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By Louie Stout
Anglers who aren’t deer hunting are finding some decent fishing opportunities throughout Michiana.
Diehard panfish anglers are catching a fair share of panfish out deep near bottom and some bass anglers report nice catches on bladed jigs, A-rigs and jerkbaits.
Many of the inland lakes are turning over which can scatter the fish. Turnover occurs when cooler bottom water mixes with surface water and water temperatures remain nearly the same from top to bottom.
Although the fall trout and salmon run into the tributaries is winding down, some winter-run steelhead are making their way into the St. Joseph River and other streams.
“There are definitely steelhead in the streams; a lot of guys are fishing for them in Indiana and Michigan,” said Darrin Schaap of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg.
In addition, Lake Michigan anglers are catching quite a few lakers from shore and by boat in harbor areas and near the shorelines of northwest Indiana. Most are being caught by jigging or trolling, according to Indiana Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson.
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By Louie Stout
In early August, a fish kill on Clear Lake got anglers riled up and many were quick to blame weed treatments.
Overzealous chemical treatments can – and have – led to fish die-offs.
But that wasn’t the case at Clear Lake this summer, says Indiana DNR Fisheries Biologist Matt Horsley, who investigated the die-off of about 500 fish.
Horsley said 95 percent of the dead fish he saw were rock bass while a few crappie, bullhead and a couple of bass accounted for the remaining carcasses.
“There was a sizable weed treatment in early June and 1/10th of an acre was treated in the Marina Basin July 26,” Horsley said. “When we see fish kill that are directly caused by chemical applications it will have an immediate impact on the fish.”
Instead, Horsley believes the kill was caused by depleted oxygen overnight in a large weedy flat nearby. Rock bass like to lounge and feed in shallow vegetation after dark.
During hot periods of the summer, as was the case that time, large flats with vegetation consume oxygen at night rather than produce it as they do during the day. As oxygen depletes, fish that utilize that area get trapped and can die.
“Sediment turnover adds to the issue,” Horsley said. “When you have a lot of boating activity during the day like that lake does, boats driving over those shallow flats lifts organic matter into the water column and that depletes oxygen as well. Not only are the plants using the oxygen but decomposition of all that organic matter uses oxygen as well.”
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By Louie Stout
How weather has stymied what was a pretty good steelhead push into Lake Michigan tributaries, but it seems to be heating up the perch bite on Lake Michigan.
Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson said anglers had been catching steelhead pretty good off the pier and by trolling the 40- to 70-foot zone the past few weeks but it has slowed down with the rising water temperatures.
The same is true for the steelhead run up the St. Joseph River. A couple hundred fish were counted passing through the South Bend Ladder but higher river temperatures has slowed the progression of fish into the river.
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By Louie Stout
Mark Zona with large walleye
Will we see a new Zona fishing show next year… like maybe, “Zona’s Awesome Walleye Show?”
Not likely, but our celebrity Michiana resident hooked him a good one Thursday while fishing with his dad, Big Al, on Klinger Lake.
Zona, who grew up on Klinger and lives near White Pigeon, Mich., is the host of “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” and co-host of “Bassmaster Live.”