Traces Of Winter Remain
With Spring Fever Ahead
By MVP Outdoors, Special to the Pekin Times (02/06/08)

Well, Groundhog Day is now over, and regardless of whether that woodchuck saw his shadow or not, many Outdoorsmen throughout the Midwest are starting to put their cold weather thoughts behind them, and are now starting to focus on the potential of the Spring Season ahead. Yet others are still trying to get in some good wintertime fishing and even hunting. That's one reason that the Ground Hog we just mentioned is still a bit concerned for his own welfare, Ground Hog Hunting Season In Illinois doesn't end until March 31st.

As we wait for that warmer Spring weather to come, now is a good time to check out a warmer power plant lake such as Powerton. It's available for shore fishing during the winter from 8am to 4pm; and Powerton reopens to boats, coming up soon on February 15th. Remember that when fishing the discharge portions of a power plant lake, the colder the weather the better the fishing, so don't despair if we still get a cold spell or two, just head out to Powerton and go after some of those bigger fish in the deeper water.

Of course, weather-willing recently, there's still
been a chance to get out on the ice. Nate Herman
of Herman Brothers Pond Management, www.hbpondmanagement.com , reports to MVP Outdoors that he went ice fishing with John Graham, and both of their Dads last Friday Afternoon and Saturday. If I were a betting man, when it comes to pond fishing, these are the guys to call. They first tried for smallmouth bass and ended up with 7 largemouth. Then they moved lakes and tried for some bluegill and managed 79 "big boys", 7 more largemouth, and a catfish. Again they moved lakes for some trophy perch, and ended up with some small bluegills, bass, crappie and a nice meal out on the ice of fresh fried fish and mushrooms, but no perch!

Another surefire way to scratch your Fishin' Itch is to check out some of the upcoming fishing and outdoor shows happening in February throughout the Midwest.

February. 9-10
Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor Show
Tinley Park, IL
www.tinleyparkfishingshow.com

February. 14-17
QCCA Outdoor Show
Rock Island, IL
http://www.tmqc4.info

February 14-17
Schaumburg Boat & Sportshow
Schaumburg, IL
www.schaumburgsportshow.com

February 15-17
Central IL Boating & Fishing Show
East Peoria, IL
http://www.rbshows.com/boatFishShow.php

February 22-24
Madison Fishing Expo
Madison, WI
www.madfishexpo.com

February 23-24
Northwest Indiana Steelheaders
Spring Fever Outdoor Show
Valparaiso, IN
http://www.nwisteelheaders.org/page9.html

February 29-March 2
Rockford Fishing & Outdoor Expo
Rockford, IL
http://www.showtimeproduction.net/fishingexpo/

February 29-March 2
Extreme Muskie Expo
St. Charles, IL
www.extrememuskieexpo.com

You could also roadtrip to Springfield this weekend for the Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday Feb. 9: Tickets are available for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday evening, Feb. 9 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The event opens with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and are available by calling the Illinois Conservation Foundation at 217/785-2003. The Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees for 2008 are Don Dubin, the late George B. Fell, and John R. "Duke" O'Malley.