Webster Muskies Under Study

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Published: 07 December 2015

By Louie Stout

Indiana’s famed muskie fishery got a checkup this fall as fish managers try to restore the fabulous fishing of a few years ago.

That’s not to say it’s bad right now. In fact, we’re in prime time muskie fishing on those Kosciusko County lakes that attract anglers from around the Midwest. Several 45-plus and 50-inch fish have been caught this year.

In case you didn’t know, Webster Lake is one of the Midwest’s best muskie fisheries for several years. Anglers drive here from Ohio, Illinois and southern Indiana to fish for the monster fish.

When it was in its prime, it was nothing for a good muskie angler to hook up several fish in a day, not to mention attract numerous, nerve-racking follows.

But the muskie fishing has been declining in recent years, especially after lake residents killed the aquatic plants with a devastating application of high powered chemicals in 2010. The lake turned the color of chocolate milk and fishing declined considerably for all gamefish.

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Drift Paddles are Necessity for Michiana Wind

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Published: 09 November 2015

By Louie Stout

Drift Paddles are necessity for Michiana wind.

There’s a saying in fishing that “wind is your friend.”

A breeze blowing across the water stirs things up, breaks up the sunlight and gets fish – especially predator fish – actively feeding.

But the wind can be a curse, especially here in the Midwest where it can blow hard and come on unexpectedly.

As a bass fisherman, I like to fish windy flats and points, especially this time of year, but sometimes the wind makes it difficult to control the boat properly.

Drift socks can slow your drift. They’re basically funnel-shaped nylon bags that you toss into the water and attach with a rope to your boat. The bag catches water and that slows you down.

But I’ve come onto a better solution, one that requires far less effort and is more versatile - Power Pole Drift Paddles.

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