McKee’s Simple Approach Produces Steelhead, Bluegill and Yellow Perch

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Published: 07 April 2026

Sportsman Spotlight

Hometown: Michigan City
Occupation: Retired postal worker
Favorite fish species and biggest: Steelhead, a 22 pounder, caught in the early 1990s
Favorite Michiana lake: Lake Michigan
Favorite rod and reel: Pflueger President reel and Berkley Lightning Rod.
Hobbies when not fishing: Waterfowl hunting
If you only had one lure: A No. 3 Mepps spinner with fluorescent orange blade for stream steelhead.
Best tip for Michiana Angler: When fishing for stream steelhead, slow down and make sure your bait is moving naturally. And remember, fish are fish; what works for a bass can work for a steelhead or perch.

By Louie Stout

If you live outside the Lake Michigan trout and salmon world, you may not have heard of Mike McKee.

But in northwest Indiana, he is known as one of the best creek steelhead fishermen and a darn good first mate on salmon boats.

But you can’t pigeonhole him as just a salmon guy. He fishes for all kinds of fish and has become an accomplished yellow perch, bass and bluegill angler.

The 67-year-old Michigan City resident has been working salmon boats since the 1970s and terrorizing stream steelhead for decades.

A former Michigan City News-Dispatch outdoors columnist, he has been the backbone for the city’s annual Skamania Mania contest initially started by the former Northwest Indiana Steelheaders.

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Big fish – Including Bass - is A Duracz Specialty

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Published: 27 March 2026

Sportsman Spotlight

Hometown: Chesterton, Ind.
Occupation: Railroader
Favorite fish species and biggest: I don’t even know anymore. I just got into saltwater fishing and so I target anything that’s bigger and stronger. Top 3 biggest - Bass 8 1/3 pounds, blue catfish 80 pounds, and King salmon around 30 pounds.
Favorite Michiana lake: Lake Michigan, there’s so much to learn out there and something different to chase.
Favorite rod and reel: Not dedicated to any, but Shimano and St. Croix rank among his favorites.
Hobbies when not fishing: I like hosting a garage fish fry on Friday with family and friends.
If you only had one lure and why: ¼-ounce homemade jig. It works just about anywhere.
Best tip to give a new Michiana angler: Don’t overcomplicate things and don’t be afraid to turn electronics off and go by what you feel at the moment; don’t try to see fish to catch them. Just go fishing.

By Louie Stout

Phil Duracz is a no-nonsense guy. He just loves to catch big fish and doesn’t care what they are or where he’s fishing for them.

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