This page was last updated on JUN 12 2012 03:45 P.M.
Lake MichiganFor 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: Spoons, bodybaits
Depth: Up to 130 FOW
Comments about fish:
EC boat anglers continue to report good salmon action near the IN, IL & MI state borders. D/F combos fished anywhere from 33-55' down have been producing nice sized cohos for this time of year. Kings & an occasional steelhead have been caught on magnum sized spoons fished only slightly deeper. MC & Portage boat anglers are reporting success for salmon in water depths ranging from 90-130 FOW N of their respective ports. Again, D/F combos have been catching cohos while spoons & bodybaits have been putting kings in the box.
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: Dodger/fly combos & spoons
Depth: Up to 130 FOW
Comments about fish:
See chinook salmon report.
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: Up to 150 FOW
Comments about fish:
Lake trout have been quite plentiful in southern LM this year. As far as location, lakers have been caught in the same general areas as kings & cohos. Try trolling spoons within a few feet of the bottom.
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: Pier: Shrimp, N/C, spoons Tribs: Spawn sacs, shrimp, spinners
Depth: Deeper holes & runs
Comments about fish:
Over the past week, MC shore anglers report hit or miss action for steelhead off the Lighthouse Pier. Several were caught inside the harbor at the PAS next to the IDNR office building. Successful anglers stated that shrimp or N/C fished under a bobber proved effective. Other baits & lures used in the past with good success include spawn, live alewifes, wobbler type spoons & crankbaits. No steelhead action to report in NW IN's tribs to LM this week; however, steelhead are clearing the sea lamprey barrier on Trail Cr. Water temp in Trail Creek at Trail Creek Forks PAS was 61°F as of this morning.
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: Jigs, crankbaits, live bait (minnows, N/C)
Depth: Up to 20 FOW
Comments about fish:
SMB anglers continue to report very good action along the southern shorelines of LM. Boat anglers should concentrate their efforts along rocky rip rap that is prevalent along the outside of the Port of Indiana breakwall as well as from the city of Gary W to Hammond. With water temps in the lower 60’s, bass are preparing to spawn. As far as lures, anglers have had good success with crankbaits, small spinnerbaits & tube jigs that resemble gobies. If you like to use live bait, one cannot beat a lively minnow under a bobber. Shore anglers also report action for smallmouths & rock bass at the Port of Indiana PAS, Portage Lakefront Park & the fishing platforms at the EC & Hammond Marinas.
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 38 FOW
Comments about fish:
MC boat anglers reported small catches of YP out-front of the condos & the Mt. Baldy/Blacks Ditch area in water depths up to 39 FOW. Portage boat anglers reported action at the mouth of the “ditchâ€, along the west arm at the Port of Indiana & around the doughnut in water depths to 43 FOW. Minnows were the top producing bait.
Comments about body of water:
First steelhead collected from the Sea Lamprey Fish Trap Bob Bell, Asst. Property Manager at Bodine SFH, with the first Skamania steelhead collected from the Sea Lamprey Barrier on Trail Creek.
