Old-school Jim Horn is a Michiana Fish Sniper

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Published: 29 December 2025

Michiana Sportsman Spotlight

By Louie Stout

Name: Jim Horn
Hometown: Buchanan, Mich.
Occupation: Postal Supervisor
Favorite species and biggest fish of that species: Mostly bass, 24 ½-inch largemouth with an 1- inch girth.
Favorite Michiana lake: Diamond Lake
Hobbies when not fishing: Making baits for own use
If you on had one lure and why: ½-ounce black/blue or green pumpkin jig with a craw trailer because it catches big fish. When bass are keying on crawfish, I like a jig with a stand-up head.
Favorite rod and reel: Berkley Lightning Rod with Lew’s Super Duty Baitcaster.
Best tip to give a new Michiana angler: If you’re going to fish the St. Joseph River, practice casting accuracy. First cast needs to be on the money; if you land 8-12 inches away, you probably won’t get bit. Also, clearer the water, the farther you need to stay away from the target.

Jim Horn is a simple man who catches a heckuva lot of fish.

And while bass is his preferred species, he’s put the hurt on a lot of other species, such as walleye, panfish and pike.

His fishing philosophy is a lot different than most anglers’. He doesn’t get too caught up in modern technology or fancy lures.

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Michiana Angler Turns His Fishing ‘Freakness’ into a Career

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Published: 23 December 2025

Michiana Angler Spotlight

By Louie Stout

Mike Jones is a fishing freak who loves fishing, especially on the St. Joseph River for trout and salmon.

And while bass anglers may dream of someday fishing professionally, Jones is fulfilling his lifelong dream as a full-time fishing guide, which he began five years ago after spending years building boats at Bennington and saving the cash to pursue his dream.

“I’d fish 365 days a year if I could,” says the 1990 Mishawaka Penn grad and Osceola, Ind. resident.

He spends his winters guiding on the river and summers on Lake Michigan. And when time permits, he’s fishing for big catfish below river dams or dinking for the plentiful bluegill in the Indiana waters of the St. Joe.

“I guide all winter,” he says. “I won’t have a day off until Jan.14, and that’s only because I have a doctor’s appointment that day.”

His MJ’s Charter Service runs winter charters on his 23-foot enclosed Starcraft boat and summer charters on his 36-foot Trojan.

Here’s a Q&A I did with him:

MON: Is it hard finding clients to fish in winter weather?

Jones: Not for my boat. I keep the inside heated and we catch fish. If my trip doesn’t produce 15-20 steelhead bites I’m not happy. I love fishing for steelhead, but after about 6 months, I’ve got the itch to get out on the big lake and fish out there. The nice thing about river fishing is the clients can feel the bite and hook their own fish as opposed to trolling on the big lake. But both can be fun.

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