Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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By Louie Stout
Many expect the Lake Michigan fishery to really show up in the coming weeks as it’s tournament time around Michigan City, Ind.
It kicks off with the LaPorte County CVB Coho Capital Derby April 27th – May 4 in which cash prizes will be given for the biggest fish in each of five species. Contestants must be Hoosier Coho Club members and fish out of Michigan City port.
On April 28, the annual Pro/Am tournament will be held in Michigan City and the Hartman Memorial tournament will be conducted May 4.
The granddaddy – the Horizon Bank 44th annual Hoosier Coho Club Classic - will be May 5-6 at Michigan City. The tournament, which was cancelled last year, attracts anglers from several states and offers one of the biggest payouts in Lake Michigan tournaments.
For details, including registration, visit www.hoosiercohoclub.org.
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By CASEY WARNER, MDNR
How the Au Sable River Changed the World
With the opener of Michigan's trout season right around the corner, anglers soon will be donning their waders and heading out to one of the thousands of cold, quality streams that make the state a nationally known trout-fishing destination.
Perhaps the most renowned place to cast a fly in Michigan - the Au Sable River, running 138 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula - is significant for much more than its outstanding trout fishing.
In 1959, 16 fishermen, united by their love of trout and the Au Sable River and concerned about the need for long-term conservation of Michigan's cold-water streams, gathered at George Griffiths home east of Grayling.
"For some time I and several others have been considering ways and means to protect and preserve trout and trout fishing, and have come up with the idea of forming an organization to be known as Trout Unlimited," wrote Griffith, a member of the Michigan Conservation Commission, in an invitation letter to a fellow angler in 1959.
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Here come the steelhead!
Lake Michigan biologist Brian Breidert said Tuesday that more than 3,000 steelhead have passed the South Bend ladder since March 1 to join some 6,000 that were already in the river.
In addition, coho fishing has been red hot this week in the Michigan City Harbor area.
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By Louie Stout
Winter Steelheading Can be Productive for Hardy Anglers
A dilemma for steelhead anglers occurs every winter: The St. Joseph River is full of steelhead, but it's snowy and it's cold.
How badly do you want to catch them?
Mike Jones of Mishawaka wants to catch them badly. Fishing's in his blood - year-round. When he's not chasing steelhead or walleyes in the winter, he's trying to outfox catfish or bluegill at other times of the year.
That's why he spends as much time as he can on the river and his success speaks for itself.
"Last year, my fishing partners and I caught 137 steelhead from late October through March," he said.
With more fish in the river this year, December through March should be even better.
If you can handle the weather.
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By Louie Stout
Big Numbers of Coho Invade St. Joe
You better re-string those river rods and reels with new line and load up on spinners and spawn.
The South Bend and Mishawaka sections of the St. Joseph River are filling up with trout and salmon.
That’s right…salmon. Coho, to be exact.
The steelhead appearance is no surprise. They’ve been trickling in since early June. We have about 2,500 in the upper river now, which is pretty good compared to previous years.
But the early showing of coho - and big numbers of ‘em - has been a surprise to both anglers and fish managers.
“We’ve counted 3,600 coho move into South Bend the first 15 days of September,” said Lake Michigan biologist Brian Breidert. “That’s pretty remarkable.”
It sure is. You will have to go all the way back to 1997 to see coho numbers like that entering Indiana waters at such an early stage.