Division of Fish & Wildlife staff collect reports as time permits. Only those water bodies with a current report are included.
| Waterbody | Report | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Fish salvaged from the lake before draining have been stocked back into the lake, with some catchable size bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass. 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. | 3/22/2024 |
| Lake Michigan (boat) | The coho are back near shore in force, and some bait has shown up. Anglers reported fast action nearly everywhere this week, but especially out of East Chicago, with limit catches in under an hour reported last weekend. Most people have been fishing 20-40 feet of water. With surface temps in the 40s, the dodger-fly bite has started to pick up and be the dominant pattern. Lots of fish are getting caught on body baits, and spoons as well. Kings should show up in the next couple weeks - try running a few larger spoons and flasher/fly setups in the bottom third of the water column to target browns and kings, you will still get coho on them. The perch bite has started to fall off significantly as they start spawning. | 4/25/2024 |
| Lake Michigan (shore) | Trout and salmon action continued to be slow. Bass and carp are starting to bite in protected areas. An angler caught the pending state record perch from shore at Hammond last weekend. Be advised that due to heavy construction at the Port of Indiana, the shore fishing site there will be closed through summer 2024. | 4/25/2024 |
| Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) | The spring steelhead run is coming to a close. A few early skamania are showing up, but the next several weeks will be the slow transition period between the spring run and the summer run. For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables | 4/25/2024 |
| St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam) | The spring steelhead run is rapidly coming to a close. Try plugs, beads, spawn bags, and spinners near gravel areas for the last straggling spawners. Some bass have been caught in deeper slower water on jerkbaits and football jigs. Pike are done spawning and are feeding. Catfish are feeding heavily as well. Monitor the river temp and flow at the closest USGS gauge in Niles, MI using the links below the report table | 4/25/2024 |
| Northeast Indiana Lakes | Bass are moving shallow on warmer days, and can be caught in channels or near vegetation adjacent to deeper water. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits are good ways to cover water and find where fish are holding. Pike are starting to bite, also near vegetation and drop-offs, as they recover from the spawn. Crappie are also moving shallow towards brush and lily pad beds, and can be targeted with minnows or small plastics | 4/19/2024 |
| Mississinewa Reservoir | Catfish and crappie have been
caught in the usual early spring spots. Minnows and tube jigs for crappies,
cut bait for catfish. Property update, March 20, 2024: Lake levels are currently back to normal winter pool, for the time being. Red Bridge is usable for boat launches. Pearson Mill and Frances Slocum ramps are also usable, however, only Red Bridge will be maintained and free of debris while at winter pool status. Miami boat ramp remains closed and under construction. Use caution while on the lake. Watch for floating debris and submerged obstacles now close to the surface. | 3/28/2024 |
| LaPorte Area Lakes | Crappie and bluegill have been caught shallow on warmer afternoons. Use light line and light baits to avoid spooking them in the shallow water. Largemouth bass bite has been decent near green weeds, emerging lily pads, and on shallow flats on warmer days | 4/19/2024 |
| Lake Wawasee | Bass fishing has been pretty good as fish are pre-spawn pattern | 4/19/2024 |
| Dogwood Lake | Water temperatures in the upper 50s. Crappie, bluegill and redear moving into the shallows and are being found in less than 5 feet of water. Aquatic vegetation was treated in limited areas to increase boater access. | 4/2/2024 |
| Monroe Lake | Water temperatures in the upper 50s and lake level is near winter pool target. Courtesy docks have been installed at Paynetown and Cutright State Recreation Areas. Crappie can be caught from the docks near Cutright State Recreation Area Boat Ramp and Paynetown Campground Area using vertical jigging. Bass are being caught in areas with rocky shoreline. Crappie anglers are trolling flats near brushy habitat near the shoreline. | 4/2/2024 |
| Spring Mill Lake (Spring Mill State Park) | Around 750 12-inch rainbow trout were stocked in late March. Please remember to purchase a trout stamp in addition to your 2024-2025 fishing license. | 4/2/2024 |
| Airline Pit (Greene County) | Around 1,000 12-inch rainbow trout were stocked in late March. Please remember to purchase a trout stamp in addition to your 2024-2025 fishing license. | 4/2/2024 |
| Midland Pit (Greene County) | Around 1,000 12-inch rainbow trout were stocked in late March. Please remember to purchase a trout stamp in addition to your 2024-2025 fishing license. | 4/2/2024 |
| Maple Avenue Lake (Terre Haute) | Around 1,150 12-inch rainbow trout were stocked in late March. Please remember to purchase a trout stamp in addition to your 2024-2025 fishing license. | 4/2/2024 |
| Dobbs Park Pond (Terre Haute) | Around 200 channel catfish ranging from 10 to 14 inches (average 12 inches) were stocked in late March. Additional fish will be stocked in late-April and late-May. | 4/2/2024 |
| Garvin Park Lake (Evansville) | Around 200 channel catfish ranging from 10 to 14 inches (average 12 inches) were stocked in late March. Additional fish will be stocked in late-April and late-May. | 4/2/2024 |
| Diamond Valley Park Pond (Evansville) | Around 225 channel catfish ranging from 10 to 14 inches (average 12 inches) were stocked in late March. Additional fish will be stocked in late-April and late-May | 4/2/2024 |