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. 

Nature Conservancy Offers Opportunity for Waterfowl Hunters

Nature Conservancy Offers Opportunity for Waterfowl Hunters

Looking for a opportunity to go waterfowl hunting?  Emiquon owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy will be having a drawing to allocate will be doing there annual draw.  

Tag along on some of our adventures from last year:

Adapting the Outdoors Waterfowl Hunt

Emiquon Waterfowl Hunt

Waterfowl hunting opportunities (Public, Disabled and Youth) for the Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve will be awarded via advanced drawing with registration by mail or email due by October 5, 2016

Drawing Application Process 

Conservation Day at Illinois State Fair

August 20, 2016 - Springfield, Illinois

Today was Conservation Day at the State Fair and there were many activities to enjoy with the entire family.  Forty-five different park districts attended the event with different events lined up throughout the day.  Governor Rauner was also there and signed four bills aimed toward Conservation and Youth Hunting.

"Investing in young hunters and fishers helps implant a great love for the outdoors that will continue through a lifetime," said Governor Rauner. "As an avid hunter and fisherman, I believe in utilizing Illinois' vast natural resources to enhance our quality of life while also protecting them for future generations to enjoy. "

Waterfowl Permits Now Available

Waterfowl Permits Now Available

Did you try and get a waterfowl blind for the 2016 - 2017 season with no luck?  Well, your luck might change?  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has permits available for Duck and Goose hunting across the state.

The below information is directly from the IDNR Waterfowl Site. 

Good luck to those that choose to apply 

IRAP has Archery Deer Hunting Sites Available on Private Land

IRAP has Archery Deer Hunting Sites Available on Private Land

Apply by August 30 to hunt in October

Here is a great opportunity for archery deer hunters.  This is from the IDNR Press Office in Springfield.  

Don’t have a place to archery deer hunt but would like to go hunting this October? Look no further than the Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP), the popular Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) program linking outdoors enthusiasts with landowners.

Lincoln Bass Club Hits Jim Edgar Panther Creek

Lincoln Bass Club Hits Jim Edgar Panther Creek 

This past weekend was spent on the water with my dad at Prairie Lake.  We had a great time catching fish and learning the lake a little better.  While out there we noticed that there was a little extra boat traffic on the water.  Yep... That's right a bass tournament was going on. We chatted with a few guys on the water and then moments later watched them land a nice bass.  While my dad and I fished we watched many of the anglers scatter across the lake and we decided to go watch the weigh-in.

Illinois Bait Shop: River's Edge Outdoor Sporting Goods

Illinois Bait Shop: River's Edge Outdoor Sporting Goods 

During the dog days of summer sometimes you just need a break.  It's not the fishing or the outdoors you need a break from, it's the heat.  Capitol Outdoors was able to beat the heat and continue our series on Illinois Bait Shops.

Not going to lie, we found out about this shop by accident.  Our friend and follower Courtland Williams invited us to a seminar that he and Rob Crane were having at there so we decided to check it out.


River's Edge Outdoor Sporting Goods is located in Canton, Illinois just minutes away from Emiquon and Banner Marsh.

They are an outstanding shop. I was stunned and awed, not because of all the fishing and hunting gear they had, but by the size of the place.  They have six 20yard lanes and several 10 meter and 15 meter lanes for the NASP program.  And they also have a classroom where seminars and concealed carry classes can be held.  "We're trying to bring in hunter education classes it's something we're still working on" said Marcus Hale Owner.

River's Edge is deeply rooted in their community.  In fact, Marcus' wife Angela is an Alderwoman in Canton, and both are extremely passionate about  the local youth archery club.

I realized that this wasn't your average baitshop, but as the company name suggests it's a small sporting goods store."When we started, we only had a third of what you see here" said Marcus. I walked around the store looking at all their inventory: crank baits, plastics, livebait, stinkbait and everything else you can think of.  "If we don't have what you are looking for, we can special order it for you" he said.  That's the type of place River's Edge Outdoors is.

It's that great customer service, the good deals, and willingess to go the extra mile to help you out that makes River's Edge.  For only being established for one year and overcoming their own challenges,  River's Edge is on its way to bigger and more prosperous times.   If you are looking for a bait shop along the Illinois rivers edge swing by Canton's Number One Bait Shop, River's Edge Outdoor Sporting Goods.  You won't regret it.

