Conditions have been right for record salmon fishing

What explains the resurgence of trout and salmon fishing in LakeMichigan? There certainly are theories.

The year started with unbelievable coho salmon action on thesouthern end of the lake and has spread through the summer to includetwo Illinois-record brown trout within a month and outstandingcatches of chinook salmon - some greater than 30 pounds - and laketrout.

"I have been doing it for 30 years and I have never seen it likethis," said Captain Sam Romano, who has fished since salmon stockingstarted in the 1960s."There is nothing that we can document at this time, but chancesare the numbers are up," Lake Michigan biologist Tom Trudeau said."But how they compare to 15 years ago, I don't know. From the verbalfeedback, there has been a lot of enthusiasm, and that indicatesthere has been good fishing."Statistical evidence from creel surveys and charter reports willbe crunched together later this year.Romano thinks the good salmon fishing is related to fewer perchand an increase in alewive feeding, but Trudeau said lakewide studiesdo not indicate any increase in the forage base.Trudeau thought there might be a simple reason for the goodaction. "It might be related to stocking," he said. "We had atremendous stocking for coho last year."Captain Bob White sees a more direct cause and effect. "I thinkit is connected to the fact that they got rid of netting," he said.All commercial perch netters were pulled off the lake thisspring by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to protectdeclining perch hatches."Since they got rid of the gill netters, the fishing has beengood," White said. "I know I will catch flak for that. But it seemslike an awful strange coincidence that the two things happen in thesame year. All the (salmon) fishing is good, not just the coho."WATERFOWL REMINDERS: The DNR will hold its first informationmeeting on waterfowl regulations from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Goose LakePrairie State Park in Morris. . . . A similar meeting will be heldfrom 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Ramada Inn in Rosemont. . . . TheAurora Sportsman's Club in Sugar Grove will hold a hands-on waterfowlseminar with DNR's video; laser target system Saturday. For moreinformation, call Jim Bello at (630) 904-0047 or Roger Lymenstull at(630) 978-4625.DALEY REPORT: Here are the fourth-week winners in the RichardJ. Daley Memorial Chicago Sportfishing Derby. Lake Michigan Salmon:James T. Foley (22-pound lake trout) on his Get Reel; SalvadoreDeCola (20-pound, 7-ounce chinook) on Erwin Leschkies' Streaker; JohnTan (18 1/4-pound lake trout) on White's King Fisherman; Bill Potempa(17 1/4-pound chinook) on Gary Zillian's Lamprey. Lillie M.Johnson's 8 1/2-pound catfish caught in a Jackson Park lagoon won theInland Waters prize, and Stine Bedalow won the Perch Lotto.Leave us a message at (312) 409-2416 or e-mail atoutdoordb@aol.com.