COOK COUNTY TROUT OPENER BUNGLED-
by John Wilkins
Midwest Angler

For the second year in a row, Cook County IL's trout-stocking program in conjunction with other counties throughout the state was bungled. Anglers heading out to fish the traditional state-wide opener were actually fishing venues without fish stocked in them in Cook County. While the rest of the state had stocked their lakes, Cook had messed up the trout delivery for the second year in a row. The largest county by budget, had no fish in it's lakes and the scene at local waters featured Forest Preserve Police escorting anglers off the venues and out of the parking lots. Dissappointed anglers at Sag Quarry East, one of 3 ponds stocked by Cook County (or not stocked), had a busy parking lot with 2 Forest Preserve Squads parked at the last car waiting for anglers to get their vehicles and exit. Anglers seeking trout on opening day from Cook County were forced to drive several miles to adjacent counties to find fish.

The Cook County opener would be delayed at least 1 week and as of this weekend, the most Northern Lake- Belleau Lake was not yet open as of Saturday afternoon! The Daily Herald is reporting that the actual opener will be Wednesday morning at Dawn, more than 10 days later than the rest of the state. Cook County blames its supplier in the article from the Herald. Saturday, anglers could be seen fishing Axehead lake, just to the South of Belleau Lake, but Belleau Lake was closed entirely with the chains drawn on the parking lot.

Cook County's Forest Preserves stand in poor condition with problems such as lack of trash pick-up, rotting sledding facilities, 25-year old signage & lack of signage, as well as outhouses. Despite a budget in the 3 Billion dollar range, the workforce made up largely of political patrons to the City of Chicago, have been under the control of John Stroger Jr. In sharp contrast to the way that Cook County is run, neighboring DuPage County & Lake County features trail maps, paved trails & manecured paths, information brochures and even solar-powered modern restrooms.

Stroger's political machine was stronger than his physical body this election term which ended in March. Stroger narrowly defeated his opponent Forest Claypool after facing a massive stroke and making no public appearance from two weeks prior to the election. Coming to the aid of Stroger were ads from Democratic superpowers, Richard Dailey, Barack Obama & even President Bill Clinton!

This latest trout issue is being passed onto the suppliers by County Spokepersons but this is the second year in row the trout stocking had issues. Last season, the county was one of the only counties in the state to run into problems. The county was forced to purchase brown trout & brook trout. Slower growth rates and hatchery factors involved in raising these trout (normal stocked trout are rainbows) would lead me to believe that they got their funding in late and were forced to purchase the more expensive trout at the last minute.

It would make sense to summize that this county has not paid its supplier who for the second year will not deliver fish prior to payment. In the end, the anglers are losing who live in Cook County and utilize these fishing facilities-whatever the reason. No response from the trout supplier would be given so far.

Nearly 11 days late, the trout did finally make it to the 3 Cook County lakes. The trout that I caught were far inferior in size to those of Will County's, and they were slower swimming (because they didn't swim into the pond for some 11 days)...