- Details
By Louie Stout
The future of walleye fishing on the St. Joseph River continues to brighten.
As they have done every other year, the Michiana Walleye Association partnered with the Indiana DNR to stock more fish into the river.
In early October, the DNR planted 8,900 walleyes in the river at Maggie’s Landing in Mishawaka. On that same day, another 2,000 – purchased by the walleye club – went in at the county line bridge near Midway Bait and Tackle. The walleye fish were purchased with funds the club raised through its various fund-raisers and donations it gained from interested businesses.
The DNR contribution was 600 fish shy of what it stocked in 2017 but 400 more than it stocked in 2015.
- Details
p>By Louie Stout
Mason Alvardo with huge Muskie
Mason Alvardo walked along the St. Joseph River bank, casting into the chilly waters as he often does.
The IUSB student likes to hit the river near downtown South Bend in the late afternoon following a day of classes.
“I really like fishing for bass and walleye down there and catch quite a few,” he said.
His bait was a 3-inch Z-Man Finesse TRD worm fashioned on a tiny, 1/5-ounce jig head. The cleverly named soft plastic color was “Goby Bryant.”
The 27-year old Navy veteran, who served as an aviation boatsman mate equipment operator on the John C. Steenis aircraft career in the Southwest China Sea, enjoys fishing and being around the water.
- Details
By Louie Stout
Mature bucks are on the move just in time for the popular firearm season that opens Friday in Michigan and Saturday in Indiana.
That’s pretty evident with the number of racks being displayed on social media by proud Michiana bow hunters the past couple of weeks.
Danny Linn with 215-Pound 10-Point
No one is more gratified than Dan Linn of South Bend. He shot a dandy 10-point that dressed out at 215 pounds.
But that wasn’t his proudest moment.
The next day his 9-year-old daughter Makenzie arrowed a giant 9-point that field dressed at a whopping 242 pounds. The third grad LaVille Elementary School student shot it with a crossbow.
It was a mature buck that Dan had been watching for three years but was never able to get it into range.
That day was different.
- Details
By Louie Stout
One would think that reauthorizing the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund would be an easy move for our federal legislators, but nothing is guaranteed with this group.
Unless, of course, it’s bickering and in-fighting.
We can only hope that the reauthorization bill introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives late last month will get done soon.
The program, also known as the Wallop-Breux Act, has been in place since 1950 and has been a godsend for state fishery and public access programs. The bill would extend the program to 2024.
Basically here’s how it works: When you buy recreational fishing gear, boat motors and motorboat fuel, you pay a federal tax that goes into a big pot. That money is offered back to the states based upon number of license holders. The state can use it to manage fishing programs and provide access to fishing waters in addition to what it collects in license fees.
The beauty of this program is it cost the Feds nothing since sportsmen and boaters are paying the freight and the economy gets a boost.