TOPIC:

We have set the date for the 2025 Indiana Fisheries Workshop.

Feb.15th, from 2-5 PM. Same spot as last year, the Ike's on RT.249,right across from the Portage Marina parking area.

One of the main goals of this meeting is to give anglers the opportunity to learn more about how fisheries management decisions are made. Another goal is to create a connection and open dialog between anglers and the professionals who help maintain the Great Lakes fishery we all love. Bring all the questions you have. The question and answer sessions will be an important part of this meeting.

Stay tuned for our list of guest speakers. 







 

Three years back the Great Lakes Salmon Initiative sponsored their first fisheries workshop here. In that workshop we learned that Indiana's Kings and Steelhead spend much of their time to the north. Michigan and Wisconsin fishermen get dividends from our stocking. This information was verified thru the CWT tag information that was presented by Matt Kornis. Matt is a federal biologist based in Wisconsin.

In last years workshop, we had information presented by Prof. Brian Roth on what our Lake Michigan fish are eating. Interesting to see that the diet of Coho in Lake Michigan is different then the diet of Coho in Lake Huron. Basin Coordinator Jay Wesley came down from Michigan to make presentations on forage base in a historical numbers along with a presentation on the LMC and how it functions.

This springs workshop will have a home town theme. The Indiana fishery! Why has Indiana historically been known as a Boom or Bust  fishery when we talk about our kings? This is just a teaser of Items that will be presented and discussed.
What is coming for the Portage Marina? Barb Lusco manager for the Portage Marina will present.
There will be much more, save the date you will want to make this workshop. 
 

Save the date and join us February 15th for the Great Lakes Salmon Initiative 3rd annual Indiana Fisheries Meeting. This will be held from 2PM to 5PM central time at the Miller Chapter of the Izaak Walton League at 1250 Crisman Rd. Portage Indiana. It is your opportunity to meeting with the Indiana DNR Fisheries Managers, ask your questions and provide feedback to them on the fishery on the south end of Lake Michigan.
 Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson along with other IDNR members including the Mixsawbah and Bodine hatcheries will provide updates on the latest news regarding our fishery. Captain Bill Forest, Captain John Warren, Captain Mike Schoonveld will share their knowledge and can help you out a few more fish in your box. There will be updates on Indiana’s Net Pen program and marina information.
Carter Elenz (Salmon Hawk) will share some historical information on how it started here in Indiana.We will also provide updates on the GLSI’s activities and our trip on a DNR forage trawl survey last year.
We will be providing pizza, and you can bring or buy drinks from the Izaak Walton League Miller Chapter.
We hope to see you there!
If you’re coming from Michigan, you can make a day of it and stop at Hoosier Coho Club Swap meeting going on that morning at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds from 9am to 1PM to find deals on tackle and equipment.                                       

Save the date and join us February 15th for the Great Lakes Salmon Initiative 3rd annual Indiana Fisheries Meeting. This will be held from 2PM to 5PM at the Miller Chapter of the Izaak Walton League at1250 Crisman Rd. Portage Indiana. It is your opportunity to meeting with the Indiana DNR Fisheries Managers, ask your questions and provide feedback to them on the fishery on the south end of Lake Michigan.

Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson along with other IDNR members including the Mixsawbah and Bodine hatcheries will provide updates on the latest news regarding our fishery. Captain Bill Forest, Captain John Warren, Captain Mike Schoonveld will share their knowledge and can help you out a few more fish in your box. There will be updates on Indiana’s Net Pen program and marina information. Carter Elenz will share some information on how Salmon stocking started in Indiana. We will also provide updates on the GLSI’s activities and our trip on a DNR forage trawl survey last year

We will be providing pizza, and you can bring or buy drinks from the Izaak Walton Clubhouse.

If you’re coming from Michigan, you can make a day of it and stop at Hoosier Coho Club Swap meeting going on that morning at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds from 9am to 1PM to find deals on tackle and equipment.  One of the main reasons we do this is to bring anglers and the IDNR together to learn what they are doing to maximize our fishery and also share your thoughts and ideas directly with them.  We hope to see you there!
 

