By Louie Stout

The Indiana DNR has been pumping trout into area lakes and streams in preparation for next Saturday’s trout opener.Bluegill, bass and steelhead may be on the minds of most anglers in the spring, but the last Saturday in April is a big deal for stream trout fishermen in Indiana and Michigan.

Not only does the stream season open April 25 in both states, but Hoosier fish managers have been busy stocking area waters in preparation for the big day. More than 55,000 trout will have been planted prior to the Saturday opener.

Michigan’s trout regulations are rather complicated and differ from stream to stream. Anglers would be wise to study the 2015 Fishing Guide or visit www.michigan.gov/DNR for specifics.

In Indiana, trout can be taken from Hoosier streams between 6 a.m. on the last Saturday in April until Dec. 31. Trout can be harvested year-round on Indiana lakes.

Indiana’s 2015 trout stocking plan and list of stocking locations is at www.wildlife.IN.gov/3622.htm.

Nearby northern Indiana locations, and the number of fish being stocked in those waters, include:

• Elkhart County – Cobus Creek (250), 2.5 miles stream from one mile north of Edison Road to the St. Joseph River junction; Little Elkhart River (3,000), 16 miles of stream from the Elkhart-LaGrange county line to the junction of the St. Joseph river; Solomon Creek (1,000), 4 miles of stream from the Elkhart River junction upstream to U.S. 6.
• Kosciusko County – Wyland Lake (400) on the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area.
• LaPorte County – Little Kankakee River (1,000), 6 miles of stream from CR 500E to State Road 4.
• St. Joseph County – Potato Creek (800), the town park and 5 miles of stream from Worster Lake Dam (Potato Creek State Park) downstream to Smilax Road, west of North Liberty; Pinhook Lagoon (400).

Traditionally, the state has stocked only rainbow trout in most locations. This year, both brown and rainbow trout will be stocked in the Pigeon River and the Oliver Lake chain in LaGrange County.

Other changes for 2015 include more fish at Morsches Park in Whitley County and changes to stocking locations along the Little Kankakee River in LaPorte County.

The daily bag limit on most lakes and streams is five, and only one can be a brown trout. In general, the minimum size limit is 7 inches.

The size limit to keep a brown trout in Oliver, Olin and Martin lakes in LaGrange County is 18 inches.

Certain sections of Little Elkhart River, Cobus Creek and Solomon Creek in Elkhart County are catch-and-release-only trout streams, and anglers there must use artificial lures. Those sections are: Solomon Creek, from CR 33 downstream to the Elkhart River; Little Elkhart from CR 43 downstream to CR16, except for waters along Riverbend Park from CR 16 upstream to the pedestrian footbridge; and Cobus Creek, from Old U.S. 20 downstream to St. Joseph river.