Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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DNR Report
The Indiana DNR has stocked 80,896 Coho salmon recently in northern Indianaís Lake Michigan tributaries.
Bodine State Fish Hatchery released 29,457 Coho salmon fingerlings measuring approximately 7.2 inches into Trail Creek.
An additional 51,439 Coho salmon fingerlings measuring approximately 6.6 inches were released into the East Branch of the Little Calumet River by Mixsawbah State Fish Hatchery.
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By Louie Stout
The warm fall weather hasn’t been kind to the trout and salmon run on the St. Joseph River this year.
Warm, dry weather, followed by copious amounts of rain, have limited the number of coho and steelhead running into the St. Joseph River.
Not that it’s been bad; it’s just that many hoped for a better return.
Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson noted this week that the numbers of fish passing through the South Bend Fish Ladder – so far - are in line with the long-term average.
About 1,600 steelhead and 1,250 coho have been counted through the ladder as of Thursday. The river also has seen 36 kings and 6 browns.
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IDNR Report
DNR will stock a total of 2,155 rainbow trout in seven different lakes across Indiana by the end of this month.
The trout are greater than 7 inches on average and come from Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station near Howe in LaGrange County.
Stocking locations include:
- Shoaff Park Pond (Fort Wayne, Allen County) – 300 fish
- Spy Run Creek (Franke Park, Allen County) – 200 fish
- Oak Lake (Clark State Forest, Clark County) – 405 fish
- Johnson Lake (Madison, Jefferson County) – 300 fish
- Pinhook Lake (South Bend, St. Joseph County) – 200 fish
- Garvin Park Lake (Evansville, Vanderburgh County) – 550 fish
- Memorial Park Pond (Huntington, Huntington County) – 200 fish
Anglers age 18 and older need an Indiana fishing license and a trout/salmon stamp to fish for trout. The bag limit for trout in inland waters, other than Lake Michigan and its tributaries, is five fish per day with a minimum size limit of 7 inches. There is no closed season for taking trout from inland lakes. Review inland trout regulations: eregulations.com/indiana/fishing/inland-trout-regulations.
For more information about stockings visit https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/fishing/indiana-fish-stocking/.
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By Louie Stout
Fisherman with nice fall salmon
Warm weather has hampered the fall trout and salmon run, but the good news is you can expect to see bigger fish in Michiana streams and rivers.
King salmon have been more prevalent on Lake Michigan this summer and are beginning to show up in streams. That’s good news for anglers, as those fish haven’t been much of a factor in previous fall runs.
“Last year it took us 3 to 4 weeks to collect 18 kings for our sampling,” said Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson. “This year we got 35 kings in one day last week.”
Several coho and king salmon have been moving up the St. Joseph River through the Berrien Springs, Mich. fish ladder but high water temperatures have kept the majority of those fish from making it to Indiana.
And with more warm temperatures still in the immediate forecast, that could continue to stall the run until river temperatures drop.
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MDNR Report
The abundance of Chinook and coho salmon in the Betsie and Platte rivers every September – during what are known as “fall fish runs” – draws anglers eager for this unique fishing opportunity in northwest Michigan.
Unfortunately, the season also sometimes brings illegal fishing activity and community disruption, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are working with local property and business owners to improve the situation.
Conservation officers are conducting enhanced patrols to reduce violations ranging from illegal fishing, camping and parking to trespassing, littering and noise complaints.
“Local businesses and communities open their doors and welcome anglers every fall,” said Lt. Joe Molnar, the DNR's district law supervisor who oversees officers in northwest Michigan. “Many people treat the area and fishing resources with care and respect, but those who live and work in these communities are tired of those who continue to snag fish, litter and exhibit poor behavior.”