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By Louie Stout
As waters slowly recede from Michiana’s 500-year flood, the question remains among anglers: How were river fisheries affected?
We posed that question to area fish managers and none expressed any major concerns - yet.
Biologists say the fact that area rivers and streams pushed out of their banks in February is less threatening than if it occurred a few months later.
“The fact that the water is still cold and that most of the fish have been in their deeper holes is a good thing,” said DNR St. Joseph River biologist Larry Koza. “If it happened a couple of months later, I might be concerned about how it impacted the spawn or the young fish produced during the spawn.”
Northern pike could actually benefit from the higher water because pike like to spawn in flooded backwaters. Those fish should be spawning in the next week or so.
Indiana fisheries biologist Tom Bacula said we could see a high number of young pike (especially on the Kankakee River) produced this year - assuming the young fish hatched in flooded areas can make it back to the main river. Of course, it will be a few years before they reach a legal size.
“Pike lay adhesive eggs that stick to vegetation, buck brush and willows, so they would have plenty of spawning habitat in the flooded areas,” Bacula said.
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By Louie Stout
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has approved several new fishing regulations to go into effect this year.
In addition, several wildlife-related proposals are heading into the homestretch but are open to public comment one more time.
Details on both the new fish regulations and proposed wildlife regulations that may affect Michiana sportsmen are listed below. All new fish regs, posted in the 2018-19 Fishing Guide, and will be enforced this season.
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By Louie Stout
Rare Deer Causes a Stir
One day last August, Rhonda Cravens six-year-old son came running out of the woods behind her house where he had been playing on his four-wheeler.
“Mom! Mom! There is a big ‘bear wasp’ chasing me!” he yelled in a panic.
Rhonda chuckled. She knows how six year olds’ imaginations get carried away.
The boy seemed emphatic about something he saw, so she decided to investigate. To her surprise, there stood odd colored deer beyond the tree line and it came after her as well.
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By Louie Stout
If you want to become a more efficient boat angler but haven’t utilized modern technology, you might want to take a closer look at what’s available.
Sonar electronics and electric trolling motors are improving angler efficiency at a rapid pace.
Sure they’re expensive add-ons. But if you fish often, you’re going to appreciate what they can do for you.
Sonar units are no longer bottom finders or fish finders. When incorporated with mapping chips, GPS, high-powered imaging and a basic understanding of the kind of areas that hold your favorite sportfish, these electronics can literally put you on top of a hotspot.
And when you get there, GPS enabled electric motors can hold you on the spot without you manipulating controls.
I’ve spent the past few years testing some of the new equipment and can assure you that these improvements are very applicable for our waters.