Post by sam fisherman on Aug 25, 2011 18:13:19 GMT -5
This page was last updated on AUG 25 2011 02:42 P.M.
Lake Michigan
For more information about the lake please click on the lake name above.
Description:
N/A
Fish
Channel catfish
Description:
The channel catfish has a smooth scaleless skin and barbels on its face resembling cat whiskers. The barbels help the channel catfish taste and feel objects and enable it to locate food in dark and turbid water. The channel catfish has 24-29 rays in its rounded anal fin. The caudal fin is deeply forked and the fish has dark spots on its sides when young.
Bait: Nightcrawlers, shrimp, commercially prepared catfish bait
Depth: Bottom
Comments about fish:
Anglers continue to catch channel catfish off the Portage Lakefront Park Pier, the Michigan City Lighthouse Pier & in the Michigan City harbor on nightcrawlers, pieces of shrimp or commercially prepared catfish bait fished right on the bottom.
Chinook salmon or king salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The chinook or king salmon teeth are set in dark gums, with black spots on the back and both lobes of the square caudal fin. The chinook or king salmon has 15-17 anal fin rays and averages 30 pounds though some can reach over 100 pounds.
Bait: Magnum sized spoons, bodybaits
Depth: Up to 125 FOW
Comments about fish:
Boat anglers targeting trout & salmon have been traveling anywhere from 10-14 miles offshore in water depths ranging from 95-125 FOW to find a mixed bag of kings, cohos, steelheads, browns & lake trout. Best action is occurring around the thermocline in water depths anywhere from 50-70' down. Kings & steelhead have shown a preference for magnum sized spoons & bodybaits while cohos have been caught on D/F combos & downsized spoons. Lake trout have been attacking spoons & bodybaits near the bottom. No action reported off the southern shorelines or in the tribs.
Coho salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The teeth of the coho salmon are set in light color gums. The coho salmon has black spots on the upper lobe of a slightly forked caudal fin with 12-15 anal fin rays.
Bait: Spoons, bodybaits, D/F combos
Depth: Up to 125 FOW
Comments about fish:
See chinook salmon report. It's still to early for salmon to migrate Indiana's tributaries.
Lake trout
Description:
Ever popular among Indiana anglers is the trout family, which includes the brown, lake and rainbow or steelhead trout. Many fisherman can be spotted on the shores during spawning season when the trout begin their runs into the tributaries. The lake trout has a white mouth, teeth and gums, a caudal fin that is deeply forked and a body color that is light to dark gray with light spots.
Bait: Spoons, bodybaits
Depth: Within 10' of bottom
Comments about fish:
A few lake trout have been taken in 90-115 FOW out of East Chicago and north of Michigan City in Michigan waters.
Rainbow or steelhead trout
Description:
Ever popular among Indiana anglers is the trout family, which includes the brown, lake and rainbow or steelhead trout. Many fisherman can be spotted on the shores during spawning season when the trout begin their runs into the tributaries. Rainbow or steelhead trout have a white mouth, teeth and gums and small black spots on their backs, sides, and caudal and dorsal fins. The caudal fin margin of the rainbow or steelhead trout is square and the fish has 9-12 anal fin rays.
Bait: Lake: Spoons, Bodybaits Pier: Shrimp, spoons Tribs: Shrimp, egg sacks
Depth: Lake : Up to 125 FOW
Comments about fish:
See king report of LM action. No action reported by shore anglers this week. Anglers have been catching good numbers in Trail Cr, especially in the middle/upper reaches. Although just a bit slower, action is occurring throughout Salt Cr. No action reported in the E Br. With heavy angler use over the past couple of weeks, your best bet is to hit the creeks first thing in the morning before the crowds move in. In addition, keep your offerings on the small side because of low flows & clear water conditions. Anglers have been catching steelhead on small pieces of shrimp & small spawn bags which contain anywhere from 2-5 eggs drifted just off the bottom through the deepest holes & runs. Fly anglers have had some luck lately on small (#14-#18) beadhead nymphs
Smallmouth bass
Description:
Sunfishes include some of the best-known fish in Indiana. Bluegill, redear sunfish, black and white crappie, largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass are all members of the sunfish family. The last rays on the dorsal fin of the smallmouth bass are separated from the rest of the fin. Also, the upper jaw does not extend beyond back of eye, as it does with the largemouth bass. The smallmouth bass commonly reaches 3-4 pounds.
