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Indiana Fishing Reports

Division of Fish & Wildlife staff collect reports as time permits. Only those water bodies with a current report are included.

WaterbodyReportDate
JC Murphey (Willow Slough)The lake has refilled to about 30 inches below average pool. This will hopefully allow vegetation to continue to rebound especially in the back of the lake following the renovation. Fish were stocked into the lake in the fall of 2023 with more stocking occurring in 2024. This spring, fish salvaged from the lake before renovation will be stocked back into the lake. There will be limited angling opportunities for harvestable sized fish in 2024 except for the larger spawning sized fish from the salvage units. Please release these larger fish as they are the spawners for future. More information can be found in the link below. 2/29/2024
Lake Michigan (boat)Lots of boats have been getting out to fish when weather allows.  Perch are still in their winter staging areas. On days where boaters can access the lake, perch fishing has been excellent. If you are fishing 50+ feet of water for perch, remember that most of those fish will have barotrauma... please consider not releasing fish caught that deep. Coho finally showed up this week, with the best action in the ship canal, inland wall, Gary Light, and the Burns Ditch mudline, although they were caught all over. Body baits have been best, along with spoons. The coho are very nice sized with some up to 4 pounds already3/15/2024
Lake Michigan (shore)A few brown trout and steelhead have been caught, along with a couple whitefish and a few coho. A few burbot have been caught at night, too. Tribs and harbors are muddy and warm, so most coho have been out of reach of shore anglers. Try spawn and skein on the bottom, under bobbers, and casting spoons. Last week some perch were caught in Michigan City Harbor as well. Be advised that due to heavy construction at the Port of Indiana, the shore fishing site there will be closed through summer 2024.3/15/2024
Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek)With rising water temps and rain,  fresh steelhead have shown up, although this spring's run will probably be smaller than normal due to missing 2020 yearclass of winter fish due to no egg take in Spring 2020. Suckers are running when water temps get near 50. Some steelhead are already done spawning, but fresh chrome fish are showing up too. For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables3/15/2024
St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam)In the last week, 1,351 steelhead moved through the South Bend Fish Ladder bringing our yearly total to 3,644. Reports of anglers having success on spawn, flies, and spinners, both from shore at various access points and near Twin Branch Dam. Water temps were near 50 at week's end, but will probably fall with cool weekend temps and rain. Monitor the river temp and flow at the closest USGS gauge in Niles, MI using the links below the report table3/15/2024
Northeast Indiana LakesWalleye fishing in Northeast Indiana is heating up.   Using crappie minnows under a bobber seems to be the ticket.   Try fishing, Pretty, Crooked, Clear, Winona, Sylvan or Wall Lakes for best success.   Finding vegetative cover is key to success.  Bass are also moving shallow and can be caught in channels or near vegetation adjacent to deeper water3/8/2024
Mississinewa Reservoir Pending final proper approvals, water inflows, and forecasted weather, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will tentatively begin a 5-foot drawdown of the lake on Feb. 1. The lowered lake level will be reached by Feb. 5 and maintained for one month. 
Closure and preliminary work to begin on Feb. 5 with construction work to replace Mississinewa Lake's Miami Boat Ramp beginning Feb. 8 and continue through early April. This plan includes replacing the entire ramp, curbing, drainage, sidewalks, etc.
The closure includes the boat ramp and the boat ramp parking lot. The archery range and restroom parking lot will remain open (restrooms are closed). The road to the campgrounds and beach area will also remain open.
If this plan changes, notification will be made on Facebook and Mississinewa Lake's webpage
2/1/2024
LaPorte Area LakesPanfish are being caught near docks, pads, and brush in the warmer days using minnows and small plastics. Look for bass near shallow green vegetation, old pads, and on flats adjacent to drop offs. Especially on warmer afternoons they are moving up to feed. Swimbaits, spinnerbaits, A-rigs, jerkbaits, and slow rolled chatterbaits are all good this time of year. Find the warmest water and you'll find the fish3/15/2024

Links for above report


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