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By Louie Stout
Walleye fingerling
If things go as planned, northern Indiana will offer much better walleye fishing in the coming years.
We can say that because of positive changes the Indiana DNR is making in its hatchery program and philosophy for raising and stocking walleyes.
Prior to this year, the state mostly stocked smaller, 2-inch fish with hopes that several would survive and grow into a contributing fishery. Those fish were the offspring of adult walleyes captured in nets at Brookville Reservoir in southern Indiana.
Some lakes were being supplemented with larger, commercial hatchery fish and those waters had a higher success rate. The DNR annually purchases about 35,000 larger ‘eyes from commercial hatcheries.
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By Louie Stout
Ben Dickinson with large skamania
Cooler water temperatures and rainfall has drawn Skamania steelhead into some Michiana streams and rivers.
Indiana Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson said his crews have been gathering several steelhead at the Trail Creek Weir in Michigan City and hope to be done soon.
The adult fish being collected will be stripped of eggs and milt to produce future steelhead stockings.
“We’re getting about 50 to 100 a day, so it’s been steady,” Dickinson said. “We’re hoping to finish up this week.”
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By Louie Stout
John Meyer, the reel repairman for Clear H2o Tackle
If you’re shopping for a reliable spinning reel, choose Daiwa. And if you’re after a quality baitcaster, choose Shimano.
That’s the opinion of a Michiana reel service provider who sees about 200 reels a year.
Given the popularity of Shimano spinning reels, one might think just the opposite.
But John Meyer, the reel repairman for Clear H2o Tackle who works from his home in Edwardsburg, Mich., says he sees fewer problems with Daiwa spinning and Shimano baitcasters.
“Regardless of what dollar-wise you’re going to invest, those two are probably the best and most reliable that I see,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of difference in the brands of reels, but those two seem to be best.”
Even so, he said that paying $500 for a reel is overkill. Based upon what he sees inside the reels that he repairs, a $150-$200 baitcast or spinning reel are pretty good quality. Reels built today, he added, are better than those some 20 years ago.
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Holiday Fishing Report
By Louie Stout
Young fisherman with nice crappiesPanfishermen can expect a banner holiday weekend assuming the weather is stable.
If you're fishing Michigan this weekend, you won’t need a license as the state will celebrate a free fishing weekend Saturday and Sunday for both residents and non-residents.
Bluegills and crappies are biting just about everywhere, with both species spawning shallow on some lakes. Things could slow down a bit with Friday’s cold frot but fishing should still remain pretty good over the holiday.
Crappies typically spawn earlier, but area baitshops report anglers still finding good crappies in the spawning mode.
Bluegills began moving onto beds on the shallow, darker lakes last week and should be in full force on most lakes by the weekend since we will be under a full moon beginning today.
“It doesn’t matter where you go, the fishing is good everywhere down here,” said Bonnie Kelley of Kelley’s Bait in Lakeville, Ind.