Cooler water temperatures, coupled with occasional rainstorms, are putting fish on the move.

A call to area bait and tackle shops this week indicates the fish are starting to transition from the dog days of summer to early fall with their movements.

Weather has certainly improved the summer/fall steelhead run – except in South Bend waters of the St. Joseph River. Trail Creek, however, has experienced a spurt of fresh steelhead moving into the Michigan City tributary.

Indiana fishery officials are trapping adult steelhead at the Trail Creek weir this year since low flows and hot water have delayed the run on the St. Joseph River where they traditionally take fish from the South Bend trap.

Randy Brindza of the Lake Michigan fisheries station said crews had captured 50 Skamania Wednesday and 26 Thursday for transport to Mishawaka’s Bodine Fish Hatchery. A few coho, brown trout and juvenile steelhead were passed up stream this week.

“It looks like we’ve had a sizeable run of steelhead since last weekend,” Brindza said. “Anglers are catching them on small pieces of shrimp. With water temperatures in the lower 60s, the fish have also become more aggressive and will attack spinners.”

Water temperatures in the St. Joe have dropped but not enough. They were in the low 70s this week and need to get lower to lure more steelhead upstream. However, some fish are being caught in the lower section at Berrien Springs.

“On a positive note,” said Brindza, “we continue to see trophy size smallmouth and a few largemouth bass travelling through the South Bend ladder.”

Bluegill and bass dominate discussions on the inland scene.

Good catches of bluegills have been reported throughout the region, but the fish are moving around in schools and are suspended off the bottom most of the time. A good fishfinder will help you zero in on them.

“I think the weather change has scattered them,” said Bryan Williams of Trailhead Mercantile in Niles and Vandalia.

In Indiana, Dave Garber of the Tackle Box said the Tri-County lakes and Lake Tippecanoe were producing good gills, but the fish are suspended outside the weedlines. Bonnie Kelly of Kelley’s Bait in Lakeville said Potato Creek and Lakeville fishermen were catching quite a few gills just off the lily pads.

“And they’re picking up a few crappies while fishing for bluegills,” she added.

Mike McNulty of Midway Bait in Osceola said bluegill fishing has been very good on waters above Twin Branch Dam.

“A lot of 6 to 8 inchers are being caught in depths ranging from 5 to 12 feet,” said McNulty.

Greg Smith of the Trading Post in Edwardsburg and Kevin Claire of Lunkers are getting reports of suspended bluegill.

The hottest lakes are the Juno Chain and Stone Lake in Cass,” offered Smith. “Most of the reports are coming from 12 to 14 feet down.”

Claire, Smith and Williams agreed that crickets have been one of the most popular baits although red wigglers are taking their share of panfish, too.

Bass have been biting a variety of baits, but it sounds like topwater action is picking up.

“A lot of fish at Lake Wawasee are being caught over 6- to 8-foot weed beds on a variety topwater lures,” said Garber. “Soft plastic baits are working well on the deep side of the weeds.”

Crankbaits and jigs are accounting for several big fish throughout Michiana as the fish are starting to move shallower in the cooler water temperatures.

It’s been quiet on Lake Michigan, due largely to the storms, although Smith said he heard of some anglers catching big perch in 42 to 45 feet of water.