Chicagoland Canoe’s Frese was truly special

Another bright star in the outdoor world has taken his canoe and paddled into the sunset.

Ralph Frese, the 86-year-old founder and spearhead of the Chicagoland Canoe Base, died this week. Frese also founded the Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon 50 years ago.

Ralph used to be on my radio program about 20 years ago, and his stories and sense of humor made this wonderful chap a tremendous personality.

No calls in the wild:Every once in awhile, some hunters and anglers step over the line of legality.From The Associated Press comes word that Kansas officials are taking steps to curb texting, cell calls and radio alerts among hunters.The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism recently reminded hunters it is against the law to exchange text messages on the whereabouts of deer and other game while hunting.Officials say hunters also may not use two-way radios or cellphones to give other hunters a heads-up about the location of game moving in their direction.Fishing update:Lake Michigan: If you can handle the chill, windy conditions and spotty catches, give Montrose and Belmont Harbors a crack for some yellow perch. At Waukegan Harbor, some brown trout are grabbing spawn fished on the inside.Fox Chain: It#146;s a live bait bite on Lake Catherine, with the focus on 8-inch to 10-inch suckers for muskie. Of course, not many bait shops carry that size.Try Triangle in Antioch. Crappie action is decent on Petite Lake.ŸContact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM and live-streamed at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.