Seasonal Swing Time Arrives by Land, Air, and Water
By Land
On Thursday, Chris Hough of La Grange Park emailed: "The crocus in my backyard finally started to bloom today (my son took the pic). A couple of weeks later than last year." [Image: Crocus in LaGrange Park]
Crocuses blooming in LaGrange Park last week. Provided by Charles Hough
As waters opened up, anglers caught big fish in the last week. Kevin Matos caught his personal-best fish, a lake trout of 40-plus inches and 28-plus pounds, Feb. 25 while fishing with his dad near Chicago Light. It came on a blade bait on 10-pound monofilament on a spincaster. "Credit goes to my father, Dave Matos, for extensive knowledge of the lake," he said.
Dan Kiska messaged he caught a 37-inch northern pike, good-sized but with a messed-up lip, on Sunday from the Des Plaines River.
By Air
Red-winged blackbirds appeared. Todd Cubbon emailed he saw his first at his feeder Saturday in Crete, noting: "Poor guy may have come north a little early." On Sunday, John Dignin mentioned he spotted his first red-winged blackbird in the southwest suburbs. Also Sunday, Gary Bloom messaged from the Chain O’Lakes: "First red-winged blackbird singing. Also doves doing their mating flights. Cooing, too." Jim Hantak had his first red-winged blackbird at his feeder Monday in Hillside. I’ve yet to see one. I’ve seen plenty of doves and a pair of Eurasian collared-doves. Sandhill cranes are moving, too.
Hantak’s wife saw and heard a large sedge while geocaching Feb. 25 in North Riverside, noting: "Too high in the air to count, but it was still good to hear their rattling call." Tom Jurich emailed Feb. 25 that he heard and saw sandhills headed north over Munster, Indiana. By Sunday, running our daughter back to graduate school, I spotted hundreds of sandhills flying and on the ground in northwest Indiana. I also saw a flock of snow geese, small by their standards.
By Water
As waters opened up, anglers caught big fish in the last week. Jeffrey Williams got in his first Riverwalk action last weekend and messaged: "Crappies are HOT." In a group effort Friday, they caught so many they lost count. He was back solo Sunday and totaled 14 crappie and a largemouth bass. "Almost every crappie was between 9 and 12 inches," he messaged. Jimmy Pape caught the biggest walleye he ever put his hands on Sunday out of the DuPage River. "Wish I had a tape with me," he messaged. "Wasn’t really expecting that. Caught her on a black-and-blue bucktail jig I made myself. I laid her next to my spinning rod for a measurement and comparison: 27 or 28 inches and maybe around 8 or 9 pounds, I’d say."
Conclusion
The seasonal swing has finally arrived, bringing with it a mix of signs of spring by land, air, and water. From blooming crocuses to big fish catches, and the return of red-winged blackbirds and sandhill cranes, it’s a time of renewal and excitement.
FAQs
- When did you first notice the crocuses blooming?
Chris Hough of La Grange Park reported seeing them on February 25. - Where did you catch the big fish?
Kevin Matos caught his personal-best fish, a lake trout of 40-plus inches and 28-plus pounds, near Chicago Light. - What’s the best way to catch fish?
Anglers reported success with a variety of methods, including blade baits, jigs, and spinners.
