• Starboard Choice Marine
  • Moore Boats

IDNR Report

Beginning July 1, hunters can apply for a variety of reserved hunts online by visiting on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.

This year, instead of one application period for all draws, they are split into a few different date windows. The reason for the change is to help hunters more easily plan for their hunts and thereby increase the number of hunters able to participate.   

The online method is the only way to apply for the hunts listed below. No late entries will be accepted. Applicants must possess a hunting license that is valid for the hunt for which they are applying.

IDNR Report

DNR fisheries biologists collected fish and water samples at Loon Lake yesterday as the result of a fish kill involving thousands of crappies that began earlier this week.

The lake is located in Whitley and Noble counties.

Samples were provided last week to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University for testing regarding a cause. Results are not expected for weeks.

Because no significant numbers of other dead small fish species have been observed, the cause is not believed to be the result of a toxic event such as a chemical spill or release.

Biologists will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks.

MWA Report

Hungry for a fish dinner?

The Michiana Walleye Association will host another fundraiser fish fry for the public June 28 at the clubhouse.

The club accepts a donation of $13 per meal. It includes Pollock and assorted fresh fish, coleslaw, potato salad, and tartar sauce.

Hours are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., but be advised it only lasts until they run out of fish.

The club is located in Mishawaka at 13040 Day Road.

By Louie Stout

Flathead catfishFlathead catfish

The fact that flathead catfish have appeared in Indiana sections of the St. Joseph River may be good news to some anglers, but Dar Deegan is concerned.

Although the flatheads are native to the Mississippi River system – waters south of Michiana – they aren’t native to the St. Joe.

That concerns Deegan, aquatic river biologist for Elkhart and South Bend.

“They have been in the Michigan sections of the St. Joe but we haven’t encountered any up here during the 25 years we’ve been surveying – until last year,” said Deegan, who samples river fish regularly to evaluate the health of the river and its fish populations.

IDNR Report

Brown TroutBrown Trout

In late May, biologists with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife stocked two bodies of water in northeast Indiana with roughly 3,000 brown trout averaging 8 inches in length.

The trout, obtained from Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Kentucky, were stocked into the Oliver Lake chain in LaGrange County (Oliver, Olin, and Martin lakes) and the Pigeon River at county roads 327 and 175 in Steuben County.