines Conservation Area; Winnebago County: Kent Creek. Put some class into your life The Department of Natural Resources administers four mandatory safety education programs for young hunters, trappers, boaters and snowmobilers. Although designed for youths, the courses are recommended for everyone wanting to keep up on safety practices. For information about safety education classes in your area, call 1-800-832-2599. Hearing-impaired individuals can call the Department's TTY number, (217) 782-9175. New fishing rules take effect April 1 Anglers are encouraged to pick up a copy of the new 2000 Illinois fishing information booklet to review new regulations that take effect April 1. The fishing information booklet is available free at sporting goods stores, bait shops and wherever fishing licenses are sold. Licenses and details on fishing regulations also are available on the DNR home page at http://dnr.state.il.us. The fishing information guide features a review of fishing prospects on state and local waters throughout Illinois, details on North American and Illinois state record fish, and a meal advisory for those eating sport fish from Illinois waters. New statewide fishing regulations include a law allowing anglers to use a maximum of three poles or tip-ups with no more than two hooks on each, line while ice fishing. Anglers 20 OutdoorIllinois
previously were limited to using two devices while ice fishing. The new law does not allow more than two devices at sites with a "two-pole and line fishing only" restriction. Ice anglers are limited to only two poles or tip-ups with no more than two hooks on each line when fishing at those sites. A number of sites have new restrictions on the minimum length and/or the maximum number (daily creel limit) of particular fish species anglers may take. The restrictions are intended to improve the abundance and size structure of fish in selected bodies of water. The changes in site specific regulations for the 2000 season are shaded in gray in the new fishing guide and include: • Argyle Lake (McDonough County), three-fish daily creel limit for hybrid walleye. • Banner Marsh Lake and Ponds (Peoria and Fulton counties), three-fish daily creel limit and 12- to 18-inch protected slot length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass; 42-inch minimum length limit for pure muskellunge. • Belk Park Pond, Wood River (Madison County), 18-inch minimum length limit and one-fish daily creel limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Bowen Lake, Washington (Tazewell County), 12- to 15-inch protected slot length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Canton Lake, Canton (Fulton County), six-fish daily creel limit for blue catfish. • Diamond Lake, Mundelein (Lake County), two-pole and line fishing only for all fish; six-fish daily creel limit for channel catfish; three-fish daily creel limit and 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Elkville City Reservoir, Elkville (Jackson County), three-fish daily creel limit and 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Gladstone Lake (Henderson County), six-fish daily creel limit for blue catfish. • Governor Bond Lake, Greenville (Bond County), 25-fish daily creel limit for white, black or hybrid crappie. • Greenville Old City Lake, Greenville (Bond County), three-fish daily creel limit and 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Heidecke Lake (Grundy County), 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Illinois River, 12-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Independence Grove Lake (Lake County), two-pole and line fishing only for all fish; six-fish daily creel limit for channel catfish; one-fish daily creel limit and 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass; 36-inch minimum lengthlimit for pure muskellunge. • Lake George (Rock Island County), one-fish daily creel limit and 17-inch minimum length limit for striped, white or hybrid striped bass. • Lake Jacksonville (Morgan County), 10-fish daily creel limit and eight-inch minimum length limit for bluegill or redear sunfish. • Lake Storey, Galesburg (Knox County), six-fish daily creel limit for blue catfish. • Mackinaw Ponds 1, 2 and 3 (Tazewell County), one-fish daily creel limit and 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass. • Mermet State Lake (Massac County), 25-fish daily creel limit for white, black or hybrid crappie. • Mississippi River, 20-fish daily creel limit for channel or blue catfish; 10-fish daily creel limit for flathead catfish; 30-fish daily creel limit for white, black or hybrid striped bass; 12-inch minimum length limit for largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass. • Powerton Lake (Tazewell County), six-fish daily creel limit for blue catfish. • Rend Lake Project Ponds-Jackie Branch Pond, Ina North Borrow Pit, Green Heron Pond, North Marcum Campground Pond (Franklin and Jefferson counties), 10-fish daily creel limit for bluegill and redear sunfish; one-fish daily creel limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass.
Pheasant Fund backs 53 wildlife projects The Department of Natural Resources has awarded more than $640,000 from the State Pheasant Fund for 53 wildlife conservation projects. Combined with contributions from the organizations receiving grants, the total value of the pheasant projects is estimated to be more than $1.3 million. "These awards provide funds to create and preserve much-needed pheasant habitat," DNR Director Brent Manning said. "Pheasant Fund grants also create wonderful opportunities for the Department to involve many different partners in our combined efforts for the conservation of wild pheasants for future generations." Fifty-three of 76 applications were approved by the State Pheasant Committee, which makes recommendations to Manning for project funding. Pheasant Fund awards included funds to acquire 117 acres for a Pheasant Habitat Area in Stephenson County; specialized equipment for planting and maintaining warm season grasses; grass and legume seeds; and funds to help educate the public on the importance of permanent habitat for Illinois pheasants. Pheasant Fund monies are derived from the sale of a $5.50 Habitat Stamp required of most Illinois hunters. Thirty percent is deposited in the State Pheasant
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Fund for the purpose of wild pheasant conservation projects. These projects are submitted by not-for-profit organizations and the DNR to the State Pheasant Committee each year. The Committee reviews the projects and recommends allocation of funds. Applications and project criteria for year 2001 projects are now available at all DNR district and regional offices, as well as in Springfield. The application deadline for 2001 projects is Oct. 31,2000. Following is a list of approved projects: Sangamon County Pheasants Forever, $2,353 to purchase a sprayer; Ogle County Pheasants Forever, $3,750 to lease a tractor for six months, $2,275 to purchase cool season grass seed and $6,864 to purchase native warm season grass seed; LaSalle County Pheasants Forever, $11,500 to purchase native warm and cool season grass seed; Kankakee County Pheasants Forever, $3,120 to purchase native warm season grass seed, $1,300 to purchase cool season grass seed and $4,800 to rent a tractor for habitat establishment and maintenance; Vermilion County Pheasants Forever, $4,875 to purchase and plant native warm season grass seed; Grundy County Pheasants Forever, $4,940 to purchase native grass seed and $5,600 to rent a tractor for habitat establishment and maintenance; Livingston County Pheasants Forever, $16,750 to purchase cool season and warm season grass and legume seed; Pioneer Pheasants Forever, $7,636 to purchase cool season and warm season grass and legume seed; Highland Chapter Pheasants Forever, $21,032 to purchase native grass seed and $242,190 to purchase 117 acres for a Pheasant Habitat Area in Stephenson County; Knox County Pheasants Forever, $1,645 to purchase cool season grass seed and $5,935 to purchase native grass seed.
