Outdoors notes and fishing update

Even to this day, I still can't figure out how bureaucracies, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, manage to exist.

My current frustration is with some smaller agencies that are trying to find out if Lake Erie, that beloved walleye treasure, will be knocked for a loop by the ubiquitous Asian Carp, long the bane of biologists in many states.

And so here we go again.

A coalition of 10 U.S. and Canadian wildlife agencies took part in recent field exercise in Lake Erie to test methods for stopping an Asian carp invasion.

Although experts also believe there are not any reproducing populations of Asian carp currently in the lake, officials say the Lake Erie drainage basin is vulnerable. There are four connection points between the Ohio River - where Asian carp have been detected - and Lake Erie, putting the lake on high on the list of entry points for carp into the Great Lakes.

On the fishing front:

Fox Chain: White bass are plentiful on Pistakee Lake as well as walleyes in current areas. Muskie action slowly picking up on Lake Catherine.

Lake Michigan: If you're into fall salmon, you may want try your hand on the big lake's population of smallmouth bass right off Whiting, Indiana. Small spinners as well as goby imitators should work.

Area lakes and ponds: Banana Lake near Wauconda is starting to heat up for largemouth and nice bluegills. Busse in Cook County has slowed, but a few bass have been taken near the main dam. Deep Quarry in DuPage County could surprise you with a decent crappie bit.

• Contact 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.