Duck Blind Drawing - A Family Affair

Duck Blind Drawing - A Family Affair

Ask my dad or brother and they both can tell you about my first duck.  Since the moment I got out of bed on opening day in 1998, I've been in love with waterfowl hunting.  Like so many other waterfowlers I enjoy every aspect of it.  From decoy preparations to the cold wet November mornings.

In order to go waterfowl hunting you have to have somewhere to go. Throughout Illinois there are Waterfowl Blind Drawings, where each blind is allocated a number and a drawing takes place for ownership of that blind for the season. My first waterfowl drawing was in 1999 at Wolf Lake in Cook County.  Hundreds of people were there, walking around sharing stories in hopes of winning a blind for the upcoming season.  At the time I wasn't old enough to participate but my dad and brother put their names in.  Even though we didn't win a blind that year we were still able to get out and enjoy this state park.    Wolf Lake was good to us, we harvested a lot of birds during our tenure hunting there.

IDNR Announces 2016-2017 Waterfowl Season Dates

IDNR Announces 2016-2017 Waterfowl Season Dates

Are you ready for waterfowl season?  Dates and bag limits have just been released.  

See below for the IDNR's press release. 

Heather with her First Goose

Controlled Pheasant Hunting Reservation Information Now Available Online

From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources press office:

Controlled Pheasant Hunting Reservation Information Now Available Online

Online applications for IDNR-managed sites begin Aug. 1

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Controlled pheasant hunting opportunities will be available at 18 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sites this fall, and the 2016-17 season dates and permit reservation information are now available online.

Fourteen of the sites are operated by the IDNR, while four other sites continue to be operated in a public/private partnership arrangement between the IDNR and concessionaire T. Miller, Inc.

IWA President Kevin Chapman Talks Deer Changes in 2016

IWA President Kevin Chapman Talks Deer Changes in 2016

Deer Season Changes?
By : Kevin Chapman

Illinois Whitetail Alliance President Kevin Chapman wrote an article about 2016 season changes.  While this article was directed toward a different outdoor resources, Kevin has allowed Capitol Outdoors to post this to spread the IWA (Illinois Whitetail Alliance) message and challenges regarding the Illinois Deer herd. 

The legislative session was pretty quiet for a change. And honestly… I think a lot of people are simply tired of hearing about the same deer management issues over and over.

As the 2016 season gets closer, we still don’t have the deer-vehicle accident (DVA) statistics from last year. Last I heard from IDOT, it would be sometime in August before that data is finalized. This is the main source of data used to estimate deer densities at the county level, and determines county management plans.

With that being said… once again, I don’t anticipate any big changes in terms of managing towards these county-specific DVA goals. Firearm permit quotas have been set, we’ve been through several lotteries, and I’m sure the hunting digest is close to complete.

Historic Reconnection Project at Emiquon Completed

Historic Reconnection Project at Emiquon Completed

It's no secret that we love to fish, hunt, and observe the wetlands, waterfowl and other creatures of the Nature Conservancy's Emiquon.  Today Capitol Outdoors received news coming from this prestige Illinois wetland and conservation area.

About two years ago we were made aware of a project to reconnect this 6,700 acre wetland back to the Illinois River.  Well they've finished and on July 7, 2016 water began flowing back into the Illinois River.  Read the following from the Nature Conservancy and their biologist.  You can learn more about Emiquon and the Nature Conservancy by clicking HERE for their website.

Check out Our Fishing & Hunting adventures, oh and don't forget to read about Eagle Day at Emiquon as well

100,000 and Growing

100,000 and Growing

A little over a year ago we decided to take Capitol Outdoors and make it a full time adventure and like any business adventure it has had its ups and downs.  However, every achievement is worth celebrating and we just hit over a 100,000 views on our webpage.  We are glad that people around Illinois are reading about our adventures, Legislation, Conservation and Education.


Here at Capitol Outdoors we pride ourselves on making quality entertaining videos, factual posts and much more to share with you.

During this time we've seen some interesting developments.   Not only in the policy front but, businesses, organizations and nonprofits have asked us for help to share their message and educate them on current happenings in Washington, D.C. and Springfield.  As we grow we'll make sure to keep you informed from the Legislative Floors to the Great Outdoors.

With our newest addition, Baby Autumn`s arrival we weren't able to hit all the lakes that we wanted to this year, however we will continue to travel Illinois hunting and fishing, sharing our tips and our adventures with all of you.

We wanted to take this opportunity and thank all of you for your support.

Please drop us a line and let us know what you enjoy reading.