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Published: 08 June 2012

Record-breaking CatfishNever doubt Rodney Akey when he says he’s gonna catch you a big one.

Just ask his buddy, Will Skalla.

“Will likes his bluegill fishing, but I prefer bigger fish,” said Akey, a catfish specialist. “I told him that bluegills were for women and children, and that if he would come with me I’d show him what big fish look like.”

So, on May 22, the Niles anglers headed to the St. Joseph River below Berrien Springs dam. About 8 p.m., Akey’s line began to move. He let the fish run a bit, set the hook and the battle was on.

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Published: 30 May 2012

Michigan River WalleyeIf results from the recent Michiana Walleye Association (MWA) tournament were an indication of how the St. Joseph River has responded to stocking efforts, the answer is “very well!”

Thirteen teams competed on the stretch between Twin Branch and Elkhart during the eight-hour event. They caught 70 legal walleyes measuring 15 inches or bigger, not to mention more than 250 sub-legal walleyes.

That’s pretty darn impressive when you consider that state stocking efforts have fallen off the past decade and walleye fishing was on the downswing.

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