What's New?
Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a call for help on the White River on Saturday and rescued five hunters after their boat froze into the White River near Haysville.

The Indiana DNR takes a lot of heat about the weed treatments conducted by lake groups on northern waters.
New Gear
American manufacturing resonates today more than ever. But it’s something we’ve been doing at St. Croix Rod since 1948.
Newsflash
After A Top Finish in Bassmaster, Bo Brims with Confidence
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Sportsman Spotlight
Hometown: Edwardsburg, Mich.
Occupation: Full time bass pro
Favorite fish species and biggest: Smallmouth, 6-15
Favorite Michiana lake: Christiana Lake, where I grew up
Hobbies when not fishing: Golf
If you only had one lure and why: swim jig, because its so versatile in all depths and cover.
Best tip to give a new Michiana angler: Go get waders and wade down christiana creek or st. joe river (safely) and go fish. Understand why fish set up in places they are. That will teach you a lot.
Sponsors: Rec-Pro, Mod Bug Trailers, Bish’s RV, D&R Sports Center, VanDam Warehouse, Str8 Up Mounts, Garmin Electronics, Ranger Boats, Miller Tech Batteries, Whitewater Clothing, Gama Fishing Line, Shimano and G. Loomis rods and reels, Weigh Safe Hitches, and Christianson Industries.
By Louie Stout
Michiana has become spawning grounds for topflight professional bass fishermen.
The late Don Rank who was one of the first to make a Bassmaster Classic from this area. Then there was Kevin VanDam and Jonathon VanDam.
We can’t overlook Ron Nelson, who has chosen a different path with Major League Fishing where he has built a reputation as one of the top anglers in that circle of pros.
Could Bo Thomas be the next?
He’s certainly on the right path, competing in the brutal, highly competitive Bassmaster Elite Qualifier events that provide a route to fishing the Bassmaster Elites and a Bassmaster Classic berth.
Last week, Thomas finished third in the 2026 opener, the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at the Kissimmee Chain in Florida. Coincidentally, Jon VanDam also finished fourth in the event.
Powell Knows Animals and How to Catch ‘Em
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Sportsman Spotlight
Hometown: Osceola, Ind.
Occupation: Steel Warehouse Supervisor
Favorite species to trap: Mink. They are less predictable in the exact route they take along a bank. I like the challenge.
Favorite trapping location: Any watershed.
Hobbies when not trapping: Ice fishing and deer hunting.
If you only had one trap and why: It’s called 1.5 coil spring. I can use it to target many different species.
Best tip to give a new Michiana trapper: Learn the habits of the animal before you try to trap it. Where they go, what they do and what they eat. I have spent thousands of hours following tracks in the snow.
By Louie Stout
Full disclosure - Chuck Powell is my longtime fishing partner.
While most anglers know him as the guy who runs the front of my boat and catches most of the fish, he’s also an avid trapper.
And a damn good one.
Nobody spends more time outdoors year-round than he does. When he’s not fishing or deer hunting, he’s either making animal nuisance calls as a side business or trapping for fur.
Trapping isn’t new to the 56-year-old Hoosier. He began trapping age 12 by catching opossums and racoons in his neighbor’s garden.
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