Also: Piatt County Pheasants Forever, $4,836 to purchase cool season and prairie grass seed; Champaign County Pheasants Forever, $24,800 to purchase switchgrass and warm season grass mixes and $2,450 for Earth Partners of Champaign County to provide habitat education in schools; Carroll County Pheasants Forever, $4,500 to purchase native warm season grass seed and $5,910 to purchase a 10 ft. seed drill; Winnebago County Pheasants Forever, $5,441 to purchase cool season grass seed, $11,716 to purchase warm season grass seed and $1,480 for equipment rental assistance; National Wild Turkey Federation, Rock River Chapter, $1,524 to purchase warm and cool season grass seed for landowners with acres in CRP program; Jo Daviess Pheasants Forever, $6,240 to purchase warm season grass and switch grass seed, $2,400 to purchase a sprayer and $1,440 to rent a tractor for habitant establishment and maintenance. Illinois River Valley Pheasants Forever, $19,000 to purchase native and cool season grass seed and legumes; Edgar County Pheasants Forever, $4,940 to purchase native grass seed for filter strips; Lee County Pheasants Forever, $4,525 to purchase native grass seed and legume seed; Toluca Sportsman's Club, $4,859 to purchase and plant food plots and cover and $ 1,875 to lease a tractor for habitat establishment and maintenance; Douglas County Pheasants Forever, $8,483 to purchase warm and cool season grass seed. And: DeWitt County Pheasants Forever, $1,422 to purchase cool season grass seed and $5,692 to purchase native warm season grass seed; DeKalb Area Pheasants Forever, $5,000 to purchase seed for CRP and filter strips; Iroquois County Pheasants Forever $4,437 to purchase native seed for CRP; McLean County Pheasants Forever, $4,156 to purchase cool season grass and 22 OutdoorIllinois
legume seed, $10,125 to purchase no-till drill, $212 to purchase seed for establishing wildlife habitat on Heartland Community College campus, $1,804 to purchase warm season grass seed, $2,340 to purchase native grasses for CP4D program, and $3,800 to purchase warm season grass seed; Prairie Land Pheasants Forever, $ 12,400 to purchase a no-till grass drill; Montgomery County Pheasants Forever, $1,560 to purchase warm season grass seed; The Wildlife Society, Illinois Chapter, $1,800 to cost share a Grassland Management Workshop for resource professionals; Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $73,500 for private landowner incentive program, $50,000 for habitat development ecoteams and $700 to purchase Pheasant Fund logo signs and decals.
Drought a concern; water supplies being monitored Lack of adequate rainfall in Illinois this spring and summer, following a very dry final six months of 1999, could result in serious water supply problems across the state later this year, according to Illinois State Water Survey Chief Derek Winstanley. The statewide precipitation average in Illinois from July-December 1999 was 12.95 inches, compared with a long-term average of 19.56 inches for the same period. "The deficit in precipitation during the July to December period was substantial, lowering stream flow, reservoir levels, groundwater levels and soil moisture," Winstanley said. The Illinois EPA is recommending that officials of surface water supplies start planning for possible water shortages by assessing current and projected water use; reviewing contingency plans to reduce water use including restriction ordinances; assessing the quantity of water remaining; identifying potential sources of raw or treated water; and developing plans for use reduction and conservation.
An Illinois State Water Survey analysis of past July-December droughts indicates that an additional precipitation deficit of four inches or more this year would cause problems for public water supplies and agriculture. Historical data indicates there is a 25 percent chance of a four-inch precipitation deficit in the state during the next 12 months. The state's long-term average annual precipitation is 38 inches, with average January-June precipitation of 18.44 inches. Prospects for making up the rainfall deficit in Illinois this spring and summer are not encouraging. Typically, extended droughts last for 18 to 20 months and occur over a large geographical area. Historical data suggest droughts causing significant stream flow deficiencies occur about once every 12 years in Illinois. The pattern of rainfall since July 1999 is similar in magnitude to the early stages of many historic droughts in the state, including those in 1908,1917,1930, 1953 and 1976. April 2000 23 |
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DNR's catchable trout program has proven to be a big hit with Illinois' young anglers. The fish are fairly easy to catch, and they make a nice meal.
More than 5640,000 in Illinois State Pheasant Fund dollars have been awarded to finance 53 wildlife projects.
