Expect Fishing, Boating Gear Shortages This Season

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Published: 09 April 2021

By Louie Stout

If you see fishing tackle or boating equipment you think you might want this year, buy it now.

It may not be available this summer.

Retailers in Michiana and around the country - both boat and tackle – are finding the supply pipeline extremely tight and expect it to remain that way throughout most of the summer.

“If you thought last year was bad, this year could even be worse,” said Steven Szymczak of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg, Mich.

Call it the perfect storm. The pandemic caused factories to shut down last spring and by the time they opened, they were far behind. Couple that with a soaring interest in fishing and boating, and the demand went through the roof.

To make matters worse, several components or products made overseas have been hung up in shipping issues due to the pandemic.

Area retailers ordered heavily last winter and those goods are trickling in. The shelves are filling up – kinda - for now.

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Worster Lake Hybrid Stripers Flourish with Little Attention from Anglers

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Published: 02 April 2021

By Louie Stout

One of the most overlooked fish at Worster Lake at Potato Creek State Park is the hybrid striped bass (also known as a wiper), a fish that grows fast and fights hard.

Indiana DNR Biologist Tom Bacula conducted a survey there last fall and came away impressed.

“There are crazy good numbers,” he said. “The wipers are doing fantastic and growing fast.”

The majority of the fish Bacula captured in a netting project were 19 to 22 inches and weighed 3 ½ to 5 pounds each.

“We had one that was 29 inches and weighed 11½ pounds,” he added. “There’s a ton of fish out there.”

Despite good populations at Worster, the fish isn’t getting much pressure, probably because most people don’t know how to fish for them.

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