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IDNR Report
An emerging fungal disease lethal to some snakes has been found in Indiana.
Snake fungal disease, caused by the fungus, Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, is not a risk to people, but in snakes it can cause facial swelling, disfigurement, skin and scale lesions, internal lesions and death.
A team of researchers led by Matt Allender and Sarah Baker of the University of Illinois discovered the disease in southern Indiana woodlots during a 2017 surveillance.
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By Louie Stout
St. Joseph County Parks announced it is participating with the Berkley Fishing Line Company’s line recycling program.
Anglers can pass along used fishing line to a park employee at St. Patrick’s or the Ferrettie-Baugo Creek parks or place it in one of the collection tubes near the water.
Only monofilament and fluorocarbon line materials will be accepted for recycling. Braided or superlines cannot be recycled at this time.
Carelessly discarded fishing line can create problems for wildlife and other anglers. The parks department will send the collected line to Berkley where it will be used to make benches and fish habitat.
For more information, call 574-674-9765.
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IDNR Report
Thousands of stocked trout will be available to Indiana anglers for opening day of inland stream trout fishing this Saturday, April 28.
The season officially starts at 6 a.m. local time.
By opening day, the DNR will have stocked 23,275 rainbow trout in 16 streams in 12 counties.
To find a stocked stream near you, see the 2018 Trout Stocking Plan at www.wildlife.IN.gov/5457.htm.
One stream that is normally stocked, Fawn River, will not be stocked this year due to a dam- removal project at Fawn River State Fish Hatchery.
The stocked trout come from Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station, near Howe, in LaGrange County, and average roughly 11 inches in length.
Anglers can catch trout on natural live bait such as worms and bee moths. Corn and small marshmallows are also popular. Artificial lures such as spinners and flies also entice trout.
The bag limit for trout in inland waters, other than Lake Michigan and its tributaries, is five fish per day with a minimum size of 7 inches. No more than one of these can be a brown trout.
Anglers ages 18 years and older need both an Indiana fishing license and a trout/salmon stamp to fish for trout.
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IDNR Report
The DNR will stock 200 rainbow trout in the north pond at Morsches Park in Columbia City on Friday, April 27, and be on site Saturday morning, April 28, from 8 to 10 a.m. to provide assistance to families fishing for the first time who are interested in being taught how to fish.
Fishing poles and bait will be available on loan from the DNR during the event. Children age 17 and younger can fish without a license; however, adults 18 and older who plan to fish will need a fishing license and a trout stamp.
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Hoosiers won’t need a license to fish Saturday, April 21, one of Indiana’s annual free fishing days.
That free day also means you won’t need a trout stamp to fish for trout or salmon on Lake Michigan or its tributaries, including the St. Joseph River.
However, all other fishing regulations apply. Also, non-residents are still required to have a license to fish during Indiana’s fishing days.
Future free fishing days in Indiana are May 19 and June 2-3.