Post by sam fisherman on Sept 2, 2011 10:43:30 GMT -5
This page was last updated on SEP 02 2011 09:46 A.M.
Lake Michigan
For more information about the lake please click on the lake name above.
Description:
N/A
Fish
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:
See coho report for LM. No trout/salmon action reported by shore anglers along the southern shorelines of LM. Kings have started their fall migration runs. Best time to target kings is during lowlight conditions, but don’t be discouraged because anglers can & do catch them during the daylight hours off the piers. Try casting wobbler type spoons & large crankbaits during daylight hours & glow in the dark spoons & Rattletraps during the night time hours. Electrofishing crews discovered small numbers of kings in the lower reaches of Trail Ck earlier this week. Try casting spoons, spinners, crankbaits or chunks of skein in similar areas that steelhead reside in.
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:
Big numbers of trout & salmon were caught by boat anglers this week out of MC. Action was happening in water depths ranging from 90-125 FOW which translates into a run of 8-14 miles N of the lighthouse. Top producing lures included spoons, spin doctors & fly’s & D/F combos fished anywhere from 70-90' down. Anglers launching their vessel from EC report kings caught N to NE of the gong in water depths up to 95 FOW on spoons & bodybaits.
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 90-125 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 coho report for LM. No action reported by shore anglers this week. Anglers are still catching steelhead in the middle/upper reaches of Trail Cr but in smaller numbers compared to the previous 2 weeks. Salt Cr anglers continue to report fish are scattered throughout the system. Several have been harvested in the lower reaches of the E Br of the Little Cal. Anglers have caught fish on small pieces of shrimp & small spawn bags drifted just off the bottom through the deepest holes & runs. They have also been caught on size #1/#2 spinners with silver, black or brass blades. Fly anglers have been doing well on size #14-#18 beadhead nymphs & drab colored streamers.
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:
Action continues to be good along the southern shorelines of LM, especially along the western side of LM where abundant cover is available for SMB. Portage boat anglers should try along the “ditch” & off the Port of IN breakwall. An often overlooked area to fish for bass is the W Br of the Little Cal. Prior electrofishing surveys indicated good populations of LMB in that system. No action reported out of MC. Top producing lures include tube jigs that resemble gobies, crankbaits & small spinnerbaits. Shore anglers continue to catch rock bass & SMB at Hammond & EC Marina’s & at the PAS in the Port of IN on live bait offerings such as minnows & worms.
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:
No yellow perch action to report this past week in southern Lake Michigan.
Comments about body of water:
Water temp in the harbor of MC was 78 F°. As of this morning, both Trail & Salt Creeks are exhibiting lower than normal flows with clear water conditions. The E Br of the Little Cal is exhibiting average flows; however, stained water conditions persist in the lower reaches. Thunderstorms are predicted for the region over the weekend which may impact stream conditions. Water temp of Trail Cr at Friendship Gardens was 71° F. Expect similar water temps in the western tribs.
Lake Michigan
For more information about the lake please click on the lake name above.
Description:
N/A
Fish
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:
See coho report for LM. No trout/salmon action reported by shore anglers along the southern shorelines of LM. Kings have started their fall migration runs. Best time to target kings is during lowlight conditions, but don’t be discouraged because anglers can & do catch them during the daylight hours off the piers. Try casting wobbler type spoons & large crankbaits during daylight hours & glow in the dark spoons & Rattletraps during the night time hours. Electrofishing crews discovered small numbers of kings in the lower reaches of Trail Ck earlier this week. Try casting spoons, spinners, crankbaits or chunks of skein in similar areas that steelhead reside in.
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:
Big numbers of trout & salmon were caught by boat anglers this week out of MC. Action was happening in water depths ranging from 90-125 FOW which translates into a run of 8-14 miles N of the lighthouse. Top producing lures included spoons, spin doctors & fly’s & D/F combos fished anywhere from 70-90' down. Anglers launching their vessel from EC report kings caught N to NE of the gong in water depths up to 95 FOW on spoons & bodybaits.
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 90-125 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 coho report for LM. No action reported by shore anglers this week. Anglers are still catching steelhead in the middle/upper reaches of Trail Cr but in smaller numbers compared to the previous 2 weeks. Salt Cr anglers continue to report fish are scattered throughout the system. Several have been harvested in the lower reaches of the E Br of the Little Cal. Anglers have caught fish on small pieces of shrimp & small spawn bags drifted just off the bottom through the deepest holes & runs. They have also been caught on size #1/#2 spinners with silver, black or brass blades. Fly anglers have been doing well on size #14-#18 beadhead nymphs & drab colored streamers.
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:
Action continues to be good along the southern shorelines of LM, especially along the western side of LM where abundant cover is available for SMB. Portage boat anglers should try along the “ditch” & off the Port of IN breakwall. An often overlooked area to fish for bass is the W Br of the Little Cal. Prior electrofishing surveys indicated good populations of LMB in that system. No action reported out of MC. Top producing lures include tube jigs that resemble gobies, crankbaits & small spinnerbaits. Shore anglers continue to catch rock bass & SMB at Hammond & EC Marina’s & at the PAS in the Port of IN on live bait offerings such as minnows & worms.
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:
No yellow perch action to report this past week in southern Lake Michigan.
Comments about body of water:
Water temp in the harbor of MC was 78 F°. As of this morning, both Trail & Salt Creeks are exhibiting lower than normal flows with clear water conditions. The E Br of the Little Cal is exhibiting average flows; however, stained water conditions persist in the lower reaches. Thunderstorms are predicted for the region over the weekend which may impact stream conditions. Water temp of Trail Cr at Friendship Gardens was 71° F. Expect similar water temps in the western tribs.