- The State of Indiana's Volunteer Angler Surveys
Here is your chance to directly help in fisheries management. The information you provide is essential in understanding this valuable species and helps the Department of Natural Resources monitor harvest and catch data.
Division of Fish & Wildlife staff collect reports as time permits. During winter months, angler effort is lower, and fewer fishing reports are received, so the reports may be updated less frequently than during other seasons. Additionally, with changing weather conditions and delays between receiving past reports and the public reading them online, ice reports may be unreliable
| Waterbody | Fishing report | Date |
|---|---|---|
| JC Murphey (Willow Slough) |
Willow Slough FWA will be opening to ice fishing Friday, December 5. Access will be granted from the headquarters area and from Filbert Lane. You must access Filbert from the south end of Patrol Rd located along 400 W. Use caution as ice conditions vary greatly. Pre-renovation bag limits are back in
place, 25 panfish total ( Bluegill, Red-ear, and crappie), 2 bass (must be 18" or greater). Happy Fishing! | 12/4/2025 |
| Lake Michigan (boat) | Winter perch fishing started to pick up in the deep clay flats off Gary. Other than that, most anglers are done fishing the big lake for the year, given the weather. When conditions allow, lake trout will be near structures and can be caught jigging or trolling. | 12/4/2025 |
| Lake Michigan (shore) | Fishing has really slowed down with the colder weather and adverse conditions. A few steelhead and whitefish have been caught by those putting in time, but effort has been low and reports scarce. | 12/4/2025 |
| Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) | A few fresh steelhead are coming up but as the cold weather sets in, upstream migration will grind to a halt. During cold winter weather, think about fishing in the afternoon as water temps rise a bit. Target slower water with downsized presentations like small spawn bags, or jigs and waxworms. Please respect fellow anglers, private property, and please do not litter! For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables. | 12/4/2025 |
| St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam) | The river remains low and clear. Very few steelhead have been coming upstream due to low water, and now that cold water temps have arrived, upstream migration will really slow down. Water temps need to be 40 or above to see significant travel through the fish ladders. Smallmouth bass are likely in their wintering areas now, in deeper pools and areas of lower current. They will be schooled up when you find them. Blade baits, jig/minnow, Ned Rigs, and other baitfish imitators can be very good this time of year. Walleye can be caught on jig/minnow and jerkbaits worked slowly below the dams. Monitor the flow at the closest USGS gauge in Niles, MI using the links below the report table. Note that the funding partner has discontinued temperature at the end of the year - if you feel strongly about the value of temperature on the St. Joe River, use the link on the USGS site to contact them and request reinstatement. | 12/4/2025 |
| Northwest Indiana Lakes | Lakes are starting to skim and freeze over, and we're in between open water and ice fishing season. Some early ice locations are fishable or will be soon - use caution when going out on early ice! | 12/4/2025 |
| Lincoln State Park | The lake has been drained and currently isn’t holding any fish to target. | 11/14/2025 |
| Northeast Indiana Lakes | Lakes are starting to skim and freeze over, and we're in between open water and ice fishing season in most parts. Some early ice locations are fishable or will be soon - use caution when going out on early ice! | 12/5/2025 |