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(Provided by the Indiana DNR)
Biologist Tom Bacula with 48-inch muskie from Bruce Lake.The DNR muskie stocking program at Bruce Lake has resulted in some impressive fish, according to biologists.
Bruce Lake is a 245-acre natural lake on the Pulaski-Fulton county line, 7 miles east of Winamac. The DNR has stocked muskies annually at Bruce since 2000 and monitors muskie populations periodically to gauge success.
In mid-April, fisheries biologists from the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife used trap nets to assess the muskie population in the lake.
During the week-long survey, biologists caught and released 90 muskies, including several spectacular fish. Most were between 36 and 40 inches.
“I was very impressed with the catch we had from Bruce Lake this year,” said Tom Bacula, DNR fisheries biologist. “We collected 20 muskies over 40 inches. The largest was a 48-inch, 32-pound female.”
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(Provided by Indiana DNR)
Walleye production at Indiana’s state fish hatcheries has rebounded after suffering a weather-related setback last year.
Every spring, DNR workers net adult walleyes at Brookville Lake in southeast Indiana, where eggs are collected from the fish and fertilized. The fish are released back into the lake, and the eggs are transported to Cikana State Fish Hatchery near Martinsville for incubation.
Fish incubated in the spring are then stocked in Indiana lakes throughout the same year.
According to Cikana manager Dan Jessup, unseasonably warm temperatures last spring resulted in one of the worst walleye egg collections on record, and the state was unable to meet some of its 2012 stocking goals.
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Lake levels have returned to acceptable levels for normal motorboat operation on various northeast Indiana lakes.
As a result, the DNR has lifted temporary motorboating restrictions. Effective immediately, people can operate a motorboat on the following lakes:
- Barbee Lake chain, including Kuhn, Big Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Sechrist, Sawmill and Banning lakes.
- Tippecanoe Lake chain, including Lake Tippecanoe, James Lake (Little Tippy), and Oswego Lake.
- Indian Lake chain, including Westler, Witmer, Dallas, Hackenburg and Messick.
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(Provided by Indiana DNR)
A shortfall of trout has caused the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to cancel additional trout stockings into five northern Indiana streams in May.
Since 1990, the Pigeon River in Steuben and LaGrange counties, Turkey Creek in LaGrange County, the Little Elkhart River in Elkhart County and the Little Kankakee River in LaPorte County have received May trout releases to extend trout fishing opportunities. In 2012, Potato Creek in St. Joseph County was added to the list.
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Because of high water conditions, motorized watercraft cannot be operated above idle speed on the following lakes in Kosciusko County by order of DNR director Rob Carter:
Barbee Lake chain, including Kuhn, Big Barbee, Little Barbee, Irish, Seachrist, Sawmill and Banning lakes.
Tippecanoe Lake chain, including Lake Tippecanoe, James Lake (Little Tippy), and Oswego Lake.
The restriction, which exempts law enforcement, emergency response personnel and DNR watercraft, will be in effect until officially lifted.