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By Louie Stout
Big Orange Fish Surprises Edwardsburg Angler
Bo Thomas launched his boat early one misty morning with hopes of catching a few largemouth bass on Harwood Lake near Jones, Mich.
His buddy Jaxon Disher and girlfriend Emily Lopez, both of Edwardsburg, accompanied the 19-year old Edwardsburg angler that dreary Wednesday.
Thomas is an avid bass angler and a member of the Western Michigan University Bass Fishing team. He has aspirations of pursing a pro fishing career, something his father, Mickey, dabbled in years ago.
Around 10 a.m., Bo made a cast with a drop-shot rig far off the drop-off on which his boat was sitting as they worked the edge of a flat.
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By Louie Stout
Big Bluegill from St. Joseph River
You may have heard that bluegill fishing on the St. Joseph River has been spectacular in recent years. That’s something you didn’t hear anglers talking about 20 years ago.
Elkhart/South Bend aquatic biologist Dar Deegan says the fishery is dramatically different than it was when his predecessors were studying fish populations two decades ago.
“Back in 1998 when this office started these surveys, the river’s fish community was dominated by suckers but that has changed noticeably over the years,” he said.
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By Louie Stout
One of the biggest concerns shared by many anglers this time of year is the spraying of chemicals designed for killing aquatic vegetation on Michiana waters.
Yet, if you talk to waterfront residents, they would tell you those treatments are necessary to allow recreational use of the waters.
It’s a controversy that DNR managers battle every spring and early summer.
Who to contact to report weed treatment issues.
Lake associations employ professional contractors to come onto lakes to kill non-native plants they believe interfere with boating and other recreational activities.
Anglers see the vegetation as necessary fish habitat and the lifeblood of a good fishery. Fish biologists agree emphatically that vegetation leads to a healthy eco-system, but understand that shallow areas can become weed choked and inhibit boating activities if not kept in check.
Aquatic plants provide other benefits. They provide oxygen that in turn helps keep the water clear. Decaying plants rob the oxygen and diminish water clarity.
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By Louie Stout
Indiana biologists spent time conducting snapshot surveys on a couple northern Indiana area lakes and both provided some interesting data.
We’re talking about Stone Lake, just east of Bristol, Ind., and Lake Webster in North Webster, Ind.
Stone is the lesser known of the two while Webster is best known for its trophy muskie fishery. Biologists were there to look at the bass and crappie populations while adding a casual looksee at the bluegill populations.
Stone is located just off Ind. 120 and sports one of Indiana’s newest public launch sites. Until the past couple of years, it has produced quality bass fishing, but that’s diminished considerably the past couple of years.
During the mini surveys conducted last month, biologists shocked the shallows for bass for an hour and ran trap nets in deeper water for the crappie. Although they aren’t thorough surveys, these “status and trends” surveys provide fish managers with a periodic look at bass and crappie populations. The results are compared to previous surveys on those lakes and with other natural lakes in the area.