Subhead: Good Inland Bluegill Fishing Found Offshore

By Louie Stout

The cooler weather has drawn more trout and salmon into the St. Joseph River between Mishawaka and Lake Michigan, but we still need rain to raise water levels.

“The St. Joe is extremely low and guys are catching fish,” said Darrin Schaap of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg. “We need a good rain to raise the water level.”

The trout and salmon run into Mishawaka has picked up since Oct. 1. Lake Michigan Fisheries Biologist Ben Dickinson said an additional 183 steelhead, 90 kings and about 300 coho have passed through the South Bend ladder the past 12 days. Those join fish that ran into Indiana in September.

October is typically a strong month for fish movement. Dickinson said he has heard Michigan ha seen more trout and salmon at Berrien Springs than at Buchanan and Niles recently, an indication quite a few more fish are on the way – with a decent rain.

The biologist also said he’s seeing more king salmon mixed in with the run than he normally sees.

Schaap agrees.

“There’s definitely more kings being caught in the river than I have heard about in several years,” said the store owner and avid angler.

Panfishing has been decent, but not hot and heavy.

“This is one of the best times for bluegill,” said Schaap. “They are eating like crazy once you find them.”

Bluegill anglers are advised to get off the bank and look for big schools of suspended fish offshore in main lake areas.

“You can find some on weed edges, but the fish are definitely grouping up and biting out in the lake,” Schaap added.