Chicago River revival isn't all grand

Do we need education or regulation?

The blooming fishery for largemouth bass and panfish along theChicago River and its many fingers might be getting nipped in thebud.

On Monday, I stopped by the Origins Site in the 2700 block ofSouth Ashland Avenue to meet with Laurie B. Scott and Ron Vasile ofthe Canal Corridor Association for a bit of history on the area.Henry Palmisano of Henry's Sports and Bait joined us later.The present intruded.While walking around the site, I checked on the anglers. Thisis the best and most accessible point in the Chicago River system,and there were more than a dozen anglers utilizing it.One older gentleman was catching a couple of carp and keepingthem. Under no circumstances would I keep carp from the ChicagoRiver. There are no official warnings from state agenciesresponsible for issuing fish advisories, but that's simply becausethey have not done enough studies. But preliminary studies last yearindicated problems with carp, not surprising considering the pollutedhistory of the river. More studies will be done this summer.On a more troublesome note, while checking one angler's bucket,we saw a small largemouth of only 8 or 9 inches. I almost kicked thebucket into the river.Why would someone keep a small bass like that?It's legal. But why do it in a fishery that is just starting totake off? Not to mention the threat to the angler and his familyfrom eating a possibly contaminated fish.I have heard far too many similar stories about largemouthrecently. A neighborhood kid on the North Side told me people werecatching largemouth at one of the better spots and illegally sellingthem.The regulations on yellow perch in Lake Michigan are applied tothe Chicago River. It might be time to do the same with black bassregulations. Catch-and-release regulations for black bass(largemouth and smallmouth) went into effect April 1 on the lake.The Chicago River is under statewide black bass regulations: no sizelimit, daily limit of six fish (no more than three smallmouth)."We are aware of the dramatic water quality improvement and thebass fisheries developing there," said Mike Conlin, Illinoisfisheries chief. "If, in fact, additional regulations are needed, wewill entertain that idea. We did that on the Des Plaines River atHoffman Dam. They wanted to protect a growing fishery there foreverybody."If that is the case on the Chicago River, then we would dothat. In the past, we didn't have to worry about that."It is a nice worry to have.TURKEY TALK: The growth of the wild turkey flock in Illinoiscontinues. On Monday, when the first spring turkey season opens inIllinois' north zone, Kankakee County will have its first season forturkey. Last spring, Grundy County held its first turkey season. Afew permits remain for the third and fourth seasons in Kankakee and afew for the second, third and fourth season in Grundy. Call (312)814-2070.MEETING NOTES: Perch America is holding its elections meetingtonight at the Hammond F.O.P. Call (773) 734-6720. . . . KinkaidLake muskie guide Chad Cain will speak and yours truly will hand outawards at the Chicagoland Muskies Hunters chapter of Muskies, Inc.,at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Radishes Bar and Grill, Des Plaines. Call (847)677-0017.Leave us a message at (312) 409-2416 or e-mail us atoutdoordb@aol.com.