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By Louie Stout

Floyd Wolkins with nice bassFloyd Wolkins with nice bass

Floyd Wolkins is a firm believer in big bait, big fish.

The Cassopolis, Mich. angler has proven that time and again as an addicted glide bait angler.

Glide baits aren’t the typical crankbait or soft plastic size that most Michiana anglers fish. They have broad, fish-shaped bodies and measure 6- to 10-inches long and weigh 2 ounces or more.

Wolkins insists these giant lures catch big bass, pike, and muskie in Michiana’s waters and will reveal hulking fish you didn’t realize existed in area lakes.

“The first time I caught a nice bass (3½ pounder) on one (Storm Arashi Glide) was at Juno lake and that opened my eyes,” he says. “And one day I caught a 6½ and a 7 both within an hour on another lake and that really started my addiction.”

Those two big fish were caught on the 6-inch Megabass Mag Draft soft-bodied bait. Today, Wolkins prefers the larger, harder bodies that cost upwards of $150 or more.

By Louie Stout

Anthony Burke with his state record burbotAnthony Burke with his state record burbot

Lake Michigan was a bit angry when Anthony Burke and his brother Matt launched the boat in pursuit of winter perch last Saturday.

“It was pretty rough out there and I almost turned back,” says the Cedar Lake, Ind. Angler.

Man, is he glad he didn’t. Not only did he and his brother catch a limit of nice perch, but he broke the Indiana record for burbot.

Correction – he shattered the record previously set last year. Burke’s fish weighed 14.3.6 ounces, erasing Phillip Duracz’s previous best of 11.6.4 ounces set last winter.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Burke, a carpenter by trade. “I’m still in shock and it’s hard to think straight while I’m working.”

By Louie Stout

Hudson Lake bluegillHudson Lake bluegill

A biological survey of Indiana’s Hudson Lake turned up a healthy fish population – especially for panfish.

Hudson Lake is located in northeastern LaPorte County. The 435-acre lake has two basins and a DNR boat ramp was constructed there in the northern most backwaters basin in 2019. (Read more about the opening here.)

District Fisheries Biologist Tom Bacula’s crew was there a year ago in May for a quick look at the bass population and retuned in late June to survey the entire fish community.

“We were there to evaluate the lake since we’ve added the new boat ramp,” said Bacula. “We also wanted to evaluate the plant life and see how much the invasive starry stonewort (plant) has increased.”

By Louie Stout

Cindy Sue and the Lunker ClubCindy Sue and the Lunker Club

If you have a grandchild you hope to interest in bass fishing, here’s a relatively inexpensive Christmas gift that can help create excitement and curiosity about the sport.

Bassmaster Senior Writer Robert Montgomery has released, Cindy Sue and the Lunker Club, a 52-page book that targets all youngsters from ages 6 to 14. It’s one you may enjoy reading to them as well.

Although Cindy Sue doesn’t really want to go fishing with her grandfather, she decides to go anyway. The 12-year-old girl quickly learns it’s not nearly as boring as she feared and loves spending time on the water with Pap Pa.