Bait: Tube jigs, crankbaits, minnows, worms
Depth: Up to 15 FOW
Comments about fish:
Smallmouth bass action continues to be good along the southern shorelines of LM. Anglers should continue to target the western side of LM where abundant cover is available. Portage boat anglers should try along the “ditch” & off the Port of Indiana breakwall. An often overlooked area to fish for bass is the W Br of the Little Cal. Prior electrofishing surveys indicated good populations of largemouth bass in that system. No action reported out of Michigan City. Top producing lures include tube jigs that resemble gobies, crankbaits & small spinnerbaits.
Yellow perch
Description:
Indiana anglers have long since sought perch for their tasty flavor. The yellow perch, walleye and sauger are members of this popular family. The yellow perch ranges from 6 to 12 inches long and up to one or two pounds.
Bait: Minnows
Depth: Up to 40 FOW
Comments about fish:
According to IDNR creel clerks, very little YP action is occurring in southern LM. It appears that perch have scattered due in part to strong north winds which is causing turbid water condition along the southern shorelines of LM. So far this week, the only action has been out of Michigan City. Boat anglers caught a few 7-9" keepers just outside the detached breakwall on minnows fished just off the bottom. No shore action reported this week in any of the southern ports this week.
Comments about body of water:
Water temp in the harbor of MC was 74 F°. As of this morning, both Trail & Salt Creek are in great shape with average flows & clear water conditions. The E Br of the Little Cal is also exhibiting average flows; however, stained water conditions persist in the lower reaches. Water temp of Trail Cr at Friendship Gardens was 69° F. Expect similar water temps in the
Lake Michigan
For more information about the lake please click on the lake name above.
Description:
N/A
Fish
Channel catfish
Description:
The channel catfish has a smooth scaleless skin and barbels on its face resembling cat whiskers. The barbels help the channel catfish taste and feel objects and enable it to locate food in dark and turbid water. The channel catfish has 24-29 rays in its rounded anal fin. The caudal fin is deeply forked and the fish has dark spots on its sides when young.
Bait: Nightcrawlers, shrimp, commercially prepared catfish bait
Depth: Bottom
Comments about fish:
Anglers continue to catch channel catfish off the Portage Lakefront Park Pier, the Michigan City Lighthouse Pier & in the Michigan City harbor on nightcrawlers, pieces of shrimp or commercially prepared catfish bait fished right on the bottom.
Chinook salmon or king salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The chinook or king salmon teeth are set in dark gums, with black spots on the back and both lobes of the square caudal fin. The chinook or king salmon has 15-17 anal fin rays and averages 30 pounds though some can reach over 100 pounds.
Bait: Magnum sized spoons, bodybaits
Depth: Up to 125 FOW
Comments about fish:
Boat anglers targeting trout & salmon have been traveling anywhere from 10-14 miles offshore in water depths ranging from 95-125 FOW to find a mixed bag of kings, cohos, steelheads, browns & lake trout. Best action is occurring around the thermocline in water depths anywhere from 50-70' down. Kings & steelhead have shown a preference for magnum sized spoons & bodybaits while cohos have been caught on D/F combos & downsized spoons. Lake trout have been attacking spoons & bodybaits near the bottom. No action reported off the southern shorelines or in the tribs.
Coho salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The teeth of the coho salmon are set in light color gums. The coho salmon has black spots on the upper lobe of a slightly forked caudal fin with 12-15 anal fin rays.
