Indiana Fishing Report – March 4, 2022

North

Lake Michigan (boat)

Most ports, harbors, and nearshore areas are ice-free, but with cold nights and shifting wind directions, conditions can change quickly. Early reports are that the best action is at Gary Light, with a few coho and browns caught by boats slowly trolling or casting in Michigan City Harbor or in Burns Ditch near the discharges. Main-lake temperatures are still in the low-to-mid 30s

Lake Michigan (shore)

Almost all shore areas were accessible to anglers, although the piers adjacent to the lake still had some ice from wave action and below-freezing nights. Action has generally been slow, although some anglers are catching a couple cohos and brown trout on little cleos, shrimp, and spawn

Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek)

There are steelhead in all the tributaries. Anglers have reported success on spawn sacks, beads, and spinners.

St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam)

The river is still in the high 30s for temperature. Steelhead movement is typically limited until the water warms to 40 degrees or more. About 75 steelhead went through the South Bend Fish Ladder in February. A few walleye have been caught below dams on jig/minnow or jerkbaits worked extremely slowly

All inland lakes

Ice fishing is rapidly coming to a close, with warm temperatures eroding shorelines and reducing ice strength and thickness

Central

All waterbodies

Ice fishing has come to a close, and many reservoirs are full after snowmelt/rain. Spring fishing is just around the corner! With warm weather the crappie will be available from shore in reservoirs and tailwaters, and ponds will be great spots for bass and panfish.