31-pound Chinook, more bird-battle tales, bluegill praise: Notes, Chicago outdoors

On his first Lake Michigan charter, Adam Brown caught a 31-pound king on Migrator charters out of North Point.

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

BIG NUMBER

31: Pounds of a Chinook (held by Capt. Caleb Weiner) caught by Adam Brown (left) of Belvidere on his first Lake Michigan trip. He was on Weiner’s Migrator charter out of North Point.

WILD OF THE WEEK

While fishing, Brian Athern of Darien watched an ``epic battle’’ of a Cooper’s hawk forcing a heron to retreat (photo below). One of many notes on bird interactions.

WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Send nominations to @BowmanOutside on Twitter or Instagram, to Dale Bowman on Facebook or email BowmanOutside@gmail.com.

An “epic battle” between a hawk and heron, noted by Brian Athern while fishing.

WILD TIMES

RIVER TALKS

Today, July 15: Landscape architect Rob Reuland on river edge development and Chicago Riverwalk.McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum Lunch and Learn, 12:15-12:45 p.m., museum plaza on Chicago Riverwalk

YOUTH DAY

Saturday, July 20: Lake County Outdoor Education Day (10 and older), Richmond Hunt Club, register at facebook.com/lakecountyoutdooreducation/ or contact Jordan Marcelain at (224) 381-1912 or treas0873@pfofficers.org.

FISH GATHERINGS

Tuesday, July 16: Tim Hamilton, ``Fine Fishing Tactics and Techniques,’’ Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m., arlingtonanglers.com.

Thursday, July 18: Fish Tales Fishing Club, no speaker instead gathering at Tampier Lake hot dogs, other eats and drinks, 6:30 p.m., fishtalesfishingclub.com

ILLINOIS PERMITS

Through July 21: Online applications, second lottery, free dove hunting permits, dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/dove/Pages/OnlinePermitApplication.aspx

DALE’S MAILBAG

``I was sitting on a log next to the Hennepin Canal using my binoculars to watch a red-tailed hawk soar. Into my field of vision came a red-winged blackbird who landed on the hawk’s back just like it was an aircraft carrier. He walked up the hawk’s back and commenced to pecking on the hawk’s head. All the hawk could do was duck his head and then the blackbird flew off. It was time.’’ Graham Smith

A: Special credit to Smith for throwing in ``It was time.’’ Red-wings attacking red-tails drew quite a response.

LAST WORD

``It is a beautiful looking fish that is a lot of fun on the line and is probably the first fish most of us caught as youngsters. [I] had many a day when what I wanted didn’t show up, but the ‘gill kept the hope alive by tugging at the line, and you gotta respect that.’’

Sandro Tadic, waxing poetic about bluegill