Deer Harvest Numbers Down at the Beginning of 2016 Season

Deer Harvest Numbers Down at the Beginning of 2016 Season 

Deer numbers are down compared to this time last year !

From October 1, 2016 to October 12, 2016 archery deer hunters in Illinois took 6,235 whitetail deer.  This is 2,633 fewer deer then this time last year.  Below you'll see a county by county break down comparing 2015 to 2016.  Top counties included Adams, Jefferson, JoDaviess and Pike.  71% of those deer harvested were does and 29% bucks.

Inside Look at Wired2Fish

Inside Look at Wired2Fish

Wired2Fish is one of the most popular and well known fishing sites on the internet. You can check out their Facebook page as well as give them a "like". They are always uploading new content and you will not be disappointed in the information you will receive.

Wired2Fish was established about nine years ago and has since published thousands of stories and video content about everything related to fishing. They use leaders in the field of fishing to teach you everything from fishing techniques to information about new products.

Terry Brown President of Wired 2 Fish

catching some  bass and taking me to school

I was fortunate enough to spend some time on the water with Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish, to gain more knowledge about fishing, gain insight into the business aspect of what he does and to just enjoy my time on a new lake.  

We read the articles on this website in order to gain insight into new fishing techniques or to broaden our knowledge base. These articles are not just how-to pieces, they go in depth and really teach you the technique. Be sure to check out their YouTube Channel where you will see the best in fishing tips, tackle reviews, giveaways, news and more. They are also a leader in tournament news and provide product reviews from top end designers.

What is the hardest part about running a business?

"Like any business there are ups and downs." Terry said. "Those are to be expected. However, most of our readers come from social media and it's trying to reach those people that we are dealing with. With the Facebook algorithms, we're only reaching 16% of our audience. So, the hardest part right now, is trying to reach people and get them the information."

One of the Most Read & Watched Fishing Sites Around.

(Over 40,000 unique hits a day, 512,000 "Likes" on Facebook & countless views on Youtube)

Wired2Fish is actually located in the Land of Lincoln. "You have to remember where you came from" said Terry. That's why a guy who's fished some very large tournaments across the country has decided to stay right here in Illinois and he is doing so much for the industry here.

Terry in front of his Xpress X21

Terry Brown -President of Wired2Fish

Terry Brown has fished some major tournaments and experienced success on the water. But it is what he has done off the water that speaks volumes. You see Terry Brown is someone who practices what he preaches. "You can grow'em big in Illinois or anywhere for that matter" Terry said as we were discussing fisheries. Terry has spent countless hours and large amounts of money and has become a leader in his own arena. Through his work with biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other non-profit organizations he helped turn his lake into one of the best fisheries around.

"It doesn't take much to turn a fishery around." he said. "Hard work, dedication and like-minded individuals coming together". He's not joking either. If you want to achieve great goals in life, those are the things you need. Terry also helped bring High School Bass Fishing into Illinois and has helped raise money and supply manpower to construct a state of the art pavilion at Evergreen Lake to be used for high school tournaments. He continues to provide knowledge and information to people throughout Illinois to make sure future generations can experience what he has.

A big thank you needs to go out to this man for giving back to fishing and the State of Illinois.

Always gaining more knowledge

Now, our time out on the water was more of a hands on fishing seminar for me. Terry put me on fish teaching me what needed to be done at certain spots. We were able to catch a few right off the bat, but it was quite windy so the real fun didn't start until the end of the day. That is when the top water bite started to kick in. Seriously, every other cast we were catching fish! It is something that I'll remember for the rest of my life. Being able to fish from the same boat as Terry was great. Fishing is an ever evolving sport. I am always growing my knowledge and learning new techniques out on the water and being able to learn from Terry, discuss fishing and the outdoor industry was amazing.

Be sure to check out Wired2Fish and be sure to thank Terry for all his hardwork in this industry. With his dedication to our sport he is inspiring people across the country to work on their local lakes thus providing better fishing habitat and better fisheries for the future.

Hunters, Landowners Encouraged to Report Suspected Cases of EHD

Hunters, Landowners Encouraged to Report Suspected Cases of EHD

IDNR has received EHD reports from 9 Counties so far in 2016

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has received reports of 53 suspected cases of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) so far in 2016. EHD appears to be more prevalent in east-central and northeastern Illinois counties, including Cook, Lake and Vermilion counties where tests have confirmed the presence of the disease and 40 cases have been reported. In all, reports have come from nine counties (see map at the link below).

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 15

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 15

The Fall Catch-and-Release Fly Fishing-Only Season Opens October 1 at nine sites

'Yes, it's that time of year again.  Fall Inland Trout Season is upon us.  This is a great opportunity to take your kids, loved ones and even experienced anglers out to catch these fun fighting fish.  Below you'll see the press release from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  Never been trout fishing? Don't worry Capitol Outdoors has you covered.  Watch our episode at Southwind Park in Springfield, Illinois or you can read a past article where we explain how to catch some trout.   Don't forget to purchase the inland trout stamp.

The 2016 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season will open on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 53 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

Two weeks prior to the fall trout opener, the Fall Catch-and-Release Fly Fishing-only Season will open at nine sites (locations marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below) on Saturday, Oct. 1. Fly fishing anglers can use fly fishing gear to catch and release trout beginning Oct. 1 at those nine sites. No trout may be kept during the fly fishing-only period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular fall trout season beginning Oct. 15.

IDNR to Conduct Chronic Wasting Disease Public Information Meetings

IDNR to Conduct Chronic Wasting Disease Public Information Meetings

From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources press office.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has scheduled a series of public meetings to provide information about chronic wasting disease (CWD), its effect on future deer populations, and IDNR’s efforts to control the disease. IDNR staff will also be available to answer questions about the disease. Landowners, hunters, and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend. CWD is an important issue that will dominate deer management discussions in northern Illinois for many years.

Pat Harrison Outdoor Adventures : Fishing the Chicago River & Lakefront 2016

Pat Harrison Outdoor Adventures : Fishing the Chicago River & Lakefront 2016

The morning started with a cup of coffee and mild Chicago traffic as I made my way down to Richard J. Daley Boat Ramp.  On this day, I'm meeting up with Captain Pat Harrison from Pat Harrison Outdoors - Fishing Adventure.