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Public meetings in La Porte And East Chicago with DNR on Lake Michigan stocking changes

Posted on: January 17th, 2020 by Ric Federighi


Anglers and other interested parties can participate in two DNR public meetings, Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, to discuss the interim Lake Michigan fish stocking plan and provide input on future stocking plans. Announced in October 2019, changes to the current plan included stocking more yearling coho salmon, fewer fall fingerling coho salmon, reductions in Skamania steelhead stocked in the Little Calumet River, and increases in Chinook salmon stocked. The first meeting will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at Red Mill County Park, 0185 South Holmesville Road in LaPorte. The second meeting will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Indiana Harbor Yacht Club, in East Chicago. (Learn about Lake Michigan fishing at wildlife.IN.gov/3625.htm.)

Some good questions to ponder in advance of the meeting:

With Indiana's chinook increase to 225,000 and doing 3 ports of 75,000... is that the best use of those fish? Would it be better to split these fish between 2 sites instead? Or 1? Rotate between sites? If so, rotating between how many? Backing up a step, do people support increasing to 225,000 in the first place? How do we balance geographical diversity of chinook fisheries with creating a strong fall fishery? Are 3 below-average fisheries better than 1 decent one? If so, how do we choose where to create that fishery?

As of now the plan is to discontinue stocking skamania in the Little Calumet system, due to extremely low summer stream fishing effort there, and the very warm temperatures in Burns Ditch during summertime. Water temps have been getting hotter and there's no reason at this point to assume that trend is going to reverse itself. But, that was a very tough decision to make as skamania are Indiana's flagship fish and they are very popular. And when the fishing is good at the nearshore and harbor mouth, it can be really good (usually because of that warm water causing the fish to stage outside the Ditch). Those discontinued skamania stockings are slated to be replaced by more yearling coho in the Little Cal - hopefully more than doubling the coho return, and coupled with the chinook increase, hopefully revive the fall salmon fishery. Is this reasonable? Or would people prefer to roll the dice on skamania, at the cost of improving the fall coho run? Or do folks have any other ideas, such as more winter run steelhead? We could also reduce some chinooks to keep some fall fingerling skamania in the Little Cal system, but they don't have great survival.

Those are questions that I ponder all the time. I'm sure you folks have some of your own - hoping to have some really productive discussions at the meeting

So there it is fellas. Ben has laid it out there pretty good. Much to consider. Many of us have been asking questions and holding discussion on many different items associated with our fishery.
Please take time to make one of these meeting. This is a first,,,,,,,, having meetings based around stocking.
Have a question, here is your opportunity All questions are good ones.
Thanks Ben for opening up yourself to the fishing community and taking time for these meetings. I know how busy this time of year is for you..

Thanks Ben for making yourself available to those of us looking for answers going forward. I have questions and concerns and would like to be a part of the solution if there is one.

Public meetings in La Porte And East Chicago with DNR on Lake Michigan stocking changes

Posted on: January 17th, 2020 by Ric Federighi


Anglers and other interested parties can participate in two DNR public meetings, Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, to discuss the interim Lake Michigan fish stocking plan and provide input on future stocking plans. Announced in October 2019, changes to the current plan included stocking more yearling coho salmon, fewer fall fingerling coho salmon, reductions in Skamania steelhead stocked in the Little Calumet River, and increases in Chinook salmon stocked. The first meeting will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at Red Mill County Park, 0185 South Holmesville Road in LaPorte. The second meeting will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Indiana Harbor Yacht Club, in East Chicago. (Learn about Lake Michigan fishing at wildlife.IN.gov/3625.htm.)
One week away,,,,,,,, please schedule time for one of these meetings. Bring a friend. Even out newest fishermen should come to these meetings. Have some questions write them down and ask. Don't like to talk to a crowd ? No problem hear for yourself what is going on and what possible adjustments may be made.

IN addition to these two public meetings, the DNR will be at with the Hoosier Coho Club on Feb 8th.