Bait: Spoons, bodybaits, D/F combos
Depth: Up to 125 FOW
Comments about fish:
See chinook salmon report. It's still to early for salmon to migrate Indiana's tributaries.
Lake trout
Description:
Ever popular among Indiana anglers is the trout family, which includes the brown, lake and rainbow or steelhead trout. Many fisherman can be spotted on the shores during spawning season when the trout begin their runs into the tributaries. The lake trout has a white mouth, teeth and gums, a caudal fin that is deeply forked and a body color that is light to dark gray with light spots.
Bait: Spoons, bodybaits
Depth: Within 10' of bottom
Comments about fish:
A few lake trout have been taken in 90-115 FOW out of East Chicago and north of Michigan City in Michigan waters.
Rainbow or steelhead trout
Description:
Ever popular among Indiana anglers is the trout family, which includes the brown, lake and rainbow or steelhead trout. Many fisherman can be spotted on the shores during spawning season when the trout begin their runs into the tributaries. Rainbow or steelhead trout have a white mouth, teeth and gums and small black spots on their backs, sides, and caudal and dorsal fins. The caudal fin margin of the rainbow or steelhead trout is square and the fish has 9-12 anal fin rays.
Bait: Lake: Spoons, Bodybaits Pier: Shrimp, spoons Tribs: Shrimp, egg sacks
Depth: Lake : Up to 125 FOW
Comments about fish:
See king report of LM action. No action reported by shore anglers this week. Anglers have been catching good numbers in Trail Cr, especially in the middle/upper reaches. Although just a bit slower, action is occurring throughout Salt Cr. No action reported in the E Br. With heavy angler use over the past couple of weeks, your best bet is to hit the creeks first thing in the morning before the crowds move in. In addition, keep your offerings on the small side because of low flows & clear water conditions. Anglers have been catching steelhead on small pieces of shrimp & small spawn bags which contain anywhere from 2-5 eggs drifted just off the bottom through the deepest holes & runs. Fly anglers have had some luck lately on small (#14-#18) beadhead nymphs
Smallmouth bass
Description:
Sunfishes include some of the best-known fish in Indiana. Bluegill, redear sunfish, black and white crappie, largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass are all members of the sunfish family. The last rays on the dorsal fin of the smallmouth bass are separated from the rest of the fin. Also, the upper jaw does not extend beyond back of eye, as it does with the largemouth bass. The smallmouth bass commonly reaches 3-4 pounds.
Bait: Tube jigs, crankbaits, minnows, worms
Depth: Up to 15 FOW
Comments about fish:
Smallmouth bass action continues to be good along the southern shorelines of LM. Anglers should continue to target the western side of LM where abundant cover is available. Portage boat anglers should try along the “ditch” & off the Port of Indiana breakwall. An often overlooked area to fish for bass is the W Br of the Little Cal. Prior electrofishing surveys indicated good populations of largemouth bass in that system. No action reported out of Michigan City. Top producing lures include tube jigs that resemble gobies, crankbaits & small spinnerbaits.
Yellow perch
Description:
Indiana anglers have long since sought perch for their tasty flavor. The yellow perch, walleye and sauger are members of this popular family. The yellow perch ranges from 6 to 12 inches long and up to one or two pounds.
Bait: Minnows
Depth: Up to 40 FOW
Comments about fish:
According to IDNR creel clerks, very little YP action is occurring in southern LM. It appears that perch have scattered due in part to strong north winds which is causing turbid water condition along the southern shorelines of LM. So far this week, the only action has been out of Michigan City. Boat anglers caught a few 7-9" keepers just outside the detached breakwall on minnows fished just off the bottom. No shore action reported this week in any of the southern ports this week.
Comments about body of water:
Water temp in the harbor of MC was 74 F°. As of this morning, both Trail & Salt Creek are in great shape with average flows & clear water conditions. The E Br of the Little Cal is also exhibiting average flows; however, stained water conditions persist in the lower reaches. Water temp of Trail Cr at Friendship Gardens was 69° F. Expect similar water temps in the