Any day now.

That’s the report coming from anglers and tackle shop operators who expect spring fishing to bust out next week, if not this weekend.

There already are signs of fish getting active. Die-hard anglers who have battled unseasonably cold temperatures this week have been catching some fish.

A few steelhead were being caught from the river, coho were taken along Lake Michigan pier heads, and crappies are making the biggest news on inland lakes.

Steelhead fishing is starting to pick up and more fish are on the move. Bryan Williams of Trailhead Mercantile in Niles said he’s been monitoring the Berrien Springs dam ladder from his computer and was seeing a lot of fish passing through Thursday.

“This is it, I think it’s on,” said Williams. “And if we get a little rain this weekend to create a little more current, it’s only going to get better.”

Bodine Hatchery Manager Dave Meuninck said his crew has seen fish in the South Bend ladder, another indication the steelhead are beginning to move up.

“The water temperature was 47 today (Thursday) and that should get them going,” he added.

Dick Parker of Central Park Bait in Mishawaka said shore and boat fishermen are catching a few steelhead but he expects it to get a lot better over the next few days.

“Wax worms, shrimp and crawlers,” offered Parker. “The fish are holding near the gravel areas.”

Kevin Claire said he’s hearing about coho being caught off the Michigan City and St. Joseph Michigan piers while Williams said he’s gotten similar reports about the rocks along the New Buffalo harbor.

“I hear they’re picking up a few brown trout around the piers early and late in the day,” added Claire.

Crappies are feeding on minnows on inland lakes, especially in the channels and around weed beds on the flats. Claire said some nice bluegills are being caught in the channels on black flies tipped with a wax worm under a bubble bobber. That technique should get stronger on the shallow, dark bottom bays as the water temperature rises.

“This is a typical spring pattern,” he added. “Not hearing much about perch, but they should be biting up on the flats in lakes where they are prominent.”

Bonnie Kelly of Kelly’s Bait in Lakeville said she’s getting good perch reports from Lake Maxinkuckee. The fish were being caught on the sandy flats, but were starting to move back toward deep water. She recommends anglers fish minnows near the bottom for perch on flats.

That same pattern will catch you some crappies, but Williams said his customers have been finding golden shiners work best. He also said some crappies are being taken by guys trolling small spinners.

Mike McNulty of the Midway Marine in Osceola said some nice walleyes have been caught at the Johnson Street dam in Elkhart this week. That area always gets hot for walleyes this time of year.

Dave Garber of the Tackle Box in North Webster said crappies are dominating the action in Kosciusko County lakes, but the muskies should turn on soon.

“We’re selling a lot of big suckers to the muskie guys but we aren’t getting much feedback – yet,” he said.

Get your license!

Michiana anglers are reminded that a new fishing license is required in Michigan and Indiana. The new season began April 1.

Licenses can be purchased from a retail license vendor, such as a tackle or sporting goods store or online which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Michigan online site is www.mdnr-elicense.com. Indiana’s is www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild.