The steelhead trout have arrived in Indiana.
Not in the great numbers that anglers anticipate, but enough that fish are appearing at the South Bend dam and some limits are being caught in Central Park of Mishawaka.
That means you can find fish throughout the St. Joseph River system, from Berrien Springs to Mishawaka.
Dave Meuninck of Bodine Fish Hatchery in Mishawaka said crews captured 22 Skamania in the South Bend ladder Monday and another 21 on Wednesday.
And those were only taken over a 3 ½-hour period each, said Meuninck. Weve got a problem with weeds clogging the ladders so we cant run it overnight. That means more fish likely are moving through.
odine is trying to harvest enough adult steelhead for hatchery operations that will provide future stockings. Because of the late run hampered by drought and low water - DNR officials have been trapping at Trail Creek for the past couple of weeks.
However, Lake Michigan biologist Brian Breidert said the Trail Creek trapping will halt this Friday. That means crews hope to collect the remaining 200 fish needed from South Bend.
Were seeing fish around the South Bend dam and moving upstream in addition to those were trapping, added Meuninck.
The latest surge was due to cooler night temperatures and recent rainfall that increases river flow and lures the steelhead upstream.
Meanwhile, coho and brown trout continue to appear at the Trail Creek lamprey weir.
Weve seen about 20 browns and quite a few coho in Trail Creek, and all of those fish were passed upstream, said Meuninck.
For up-to-the-minute steelhead fishing conditions in Mishawaka and South Bend, call Dick Parker of Central Park Bait, 574-255-7703.