The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife stocked roughly 4,500 brown trout into northern Indiana streams in early January.
By the time Team Toyota’s Terry “Big Show” Scroggins turned 18 he was a skilled painter in his family’s Palatka, Florida autobody business. Fast forward 35 years, and he’s not only won $2 Million dollars as a pro angler, but he’s also painting soft plastic lures in a way he’s pretty certain no one ever has before.
Magic Products, the maker of worm care products, preserved baits, bait containers and fish attractants, has expanded its product line with the all-new Lock-A-Lure and Live Bait Coolers. Magic Products has been providing innovative solutions for anglers of all kinds since 1965, and continues that tradition with the newest additions to its lineup of fishing products launching today.
By Louie Stout
The early spring has been good to Lake Michigan and St. Joseph River trout and salmon fishermen, but not so good to those fishing inland lake waters.
The cold nights and intermittent rain/snow has fired up steelhead in the St. Joseph River around South Bend and the coho on Lake Michigan.
However, it’s been a drag on crappie, bluegill and bass fishing. The yo-yoing water temperatures can’t seem to climb into the magical low 50s which has keep warmwater fish as confused as the anglers.
Trout and salmon
Steelhead continue pouring into South Bend and Mishawaka. During March, 7098 swam above the South Bend Fish Ladder, the best March run in 21 years!
April numbers weren’t available from the Indiana DNR due to a computer glitch, but Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickerson said several more have moved up since the last fish count at the ladder.
And they’re being caught.
“I’ve been hearing of guys catching 2 to 4 fish routinely and some are catching 10 or more,” he noted. “Most of the fish are running 5 to 8 pounds but quite a few are in that 9- to 15-pound class.”
Meanwhile, coho fishing on the southern end of Lake Michigan has been fantastic.
By Louie Stout
There’s no question that bass tournament anglers love to compete. They may smile and joke with you at take-off, but the bottom line is they want to beat your butt by the end of the day.
Yet, off the water, Michiana anglers remain a strong brotherhood. That point was driven home recently when a veteran angler suffered a serious health issue and fellow competitors stepped up to help out.
Dennis Losee, a longtime competitor in bass tournaments in northern Indiana and southern Michigan, suffered a stroke during a heart procedure in early February.
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