By Louie Stout

Gearhart’s Yum Dinger Trick for Big SmallmouthGearhart’s Yum Dinger Trick for Big Smallmouth

Al Gearhart has learned a few things about big smallmouth in his annual spring trips to Lake Charlevoix.

His credentials speak for themselves. He's caught four smallmouth bass over 7 pounds from the lake and numerous 5s and 6s. And yes, he releases all of the big bass he catches.

Charlevoix is a "drowned river lake," meaning it is an inland lake with access to Lake Michigan. It's also Michigan's third largest lake.

Gearhart has made trips there each May for 16 straight years. Although he's noticed that the giant smallmouth have been harder to come by the past couple of years, the quantity and quality of fish he catches are still pretty darn good.

He usually targets the East Bay and fishes the windy side of the bay, keeping the wind to his back. Smallmouth like the wind, he says.

By Louie Stout

Bluegill Bag Limit Absent in Hoosier ProposalsBluegill Bag Limit Absent in Hoosier Proposals

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission were slated to consider several new regulation changes at its meeting this week but don’t expect anything earth shattering.

Perhaps the most major change comes in northern pike, where the DNR Fisheries Division is recommending an increase in size limit from 20 to 24 inches. It also modifies the statewide bag limit of three to include no more than one over 30 inches.


By Louie Stout

Weed Treatments Hot Button with AnglersWeed Treatments Hot Button with Anglers

DNR Assistant Biologist Tyler Delauder is shown taken samples of plant life that impact boating in Center Lake in Warsaw.

If you want to get anglers riled up, bring up the topic of lake and river associations applying chemicals to kill aquatic plants.

That topic created a firestorm on social media this week when the Indiana DNR announced it issued $585,000 in grant money to lake groups to treat weeds in Hoosier lakes. The 42 projects involve lakes in 16 counties, most of which are in the northern part of the state.

The grants are issued through the Lake and River Enhancement Fund supported by boat owners’ fees paid annually when they register their boats.

The DNR pays for 80 percent of the approved treatments and the sponsoring lake group pays the other 20 percent.


By Louie Stout

Indiana’s St. Joe Steelhead Run Continues to ImpressIndiana’s St. Joe Steelhead Run Continues to ImpressBrian Breidert is a happy biologist.

And if you’re an Indiana steelhead angler, you should be, too.

Briedert was gushing lastweek as he discussed the spring steelhead run, one that has delivered a steady stream of bulldogging fish into Indiana waters all the way to the Twin Branch Dam.

And it ain’t over.