ON OUTDOOR SPORTS: Time to stock to lake

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SHABBONA – The fish are all grown up.

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, the Shabbona Lake Sportsmen’s Club will drain the pond on the road adjacent to the main park entrance. The pond serves as a growing stable for fish. When Rich McElligott of the SLSC and a crew of volunteers collect the fish on Saturday – it has taken the fish all summer to grow to almost 5 inches – the fish will be ready for the lake.

“The small pond gives the fish a better survival chance,” McElligott said. “Now they will enter the lake a little higher up on the food chain.”

SLSC members and volunteers will stand in a pit that divides the pond from the lake. As fish approach a retaining screen they are netted into oxygenated water for their short voyage into the lake.The pond should be empty near mid-day. The ground is a muddy mess and, usually, the receded water usually unveils some interesting items or animals.

“I never know what we are going to find on the bottom of thep ond,” McElligott said. “Sometimes there are gold fish in there that peoplew anted to get rid of. Well, now they are 5 inches because they’ve been living out here feeding.”

There are three ponds for raising fish at Shabbona Lake State Park. Look for an update on a pond renovation in next week’s Outdoors Column. 

Time for Trout: This might be the best time of the year for fishing.

Not that summer and winter are without unique perks, but a pleasant fall day with tree leaves turning colors in one final blaze of glory before the first snowflakes fly is the perfect setting to cast a line. We are on short time before winter unleashes her full fury . Take advantage of the weather and fall trout fishing season at 5 a.m. on Oct. 17. The IllinoisDepartment of Natural Resources has stocked 37 ponds statewide.

“Our catchable trout program is very popular and the fall season opener is always a big day for Illinois anglers,” IDNR director Marc Miller said. “Trout fishing is also a fun activity for children and taking the kids fishing is a great way for families to spend time together.”

The IDNR has stocked more than 70,000 trout this year and wants to remind anglers not to take trout from any stocked sites before its opening on Oct. 17. A fishing license and an inland trout stamp are the legal requirements to participate in trout season, unless an angler is under the age of 16, blind or disabled, or is an Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the Armed Forces. The daily catch limit for each angler is five trout.

Not every location opens at 5 a.m., so check ifishillinois.com for more information on fall trout season. A list of the sites also is on the IDNR Web site at dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2009/September/FallTroutStocking.html.

Illinois fishing licenses and inland trout stamps are available at DNR Direct license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. Fishing licenses and trout stamps also can be purchased by using a credit card through DNR Direct online via the IDNR Web site at dnr.state.il.usor by calling DNR Direct toll-free at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).

A race inside the Chicago Marathon: Look for a story next week on the Northside/Southside Challenge that is taking place Oct. 11 at the Chicago Marathon. It is the first time ever a World Marathon will host a high school meet on its course while the marathon is taking place. The high school invitational will cover the final 2.62 miles of the marathon course, ending at the finish line.

Clarification on Fiddler Lures: In the “Battle Scars from Fishing” story that ran in the Outdoors’ column last week, Sean Ostruszka does not tie his lures as was stated. Instead, Ostruszka makes them out of wood. Contact him with anyq uestions about his lures or his upstart company at fiddlerlures@hotmail.com.

• James Nokes writes a weekly outdoor sports column for the Daily Chronicle. Write to him at sports@daily-chronicle.com.