If you aren’t catching fish this week, you better change locations or tactics.

A survey of area bait and tackle shops reveals good fishing north and south of the state line. It’s mostly crappies and bluegills, although just about everything is getting active.

Crappies are starting to spawn while the bluegills are still a few weeks away on most lakes. The late spring hasn’t given the eggs time to develop in the deeper, colder waters. Dark bottom, shallower waters may see bedding long before the clearer lakes.

Crappies have been on fire for the past two weeks. Mike McNulty of Midway Marine said they are bedding in the St. Joseph River channels and Dick Parker said he’s getting good crappie reports from gravel pit and Potato Creek fishermen.

Bonnie Kelley said she’s heard similar reports about Potato Creek but noted anglers tell her they are running small.

“But everywhere else down here – Riddles, Pleasant and the Plymouth lakes – they are catching a lot of crappie,” she added.

Bluegills are pouring into the shallows although some are still being caught deep. Wax worms, red wigglers and crickets are producing. Black flies fished behind a bubble bobber works well, and spider flies are catching fish on the fly rod.

Ditto for Michigan lakes. Kevin Claire of Lunker’s said bluegills are moving shallow on Diamond, Donnell and Eagle lakes while the crappies are spawning in deeper water.

“I’d fish inside and outside edges of weeds out near the break,” he described.

Minnows are your best bet.

Bryan Williams of Trailhead Mercantile in Niles said he’s heard of unusually big crappie and bluegills being taken from southwest Michigan lakes.

“It makes me wonder if the lack of ice this winter cut down on the harvest and that’s why we’re seeing bigger fish this spring,” he pointed out.

Bass fishing has been excellent as well. There are reports of bass bedding, but the major spawn won’t come until the next full moon, which is two weeks away.

The bass are cruising the flats and biting a number of baits. Dave Gerber of the Tackle box in North Webster, Ind. said jerkbaits and the Reaction Innovations “Little Dipper” swim bait has been catching a lot of bass. You can fish the Dipper on a jig head or rig it weedless on a worm hook and wind it slowly over the flats.

Garber said some big muskies have been caught on Barbee Chain and Webster Lake, including a 50½ incher. Suckers have been the best bait.

McNulty said some nice keeper walleyes have been caught from the St. Joe on nightcrawlers drifted on Lindy rigs while Williams said walleyes are being taken at night below the Niles Dam.

“Some good pike are being caught at the dam as well,” he said.

Lake Michigan fishing has been spotty but there are reports of good steelhead and coho catches at St. Joseph in the 40- to 60-foot zone.
The Indiana Lake Michigan hotline reported Thursday that limit catches of coho were being made in front of Michigan City and Burns Ditch. Spoons, dodger/flies and body baits were working 12 to 24 feet down in 55 feet of water. A few big kings were being caught, too.