• Starboard Choice Marine
  • Moore Boats

By Louie Stout

Lake Wawasee apparently had a pretty good spawn a few years ago, according to an Indiana DNR fisheries survey there.

Biologist Tyler DeLauder said the May, 2022 survey turned up a lot of bass – in fact, a higher than normal collection for that time of year.

“Most of the fish were in the 13-inch size range but we saw quite a few 14 inchers as well,” said DeLauder. “Compared to a 2008 survey (the last time one was done on the lake), we saw a significant increase.”

The fish were surveyed with an electro-fishing boat that temporarily stuns fish in the shallows and brings them to the surface where they are netted, info gathered and released.

In addition to largemouth up to 20 inches, they also handled 17 smallmouth.

“Growth looked good, too,” the biologist added. “We didn’t get many big ones but those fish were likely deeper than our electric probes can penetrate. However, I suspect that quite a few of those fish we did get will be legal size this spring and summer.”

DeLauder said he hadn’t had a chance to analyze results gathered from information submitted by tournaments. Tournaments with 15 or more boats are required to report their catch.

“The data we get from tournaments is valuable because it gives us a different way to assess the adult population,” said DeLauder.

IDNR Report

Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened a public comment period for proposed changes to the state’s river otter trapping rules before its members vote on their final adoption. If adopted, the changes would take effect this November, in time for river otter trapping season.

Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket by locating the “Submit Comments Here” link in the Rulemaking Docket for the River Otter Trapping Rule. Comments can also be mailed to:

SJRVFF Report

The St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers (SJRVFF) will be once again be teaching its popular and informative “Beginning Fly Tying Class.”

SJRVFF will conduct a seven-week class designed to familiarize the tier with tools, materials, techniques and tying proven fly patterns for the local area and beyond.
Classes will be held once a week, on Thursday evenings for seven weeks starting on March 14th, 2024, and ending on April 25th, 2024. 

Class will start at 6:30 pm and will be held at the Near Northwest Neighborhood Community space located at 1013 Portage Ave. South Bend, Ind. 46616. This is a beginning class, so no experience is necessary. 

The cost for non-members of St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers (SJRVFF) is $40.00 and for members of SJRVFF and $10 for members. The class is limited to 20 people. 
SJRVFF will supply all tools, vise, material, syllabus and in-person instruction. If you have your own vise, tools, and light, please feel free to bring them and use them for the class.

You can register and pay for the class at www.sjrvff.com under the “News and Updates" tab.

By Louie Stout

Ethan BinkowskiEthan Binkowski

Meet Ethan Binkowski, the new DNR District 3 assistant fisheries biologist for much of northeastern Indiana.

Binkowski, 27, will assist District Biologist Tyler DeLauder with various fish surveys and other fisheries projects.

This is good news because the DNR finally approved assistant biologists for each district. Northern Indiana district biologists have been operating without assistants since 2019.

“Having another fulltime person means we can do more surveys, get more work done and be more efficient,” said DeLauder. “It will be nice having another fulltime biologist and do the work we were dong before we lost those positions.” Binkowski, who grew up in the Lansing, Mich. area, graduated from Lake Superior Stat e University before working with the Michigan and Ohio DNRs and landing the job in Indiana.

He’s worked various projects in the Great Lakes and while in Ohio, he did research work on perch, walleye and white bass. He has worked as an Indiana assistant research biologist since hiring on with the Indiana in 2023.

The District Three covers northeastern fisheries from south of Angola to Randolph County and includes all of the Kosciusko County lakes east and the Missisinewa, Salamonie and Huntington Reservoirs.

We’ll provide details of more northern Indiana assistant fisheries biologist appointments as they are announced.

IDNR Report

Your latest guides to exploring Indiana’s great outdoors are now available at your fingertips and at a DNR property near you.

The 2024 Indiana Recreation Guide is available now at on.IN.gov/recguide and your 2024-2025 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide is available at on.IN.gov/fishingguide.

The DNR’s 2024 Indiana Recreation Guide is the source for information on state parks, state forests, lakes, fish & wildlife areas, nature preserves, state park inns, and other DNR properties. The guide includes a great facilities chart and information about accessibility and fees.

Soon, free printed copies of each will be available at local retail outlets, state parks, lakes and other DNR properties.