Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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IDNR Report
The DNR will stock additional rainbow trout into nine northern Indiana streams before Memorial Day weekend.
Exceptional survival of rainbow trout at Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station allowed additional locations to be stocked and for some locations to get more fish than previously allocated.
Those streams are: Pigeon River in Steuben and LaGrange counties; Turkey Creek in LaGrange County; Little Elkhart River in Elkhart and LaGrange counties; Cobus Creek, Rowe-Eden Ditch and Solomon Creek in Elkhart County; Little Kankakee River and Slocum Ditch in LaPorte County; and Potato Creek in St. Joseph County.
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IDNR Report
The DNR will stock additional rainbow trout into six northern Indiana streams in the upcoming weeks.
Those streams are: Pigeon River in Steuben County and at the LaGrange-Steuben county line, Turkey Creek in LaGrange County, Little Elkhart River in Elkhart County, Little Kankakee River and Slocum Ditch in LaPorte County, and Potato Creek in St. Joseph County.
Pigeon River, Turkey Creek and Little Elkhart River will be stocked for the weekend of May 12-13 and Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27.
Little Kankakee River, Potato Creek and Slocum Ditch will only be stocked for Memorial Day weekend.
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MDNR Report
Michigan Relaxes Landing Net Rule for Fishing Steelhead in RiversRecent legislation passed in Michigan has simplified fishing regulations for anglers, particularly those pursuing steelhead on the state’s rivers and streams in the spring.
The legislation removed a net size restriction that has been in place for many years to protect spawning salmon from illegally being harvested. The restriction can be found on page 10 of the printed 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide, under Hand Nets. It reads: “During April, May and June, hand nets larger than 5 ½ feet in circumference or having a handle exceeding 14” may NOT be used or possessed on designated trout streams…."
With the removal of this restriction, which immediately took effect, anglers now legally may use hand nets with handle lengths longer than 14 inches. The regulation created a safety issue for anglers fishing for steelhead from boats, as there was concern anglers would not be safe if they had to lean way over the side of their boat to net a steelhead with such a short net handle.
Anglers still can only use hand nets to help land lawfully hooked fish, except under a few circumstances (which can be found on page 23 of the 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide).
The 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide was printed prior to the passage of the legislation, so the net restriction on designated trout streams still is listed in the current guide available at license retailers, even though it will no longer be in effect or enforced. However, it has been removed from the online 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide, and will be removed from future versions.
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By Louie Stout
Many expect the Lake Michigan fishery to really show up in the coming weeks as it’s tournament time around Michigan City, Ind.
It kicks off with the LaPorte County CVB Coho Capital Derby April 27th – May 4 in which cash prizes will be given for the biggest fish in each of five species. Contestants must be Hoosier Coho Club members and fish out of Michigan City port.
On April 28, the annual Pro/Am tournament will be held in Michigan City and the Hartman Memorial tournament will be conducted May 4.
The granddaddy – the Horizon Bank 44th annual Hoosier Coho Club Classic - will be May 5-6 at Michigan City. The tournament, which was cancelled last year, attracts anglers from several states and offers one of the biggest payouts in Lake Michigan tournaments.
For details, including registration, visit www.hoosiercohoclub.org.
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By CASEY WARNER, MDNR
How the Au Sable River Changed the World
With the opener of Michigan's trout season right around the corner, anglers soon will be donning their waders and heading out to one of the thousands of cold, quality streams that make the state a nationally known trout-fishing destination.
Perhaps the most renowned place to cast a fly in Michigan - the Au Sable River, running 138 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula - is significant for much more than its outstanding trout fishing.
In 1959, 16 fishermen, united by their love of trout and the Au Sable River and concerned about the need for long-term conservation of Michigan's cold-water streams, gathered at George Griffiths home east of Grayling.
"For some time I and several others have been considering ways and means to protect and preserve trout and trout fishing, and have come up with the idea of forming an organization to be known as Trout Unlimited," wrote Griffith, a member of the Michigan Conservation Commission, in an invitation letter to a fellow angler in 1959.