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By Louie Stout
Granger Angler Takes a Dive for Big Steelhead
Northern Indiana waters produced several of the Indiana DNR 2019 Fish of the Year winners, but Chris Peabody’s catch might have been the most bizarre.
The 21-year-old Granger angler landed a 38-inch steelhead from the St. Joseph River downstream from the Central Park Dam on Sept. 20. It was the biggest steelhead reported in the DNR contest.
However, the fish didn’t come easily. Peabody had to dive into 40-some-degree water to retrieve the fish that tangled in logs after he hooked it.
On that day in September, Peabody was casting from shore with a 1/16-ounce black Jarhead Jig rigged behind an orange bead. It was fished under a float, allowing the tiny jig to dance with the current and stay off bottom.
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By Louie Stout
Boaters who plan to use Michigan DNR public accesses are reminded they will need to purchase the 2020 Recreation Passport Sticker.
Beginning this year, it’s required on nearly all lakes with state-owned access sites.
The Passport has always been required to enter the major, fee-based state-owned public accesses, such as in state parks and at Diamond Lake in Cass County. However, the DNR made it mandatory at all lakes, including the small, public lakes in southwest Michigan.
Last year was considered an “informational year,” meaning the DNR was getting the signs up and the information out. This year, it will be enforced.
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By Louie Stout
Bonnie Kelley, the 82-year-old owner of Kelley’s Bait and Tackle in Lakeville, Ind.
Thomas Edison once said that the three great essentials for a person to achieve anything worthwhile are hard work, stick-to-itiveness and common sense.
Perhaps no better proverb describes Bonnie Kelley, the 82-year-old owner of Kelley’s Bait and Tackle in Lakeville, Ind.
She has owned the business for 55 years, making it one of the longest running, one-owner retail bait shop in the country.
In this age when family-owned bait shops are being squeezed out by big box stores and online shopping, that is something.
Kelly's Bait and Tackle
Perhaps you’ve seen her shop when traveling old U.S. 31 South prior to construction of the bypass. The business sits on the north shore of Pleasant Lake along what is now Ind. 931.
Kelley’s Bait and Tackle opened in 1965 when Bonnie and her late husband bought what once was Lakeville Bait Shop for around $11,000.
She’s kept the business going despite enduring many hardships along the way.
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By Louie Stout
Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission granted preliminary adoption to several Division of Fish and Wildlife proposals at its recent meeting.
Those include imposing an 18-inch, 2-fish bass limit on four lakes in Noble County; placing the ruffed grouse, cisco and Western sand darter on Indiana’s endangered species list; and allowing air rifles and bows that meet DNR specifications to be used during the deer firearms season.
One of the regulation changes that went into effect last month under emergency rule was a 14-inch size limit on sauger, saugeye and walleye taken from the Ohio River. The Ohio River bag limit also was limited to six of those fish in aggregate.
Granting preliminary adoption starts a long and deliberate process, including a public comment period that will include two, in-person hearings at two different locations for each rule package.
The lakes being proposed for the 18-inch size limit and 2-fish bag limit are Bixler, Henderson, Little Long and Round lakes in or near Kendallville, Ind.
Those lakes have a history of having a high number of carp and low bass populations. All four are small, connected by small streams or ditches, and only Bixler has a public access.