Massive aquarium fulfills man’s lifelong dream

Usually a catch-and-release kind of guy, Mike Wathen was this time in a catch-and-keep frame of mind. It didn't really matter what kind of fish the longtime nature enthusiast caught as long as it was big. Anything too small would most likely seem out of place in his new aquarium — a 16 1/2 foot long, 12' 1" wide and 6' 6" deep fiberglass and acrylic masterpiece. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Free smallmouth bass fishing class offered in Rockford

The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance and Ken-Rock Community Center, 3218 11th St., Rockford, will host “Local River/Stream Smallmouth Fishing” from noon to 2 p.m. March 23. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Bassmaster crowds in Tulsa top 100K

The 2013 Bassmaster Classic caught a whopper of a crowd this past week as numbers exceeded expectations and swelled to a near-record 106,850, according to information released Tuesday by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

• Out & About from the Peoria Journal-Star for Feb. 24 February 24
• Bass fisherman Brent Chapman is living the dream January 23
• Sucker gigging a winter tradition in the Ozarks January 23
• South Dakota closes waters to baitfish taking November 02
• Indy man reels in prizes in elite fishing circles October 25
• Pro fisherman uses Table Rock as launching pad October 22
• Fall crankbait primer September 22
• Explosive catch: Nebraska angler reports snagging a hand grenade August 06
• Some Oklahoma anglers prefer fishing at night July 25
• Colorado man finds fishing niche making own lures July 23
• Art of drilling holes January 03
• Forcing the play for walleye, perch December 11
• Quincy man’s body found in river September 13
• Chicago man to fish for $1 million September 08
• Weeds abound on upper Mississippi September 08
• Illinois angler drowns in Indiana August 27
• Bass tourney benefits Special Olympics August 19
• Fish kill at Nashville pond August 16
• Wis. angler dies while trying to retrieve pole August 14
• Illinois Walleye Trail schedule set August 11
• SIU gets contract to study Asian carp August 10
• Wabash River yields Indiana fish record August 09
• ESPN sells BASS August 03
• Illinois dentist lands big fish in SC waters July 25
• Muskie dead in Evergreen spillway July 15
• Ga. top court tosses hunter murder conviction July 12
• The true story of a big bass July 08
• Hefty bass weights in central Illinois July 01
• Illinois River headed for moderate flooding June 24
• Walleyes in confidence June 22
• Soft vs. hard plastic topwaters June 22
• Perry’s bass record still the best June 21
• How to filet a bass June 21
• Fisherman dies near Chicago June 21
• Pike caught in Kaskaskia River June 17
• Submarine to study fish in Lake Michigan June 16
• 7 Wisconsin fishing records set June 11
• Tricks for shallow-water walleye May 20
• Ky. tries to interest anglers in Asian carp May 20
• Man falls in canal fighting bass May 12
• Spring Lake bass totals off a bit April 29
• New bait shop in Victoria April 29
• Shelbyville Coon Creek ramp closing April 22
• Wisconsin sportsmen back lead ban April 16
• Illinois Walleye Trail completes 2010 season April 16
• Using stickbaits for walleye April 08
• Water temperature and walleyes April 02
• Bowfishing records active March 29
• April Fool’s Day is an angler’s friend March 27
• The time is right for big bass March 25
• Pick the right fishing gear for kids March 24
• Tracking Miss. River crappie March 24
• Illinois anglers help in USA ice victory March 17
• Six Illinois anglers on USA Ice Team March 04
• New paddlefish rules on Mississippi March 02
• Canada changing boating regulations March 02
• Bass anglers brave the weather February 27
• Study to look into sea lamprey, trout February 24
• State sampling for carp near Chicago February 16
• Wisconsin sturgeon older than 100 February 15
• Wis. spearer nabs 212-pound sturgeon February 14
• A clash with a monster catfish February 13
• Wisconsin sturgeon spearing begins Saturday February 12
• Bass fishing hall inducts 5 members February 12
• Alabama first to follow Illinois in HS bass? February 09
• High water slow Carlyle carp harvest February 05
• Deadly VHS virus found in Lake Superior January 28
• IHSA bass tourney to air on TV January 27
• New bass circuit starting in central Illinois January 26
• Chicago Classic winner Daves tabbed for hall January 22
• Fish kills on the mind of pond owners January 19
• Mid-winter ice fishing tips January 19
• Machesney Park man to lead walleye circuit. January 16
• Rock River fish kill meeting January 14
• Durbin, Biggert host briefing on Asian carp January 12
• Evergreen Lake closed for deer hunt January 11
• Lure deal aids Future Fisherman Foundation January 07
• Ice fishing heating up January 04
• Millikin holding unique fishing auction December 31
• Paddlefish season opens Friday December 29
• Lake Shelbyville discharge underway December 22
• S. Illinois Boat and Fishing Show Feb. 5-7 December 22
• No Asian carp caught in Cal-Sag Channel December 08
• High water continues at Lake Shelbyville December 07
• Fishermen netting for carp in Illinois channel December 07
• Michigan may sue to stop carp December 07
• Sauger biting on Illinois River November 30
• Chicago Muskie Show Jan. 8-10 November 24
• Iowa DNR discussing Miss. River walleye/sauger November 24
• Rising water at Lake Shelbyville November 19
• Another Asian carp in Rock River November 06
• Some Shelbyville closings Nov. 20-22 November 04
• Crappie Professor speaks to Rock Valley Anglers November 04
• Flooding backs walleye tourney to Nov. 15 November 03
• Man drowns while fishing in Franklin Co. October 12
• Few changes in IHSA bass fishing October 11
• Lake Shelbyville boat ramp closures October 01
• Small boat but big fish September 25
• Lake Shelbyville’s Wilborn Creek to close September 14
• Late summer fishing is good September 13