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It appears as though Ol’ Man Winter is going to give us a good ice fishing season for a change.

A check of Michiana bait shops Thursday indicates anglers are starting to move around on most lakes in northern Indiana and southern Michigan lakes.

However, the snow cover still makes it a guessing game, especially on those deeper, slower freezing lakes and those where the geese and swans have worked hard to maintain some open areas in the middle. Anglers are strongly urged to tread carefully when walking on lakes they haven’t tested.

Ice thicknesses being reported range from as little as 4 inches to as much as 10 in areas where people are fishing.


Just when ice fishing season was gaining momentum we got hit with a rain and a warm-up.

Welcome to Michiana weather.

However, colder weather coming in prior to and during the holidays could make conditions even better.

“When it gets cold again, I expect an awesome ice fishing season, but it depends upon how much damage this rain does to the ice we have now,” said Darrin Schaap of Clear H20 Tackle in Edwardsburg.

Prior to the rain, fishing had been pretty good across northern Indiana and southern Michigan, although ice conditions remained mediocre at best. Many of the channels and bays were getting hit hard but only a few anglers were venturing onto the main lake areas.


The winter steelhead movement on the St. Joseph River continues.

Lake Michigan biologist Brian Breidert said although falling water temperatures (river was 38 degrees last week of November) have slowed things down, a few fish continue to move.

Bridert said 88 steelhead passed through the South Bend fish ladder between Nov. 21-27, but only nine have ventured upstream since Nov. 24. The steelhead are a mixture of Skamania and Michigan’s winter steelhead.


Last week’s rain and cool weather attracted more steelhead into the Indiana stretches of the St. Joseph River.

Another 584 steelhead, 10 coho and 3 kings moved through the South Bend ladder last week alone. That brings this fall’s total into Mishawaka waters 6,900 steelhead, 442 kings and 459 coho.


By Louie Stout

Recent rains may be what anglers need to rev up the fall fishing.

Fish are being caught, but not in the consistent or great numbers expected for this time of year.

The Indiana section of the St. Joseph River has needed the influx of fresh water to improve fishing conditions to spark the steelhead and salmon fishing.

The fish are there – more than 6,000 steelhead have moved above the South Bend dam since June 1 – but low, clear water has hampered angler success. In addition, 439 kings, 449 coho and 8 brown trout moved through South Bend this fall.