Record could be short- lived
Perfect conditions mean whitefish mark might not last long
Good thing Illinois fisheries chief Dan Stephenson shipped Christian Howe’s certification and plaque for his state- record whitefish Friday.
‘‘ It is proudly displayed in my front room despite my wife’s objections. Lol,’’ texted Howe, who caught his 4.45- pound record while fishing for perch Feb. 17 at 95th Street on the Calumet.
I think Betsy Howe understands. But I suspect somebody else will be proud of the next Illinois- record whitefish before the end of March.
Among the changes on southern Lake Michigan, the resurgence of whitefish for shore fishermen has reached astonishing levels. On Sunday alone, at least three 4- pound whitefish were caught by shore fishermen on the lakefront.
Ken Maggiore, a former bass- fishing standout at Taft High School who now works at FishTech in Morton Grove, messaged about catching a 4- pounder ( along with some nice lake trout).
Even cooler was 9- yearold Aaron le catching two at Montrose on a bottom rig designed by his father, Jason. Asked if he knew what it was, Aaron said: ‘‘ Whitefish. Yeah. My dad told me.’’
His dad knew it was close to the record, so they took the bigger one to Henry’s Sports and Bait, where it weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces, 4.2 ounces short of Howe’s record ( formally listed at 4- 7.2).
Whitefish records are even wilder in Indiana. That record has changed five times since 2012, including twice this year. The current Indiana record is 5- 13. Alexander Ciesielski caught it Jan. 21 near Portage Lakefront Park.
‘‘ We consistently see whitefish over 6 pounds in our netting assessments, and last year we had several weighing over 7 pounds,’’ said Ben Dickinson, Indiana’s assistant Lake Michigan fisheries biologist. ‘‘ There are probably hundreds of fish swimming around Indiana waters right now that would break the record.’’
I suspect much the same in Illinois.
Dickinson noted the best shore fishing runs from November to April, when water temperatures are below 50 degrees.
That’s what makes Illinois’ previous whitefish record so odd. Ricardo Cruz caught it July 27, 2016, while fishing for perch at Montrose Harbor.
Vic Santucci, Illinois’ Lake Michigan program manager, might have an explanation for that midsummer catch: The foraging habits of whitefish on southern Lake Michigan are changing.
‘‘ One possibility for a change in whitefish foraging behavior is the near disappearance of the scud Diporeia from all but the deepest portions of the lake and the increase in abundance of round goby,’’ he emailed. ‘‘ As you know, gobies are found in abundance among the rocks and boulders of our harbors and near- shore areas throughout much of the year. Foraging white fish may be drawn to these near- shore areas when the temperature is right to feed on gobies or other prey, which increases their chances of encountering baited hooks of anglers fishing near shore for perch, drum or other species.
‘‘ If whitefish continue this pattern of foraging in near- shore waters, my guess is that whitefish records will continue to be broken in Illinois waters.’’
Stay alert, lakefront fishermen.
In memory
Mike Repa, formerly the longtime counter man at Park Bait, died. Arrangements are pending.
Wild things
‘‘ Chorus frogs heard in Orland Park yesterday. Suppose it might be a little while till we hear them again!’’ John Kudia emailed Monday. . . . Tulips and daffodils poked through the snow or were buried, depending on where you live.
Stray cast
Having weeks of spring training in 2017 is like fishing for perch with 12- pound monofilament.