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By Louie Stout
Indiana Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson with coho catch
Steelhead have been pouring into the river, coho were biting on Lake Michigan, crappies were moving toward the bank and even a few bluegills were showing up shallow.
But that was last weekend. The forecast calling for calling for more cold temperatures, rain, wind and possible snow will put all of that on hold for a while.
But hey, it’s still March, right?
The good news is that fish in Michiana waters want to push the spring as badly as you do. Look for activity to pick up again with the next warming trend.
The cooler weather is good news for Indiana river trout anglers. If the water warms too fast, the steelhead spawning migration slows.
That wasn’t the case from March 8 through March 17, when 1,755 trout went through the South Bend ladder.
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By Louie Stout
If you’re look for a lake that offers good bluegill, pike and quality bass, take a look at Big Chapman Lake in Kosciusko County.
Indiana biologists did a quick survey there last year and came away pleased.
“Overall, it looked good,” said northern Indiana district biologist Tyler Delauder, who was there in June.
He said his crew found above average bluegill and above average bass that were 18 inches or longer.
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By Louie Stout
Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg will host a 10-day Spring Open House at the store beginning March 18.
Owner Darrin Schaap said his shop has received a ton of inventory over the past couple weeks and promises to be well stocked with all of your fishing needs.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a panfisherman, walleye, bass, catfish or trout and salmon angler, we’ve got a lot of tackle to meet your needs,” said Schaap.
He plans several sale promotions during the 10-day affair and will offer a special promotion for those anglers who buy their new Michigan license while there.
Schaap said he stocked heavily due to anticipation of supply problems similar to last year that all retailers had with tackle manufacturers.
The store will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6-4 on weekends. For more information, call the shop at 269-414-4131.
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By Louie Stout
Steelhead – fresh chrome ones – are on the move in the St. Joseph River, an indication that good fishing is but a few days away.
“They’re catching quite a few fish below the Berrien Springs Dam,” said Darrin Schaap, an avid steelheader and owner of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg.
They’re moving fast into Indiana waters as well. Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson said yesterday that warming river temperatures lured more than a 1,000 fish through the South Bend ladder last week.
“And these are fat, very healthy steelhead,” Dickinson noted. “They’re very chrome looking, an indication that these are fish that just moved in the river from the lake.”
Those fish, in addition to holdover steelhead that moved into the river last fall and early winter, should create a good fishery in the coming days.