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 high winds hurt the coho action earlier this week. Anglers reported the best action near East Chicago in 20-30 feet, and some boats went offshore to 200 feet and caught quick limits in clean water. A few early kings are showing up as bonus fish for people coho fishing, Along with some very nice brown trout. Try running a few larger spoons in the bottom third of the water column to target browns and kings, you will still get coho on them. Dodgers are starting to catch coho as the water warms. The perch bite has started to fall off significantly as they start spawning. | 4/12/2024 |
| Lake Michigan (shore) | High winds and rain limited effort. A few coho have been caught, along with a few brown trout. Warm weather will probably finish off the coho shore season by next week. Bass and carp are starting to bite in protected areas. Be advised that due to heavy construction at the Port of Indiana, the shore fishing site there will be closed through summer 2024. | 4/12/2024 |
| Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) | Some fresh steelhead are still comign in, with the perfect amount of rain this week. Spawn, beads, and flies have all taken steelhead. With warm weather forecast this week, get out and take advantage of the last few fresh fish trickling in. Suckers are running when water temps get near 50. For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables | 4/12/2024 |
| St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam) | To date, 6,332 steelhead have gone through the South Bend Fish Ladder, with 902 in the first 11 days of April. This week should have good action as the water levels are up but not chocolate milk, and warming quickly. Try plugs, beads, spawn bags, and spinners near gravel areas. Some bass have been caught in deeper slower water on jerkbaits and football jigs. Monitor the river temp and flow at the closest USGS gauge in Niles, MI using the links below the report table | 4/11/2024 |
| 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 | 4/11/2024 |
| 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 | 4/11/2024 |
| Patoka Lake | Walleye are spawning near rip rap, and pre-spawn bass fishing is in full swing | 3/22/2024 |
| Brookville Lake | Walleye fishing is excellent as the spawn is about to commence | 3/28/2024 |
| Lake Wawasee | Perch are moving up to weedy flats to spawn. Cover water until you find where they are staging. Small plastics or minnows are good choices this time of year | 3/22/2024 |
| 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 |