Lickety-Split wrote:

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Save the date and join us February 15th for the Great Lakes Salmon Initiative 3rd annual Indiana Fisheries Meeting. This will be held from 2PM to 5PM at the Miller Chapter of the Izaak Walton League at1250 Crisman Rd. Portage Indiana. It is your opportunity to meeting with the Indiana DNR Fisheries Managers, ask your questions and provide feedback to them on the fishery on the south end of Lake Michigan.

Lake Michigan Biologist Ben Dickinson along with other IDNR members including the Mixsawbah and Bodine hatcheries will provide updates on the latest news regarding our fishery. Captain Bill Forest, Captain John Warren, Captain Mike Schoonveld will share their knowledge and can help you out a few more fish in your box. There will be updates on Indiana’s Net Pen program and marina information. Carter Elenz will share some information on how Salmon stocking started in Indiana. We will also provide updates on the GLSI’s activities and our trip on a DNR forage trawl survey last year

We will be providing pizza, and you can bring or buy drinks from the Izaak Walton Clubhouse.

If you’re coming from Michigan, you can make a day of it and stop at Hoosier Coho Club Swap meeting going on that morning at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds from 9am to 1PM to find deals on tackle and equipment.  One of the main reasons we do this is to bring anglers and the IDNR together to learn what they are doing to maximize our fishery and also share your thoughts and ideas directly with them.  We hope to see you there!

 

I hope everyone can make the workshop on Saturday afternoon. We have a very full agenda and will be starting at 2pm. Drinks can be purchased at the Ike's bar. Pizza will be on the GLSI. Come and hear the latest and greatest news on what is happening with the fishery. Meet our 2 cold water hatchery managers. Hear about the updates and what is new for the Portage Marina.
We have 3 of our top Charter Captains speaking about the fishery, Ben Dickinson  and asst. Josh Neary will take us deeper into the Indiana fishery. There will be more,,,, see you Saturday!

Great meeting. A thanks goes out to Ed (Lickety Split) Erdelac - and sidekick Donna for facilitating this meeting. There was good attendance - especially by the gray haired contingent of the South Enders. There were some of the younger set and I'm sure they learned a lot from Carter Elenz's presentation of 60 years of change in the Lake Michigan fish populations. Good to see many of my old friends, introducing myself to some new friends. Sorry, Bryan, (LWL) I didn't notice you and your crew over by the windows until I was leaving. I would have liked to formally meet you and compliment you for your entertaining videos and other posts.  Anyway, Great Meeting. A good lead into the countdown weeks until opening days!  

Good to hear, it is usually a great meeting. What did they say about the Alewife spawn of 2024?

2024 spawn was average-ish - probably get a better handle on it next year, if it was average or slightly below average. Not much was seen on Michigan's coast or south end. Most YOY alewife were seen in northern wisconsin. When they only find a pile of alewife in a couple locations, it makes the confidence lower in estimating how strong it was. Rather than finding similar amounts everywhere, for example.

Over the last 3 years doing these meetings a couple of items get highlighted. Our fishing community is strong. As I looked at the fishing community that came to this workshop, I thought wow, if our task today was to write a book on how to fish the Indiana portion of Lake Michigan that group was right there.

Many of us with decades of time and experience. Another item that gets highlighted is many wanting and looking for more information on what is happening on the Lake. Doing these workshop meetings on a annual basis allows for a method to share information. Sometimes that information is already a little old having to wait a year to hear it. Is there a way to be more involved? For some that question has been answered. At the end of this workshop I mentioned the ability to create a team.

Here is what I have proposed: SouthEnd Stakeholders
Purpose: To create a team, between the Indiana Fisheries Representatives, the Lake Michigan Fisheries Representatives, and the Indiana Lake Michigan Stakeholders. To increase the teams knowledge of the Lake Michigan fishery. Team will meet 2-3 times a year at a central location. A quarterly news letter sent to team members with information linking team members to fisheries representatives. Examples: Updates on our hatcheries, Updates from Ben, Updates from Michigan, etc. There is a lot of information that could be shared to keep this team updated on a regular basis.  Are you interested in becoming a team member? Many have said yes. PM me here, or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. leave me your name, email information, and a good phone# That you could be reached at.

Ed Erdelac