Outdoors notes for March 20

More than a quarter of U.S. anglers report that their fishing activities have been reduced by problems accessing their preferred fishing holes.

In a 2008 poll of over 1,800 anglers by AnglerSurvey.com, they were asked if in the past year they had canceled a trip or stopped fishing specific locations due to access problems. Of the anglers reporting such problems, 80 percent reported their access issues were in freshwater areas, while 15 percent experienced access issues in saltwater locations.

Boating permits: As prime boating season approaches, those who plan to boat in Indiana should take note that if they plan to use state park, reservoir or forestry lakes, they must purchase a DNR Lake Permit.

Effective January 2006, the DNR no longer issues daily or annual boat launch fees for lakes at state parks, reservoirs and forests. These launch fees have been replaced by a DNR Lake Permit, which costs $20 per year for each motorized watercraft lake permit and $5 per year for each non-motorized watercraft lake permit.

Fishing report

Even though the calendar says spring is here this week, don't expect the robins and cardinals to celebrate with any great effort. With one cooling lake open and cooking, many other area bodies of water are still ice-locked.

Fox Chain: Crappie action continues to be very good on Petite Lake. Guide Darrell Baker (847-337-5559) and his customers have been catching big bluegills and crappies through the ice. Lake Marie walleyes have come alive just before sunrise.

LaSalle Lake: Very good catches of channel and flathead catfish are being reported along with largemouth bass.

Northern Wisconsin: Chetek angler John Plaza reports another 6-8 inches snow fell this week. There's still over 30 inches of ice on Chetek area lakes, where fishermen are continuing to score big-time on fat bluegills and crappies.