Steelhead Run Starting... Article from SB Tribune

September 01. 2006 6:59AM

With cooler water, steelhead are here
OUTDOORS

LOUIE STOUT
Tribune Correspondent

The steelhead are here, more are coming, and this weekend should be a great time to catch one.

Cooler weather and rain -- ideal components to lure big trout from Lake Michigan into the St. Joseph River -- have delivered a Labor Day weekend gift to anglers. And while less than a thousand may be swimming in South Bend/Mishawaka waters, those numbers will grow dramatically over the next few weeks.

"The ladder has been full of fish for the past two days," said river biologist Rod Edgell. "We'll open it up this afternoon (Thursday) and fish will be passing all weekend."


Bodine Hatchery fish counts, based upon underwater videotaping through Aug. 23, showed 356 fish had passed over the South Bend dam.

"I'm sure we've had quite a few more than that since then, and I fully expect a lot of fish to come through this weekend," he added. "We're even seeing a few king salmon."

Edgell said hatchery officials hope to finish up collections so that the ladders can remain open throughout most of the fall.

Prior to yesterday's haul, they needed 300 more fish. If not this week, they expect to wrap it up early next week.

So what about fishing this weekend?

"There should be quite a few fish caught," said #### Parker of Central Park Bait in Mishawaka. "The early arrivals are usually aggressive and can be caught. They get a little tougher to trick once they've been in the river for awhile."

The key, Parker said, is cooler water temps. Steelhead bite best when the water is cooling.

"Crawlers or spawn are good bets for bait fishermen, but you can catch them on bright-colored in-line spinners and hard baits like Hot N Tots," the river guide offered.

Prior to the heavy seas that disrupted Lake Michigan action yesterday, boat trollers were catching a variety of big fish in the 100-foot zone off New Buffalo, Parker added.

The cooler weather has helped other species, too. Bass fishing has picked up, with soft plastics, jigs and crankbaits catching the deeper fish while crankbaits and spinnerbaits are triggering aggressive strikes in the 4- to 8-foot depths.

Greg Smith of the Trading Post in Edwardsburg says bluegills are moving around and not staging in the typical spots. Crickets and red wigglers seem to be the best baits.

"They seem to have moved away from the weeds but are following the contour lines (changes in bottom depth)," he explained. "When you find them, you catch big ones."

The same holds true for the perch on Lake Michigan, where Smith recommends anglers drift and not anchor.

"(River) walleyes are taking jigs with crawlers and I'm hearing about good pike fishing at Diamond for anglers fishing big crankbaits," he added.

Muskies also are starting to bite on Lake Webster at North Webster, Ind., according to Larry Stover of the Tackle Box.

"Most of the fish are sub-legal but a few big ones are being caught," he noted. "Fish lures that you can control and work at a good speed in 2 to 8 feet of water, like the Grandma, Jake and Manta."

Youth hunt reminder

Young hunters are reminded that they can hunt small game this weekend for free.

Any resident age 15 years or younger on the date of the hunt, and accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age, can take squirrel, mourning dove, Canada goose and other early migratory birds in season Saturday and Sunday.

The youth does not need a hunting license, hunter education certificate, HIP number, or stamp, but must comply with all other hunting regulations. The accompanying adult must be close enough to monitor and communicate with the youth hunter at all times but may not carry a firearm or bow and arrow. The adult must possess a valid hunting license, unless exempted from needing a license.

From The South Bend Tribune.
Jim