This Bass Angler Knows How to Catch Walleyes

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Published: 20 January 2022

By Louie Stout

Robert Evans with a nice Diamond Lake walleye

Anyone who fishes Diamond Lake or Michiana bass tournaments knows Robert Evans is a bass guy.

But did you know he’s also an avid walleye angler and has success on some of Michiana’s most popular bass lakes?

Evans says he’s learned how to catch walleyes on Diamond and Magician lakes and has no problem telling how he does it.

Evans admits fishing for walleyes can be frustrating on those lakes that don’t appear to have huge walleye populations.

But they can be caught and even on bass presentations.

“I know there are a lot more walleyes in Diamond and Magician than most people realize,” he says. “Most of the fish I catch are keeper-size and the biggest weighed about 7 ½ pounds.”

A Michigan DNR spring survey last year backs that up. Biologists say they captured a high number of walleyes. Michigan stocks fingerlings in the lake every other year in addition to some private stockings of larger fingerlings conducted by local groups.

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TIP Program Helps DNR Bust Fish and Game Poachers

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Published: 13 January 2022

By Louie Stout

Conservation Officers with Poacher's Evidence

No one likes a poacher – certainly not conscientious sportsmen and definitely not conservation officers.

That’s why northern Indiana Conservation Officer Dustin Whitehead dogged a case for three years that resulted in arrest of two men, one of whom did prison time for multiple charges, including illegal taking and possession of 16 deer, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and resisting arrest.

But Whitehead didn’t stumble upon this case. He got it from a tipster who called Indiana’s Turn in a Poacher (TIP) hotline. The informant – who received a $2,000 reward from the TIP program - reported information over the phone that one of the suspects was spotlighting deer at night.

“I’ve been on the force for 11 years and gotten quite a few convictions from cases that come through our TIP program,” Whitehead said. “It’s rare that we go down a road at night and see unlawful taking of deer. The odds aren’t in our favor, and that’s why this program is so important.”

This case was unique in that it required extra patience and good police work that ultimately led to conviction of the repeat offender.

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