A sudden chill in the hot spring fishing

After all the encouragement I've been handing out about spring fishing on our area lakes, Mother Nature showed us who is the ultimate boss.

The Fox Chain was fast on its way to a classic spring opening with walleyes action attracting anglers to the river, Lake Marie and Channel Lake. But that all changed because of the drop in air and water temperature. But the bright spot was Pistakee Lake for very decent bluegill activity in shallow water, if one dared to venture into the high winds and waves.

Lakefront action for perch has slowed on Chicago's side.

A few walleyes and white bass are being taken from the Wolf River to the north.

Snakebit:

I've always told my kids and wife to look carefully look on the ground when outdoors.

A man who stopped along South Florida's Alligator Alley to catch a glimpse of the area's famous reptiles was air-lifted to an emergency care unit after he stepped on a cottonmouth. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said the 29-year-old from Boynton Beach was bitten on the foot by a water moccasin Saturday evening after he and his girlfriend checked out an alligator.

Teaming up:

Even thought I am a fan of carp fishing, I honestly didn't know the members of our national team, especially the person from Chicago. Raise your hand if you knew the U.S. fields a national carp-fishing team. David Figura, the outdoors writer at the Syracuse Post Standard, reports Sean Lehrer of Syracuse, along with August Wells and Kevin Olivie of Texas, Ivelin Petrov of New York City, Mihai Aciu of Chicago and Lee Young of Wisconsin will compete in the 16th World Carp Fishing Championships this October in Romania.

• 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.