Illinois Spring Trout Season

It opens on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 5 a.m. (Hennepin Canal Parkway opens at 6 a.m.) While the ‘Parkway at Sheffield and Moline’s Prospect Lagoon are closer to drive, we like the Centennial Park Pond in Rock Falls, IL. It’s not quite as crowed and the ground is more level.
Make sure besides your fishing license that you have also purchased the $6.00 trout stamp. You are allowed a limit of 5 trout. You can purchase an Illinois fishing license and trout stamp at E-Z ‘Livin Sports Center, 231 – 1st Ave West, Milan, IL.

Illinois Outdoor News

This is an interesting outdoor newspaper that contains a lot of hunting, trapping and fishing information about our great state of Illinois. In the recent March 7th issue there was an article by editor, Ralph Loos, on raising the cost of Illinois fishing licenses.
For some years now, I’ve wondered about that very thing? The IL-DNR does a pretty good job considering all the various aspects of what that department is responsible for. Maybe it’s not that easy to increase the license fee, but I would think raising the fee by a buck or two is hardly catastrophic.

More Deer

So far this year we’ve seen an increase in deer in our backyard and woods. One day our neighbors had 5 in their yard and two in ours.
We had a large doe a few days ago and lots of deer tracks. I set-up a trail camera at night and besides a deer it showed all kinds of creatures. One animal we don’t see much of anymore are rabbits. Maybe coyotes and/or red-tailed hawks are responsible.
I miss deer hunting, but my health and age works against me. However, I am “not” giving up on fishing. Only until I’m 6 feet under the grass shall I not cast my twister tail.

Basketball

Geeez, I think I’ve spent more time in front of the TV watching men and women’s college basketball.
We’re fans of Iowa State, Illinois and Illinois State. We have a grandson who attends Unv. of Nebraska so “Go, Big Red!” The Notre Dame women’s team was really great to watch, but they kind of fell apart towards the end of the season. They should win their first round in the NCAA tournament. I’m glad we have a good selection of favorites in the tournament.

Brights Off or On

With today’s modern vehicle headlights, night driving can be a challenge when approaching on-coming vehicles in the other lane. It seems to me some headlights have a yellow tint to them while others are brightly clear.
It almost looks like headlights have become more brighter even though the brights are not on. I know sometimes I don’t have my brights on, but the other vehicle thinks I do. I’m wondering if car manufactures should tone down their headlights a tad.

Humor

After landing on the moon is it true that our astronauts found Alice Kramden?

The moon is like my dentures. Both come out at night.

John Adams once said, “One useless man is a shame, two are politicians and three or more are a congress.”

Which underwear brand do seniors love best? It Depends.

“If you don’t read my column, you are uninformed. If you do read my column, you are misinformed.”

Quotes

“Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live.”

- Vittorio Alfien