By Louie Stout

If you’re looking for a silver lining in these trying times, go fishing.

At the time of this writing, South Bend and St. Joseph County officials had issued an advisory urging people to stay home except for essential travel. Therefore, use your own discretion based upon local laws and advisories.

Also at the time of this writing, all boat ramps in Indiana and Michigan were open, contrary to some rumors. Tackle shops were doing their best to keep doors open as well.

And some more good news; Michigan announced it’s waiving the need for the Recreation Passport for entry at state parks and other destinations, to include boat ramps, during the COVID-19 situation. However, you may find restrooms and other facilities closed.

If you can get out, your chances of catching fish are improving. The fish are waking up from winter and starting to prowl. That includes steelhead in the river and panfish in the lakes.

The steelhead have been pouring into Indiana waters of the St. Joseph River. Lake Michigan fisheries biologist Ben Dickinson said 3,177 steelhead have passed over the South Bend ladder this month. More than 1,200 of those moved up last week.

That brings the total to 3,839 since January. Last year, 3,900 ran into South Bend during the month of March. March typically averages between 1,000 and 3,000 fish.

Dickinson said the spring run looks favorable for the rest of the month unless we get a big heat wave. River temperatures were in the mid-40s, right on the front edge of spawning activity.

“We’ve been getting some reports of steelhead already on the gravel trying to spawn,” Dickinson added.

Spawn bags and some spinners have been producing fish. Wax worms fished under bobbers also have been catching a few.

In addition, coho fishing was excellent last weekend for Lake Michigan pier fishermen.

“A lot of fish were being caught in the mouth of Trail Creek, Burn’s Ditch and near Gary,” he said. “They’re catching nice ones for this time of year, too.”

He added that spawn, jigs with wax worms and some spoons have been top producing baits on the pier while spawn, plugs and flies were working in the river.

Panfish are biting

Crappies are the first to get active when the ice leaves the lakes and they haven’t disappointed this spring.

Nearly every tackle shop reported good crappie fishing with minnows accounting for the best catches.

“Crappies have been biting just about everywhere for the guys who are getting out,” said Bonnie Kelley of Kelley’s Bait in Lakeville.

Jim Housman of The Tackle Box in North Webster, Ind. said crappie fishing has been very good on Lake Tippecanoe, Webster, and Barbee Chain.

“A lot of them are being caught shallow and right off the bank,” he said.

Bluegill fishing is picking up throughout Michiana. Housman said bee moths and sinking flies are producing most of the fish.

Brian Hensley of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg said bluegill fishing has been “pretty good” in southwest Michigan.

“The ones I’ve seen have been good size,” he said. “They’re being caught relatively shallow on sunny days whereas the 5- to 15-foot depths seem to be best on cloudy days.”

Hensley also noted that perch fishing has been pretty good as well in 5 to 10 feet of water.

Bass fishing is picking up but the bulk of the fish are still hovering near drop offs. Top lure presentations have been bladed jigs, blade baits, deep jerkbaits and A-rigs.

Housman said the muskies were starting to move around on Kosciusko County lakes that contain them but the best is yet to come.