Outdoors notebook:

It almost happened to me on Bangs Lake many seasons ago.

It may come as a total surprise that between 2006 and 2012, more than three times as many people died from lightning while fishing compared to playing golf. Over the seven-year period, 238 people died from lightning strikes in the United States, or an average of 37 per year. Most (152) of the deaths occurred from leisure activities, with fishing at the top of the list with 26 deaths.

National park warning:The National Park Service is doing its best to stave off stomach issues with visitors to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks.In a news release, the National Park Service notes #147;greater than normal reports of gastrointestinal illness#148; among those visiting the two parks this summer, as well as areas in Montana outside the two attractions. The park service and businesses servicing visitors are taking special steps given the surge in illness, including more frequent cleaning and disinfection of public areas.Area lakes and ponds:In Cook County: Some of the area lakes have higher-than-normal water levels as the result of the never-ending storms and rainfall. Check your local bait shops in the Chain area for up-to-date information.Busse Lake is fishable but be careful of shoreline erosion and soft banks.Before the flood watch and storms, walleye action on the Fox Chain slowed to a crawl.The same is just about true with Lake Michigan salmon story, and the perch activity close to shore off the Montrose rocks is a hit and miss situation. Navy Pier action has fallen prey to the inclement weather.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.