Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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By Louie Stout
Indiana Biologist Tom Bacula
Indiana Biologist Tom Bacula shows off a pair of nice walleyes his crew collected during a survey on Lake Maxinkuckee. Bacula was impressed with the numbers and quality of walleyes his crew turned up. (Indiana DNR photo)
If you fish Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Ind., you probably know the lake has walleyes.
The 1,884-acre lake has been stocked with walleyes for several years. It has never been a great walleye fishery, but if you’re skilled at targeting the prized fish, you can catch a few legal-size fish.
Those odds are improving, however, as a recent DNR survey reveals the lake has more adult walleyes than ever and shows promise of getting even better.
Maxinkuckee is the second largest natural lake in Indiana. It has beautiful structure, habitat and good water quality that benefit a variety of gamefish.
Unfortunately, the public access leaves little to be desired. The DNR manages a boat launch but parking is limited to an area along the road.
It’s too bad, because the lake is a fabulous fishery for a variety of species.
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By Louie Stout
If you’re looking for a giant walleye, consider Michigan’s Tittabawassee River. Biologists netted a 16 pounder there while doing a jaw tagging study there. Tags are placed on walleyes then released. When the fish is caught by anglers and the number off the jaw tag is reported, it helps biologists learn more about how many fish are being caught and how the fishery is operating. Some tags carry cash prizes.
The giant walleye fish netted that day missed the state record by 1.19 pounds. The current record, caught from Manistee County’s Pine River, has stood for 68 years.
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By Louie Stout
PNA Club Stocks Walleyes in Diamond Lake
The P.N.A. Fisherman’s Club – one of the oldest in Indiana – stocked walleyes in Diamond Lake at Cassopolis recently.
The club pays for stocking walleyes in a Michiana lake each year, a generous act it’s been doing for more than 20 years. This year, 550 fall fingerlings measuring 6 to 8 inches were planted in Diamond.
“We had hoped to stock them in Indiana’s Fish Lake near North Liberty, Ind., but the Indiana DNR said we couldn’t get the permit unless each fish was tested for a virus,” said club spokesman Ted Wasielewski. “That was going to cost an extra dollar per fish.”
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Dr. Jason Halfen, Traditions Media
Trophy Walleye Time Has Arrived
You must have noticed it.
Summer's familiar clear blue skies have turned turn angry and gray. Gentle southern winds have evolved into frigid northerly gales. Bright leaves of crimson and gold now hang perilously from branches, and yes, ice scrapers and snow brushes have become must-have equipment to support the morning commute. With all of its bawdiness and urgency, it's obvious autumn has arrived.
Within rapidly cooling waters, primal forces drive walleyes into a fall feeding rampage. Bundled against the elements, anglers cast, jig, troll and drift with live baits and artificial lures, ready to do battle with biggest, baddest, and smartest fish of the season.
Go big or go home. A classic fall technique for oversized daytime walleyes is to fish oversized live baits along deep structure. This is a tried-and-true midday method on classic walleye waters and frequently works best after the fall turnover has occurred. Look for sharp breaklines leading into deep water, deep saddles between points, or offshore humps that top out at 20-30 feet deep.