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Eagle and Juno lake residents have made it clear: They don’t want “us” on “their” (public) lakes.
That was exemplified in Edwardsburg, Mi. recently when lake associations pinned back the ears of Michigan DNR representatives over a proposal to develop a new public launch site between the two lakes.
They strongly opposed development of a dual-purpose launch site along Eagle Lake Road. The DNR is ready to purchase the property from First Source Bank to improve access to Eagle and add a launch ramp on the channel leading to the Juno Chain.
The DNR gets negative reactions wherever they conduct public access open houses. In most cases, the uproar dies down after the site is built, in operation, and the residents realize it wasn’t nearly as threatening as they believed.
But these homeowners came organized with talking points (irrational mostly), notebooks, and video cameras. If an angler voiced support for the project, he got a tongue lashing.
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Fishing opportunities remain good for Michiana anglers as the fish in inland lakes are beginning to transition from spring to summer patterns.
This might be a good weekend for Hoosiers to sample Michigan fishing as the state offers its free fishing weekend. That means no license is required for residents or non-residents but all other regulations apply.
Bluegill bedding activity has continued on most lakes although not quite the peak it was two weeks ago. Nonetheless, bluegills are still being caught shallow given the unseasonably cooler weather. They’ll remain relatively shallow until water temperatures climb into the mid- to upper 70s.
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Bluegills, bluegills and more bluegills.
That’s the report coming in from area bait shops as we head into the Memorial Day Weekend.
America’s favorite panfish is shallow and aggressive as they began spawning activity this week.
“It seems that all the lakes have turned on at once,” said Kevin Claire of Lunker’s. “Historically, the bluegills move into shallow areas on the shallow lakes first followed by the deeper lakes. But this year, the fish are shallow everywhere.”
You can choose your bait of choice – wax worms, red wigglers, red worms or get ‘em on a fly. Claire said poppers and spiders have been good, but so have the black ants and small sinking flies.
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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.
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I’ve always believed we have some of the nation’s best fishing at our doorstep and Bassmaster Magazine agrees.
The 500,000-circulation periodical listed the nation’s best bass fishing lakes and six of those lie within 3 1/2 hours of South Bend.
More impressively, Michigan’s Lake St. Clair landed No. 1.