TOPIC:

Anyone have any info on lake trout on the South end? I really want to get out and catch a few this fall but not sure when they start. Any info would be helpful. 

As soon as the lake clears up from the blow over the past few days you should be in business

Port of Indiana breakwall, Michigan City Breakwall/harbor, near structure over by East Chicago/Indiana Shoals , New Buffalo Reef, mouth of the Galien River

After the water falls into the low 50s in mid to late October they come nearshore (or by reefs, but since we don't have many of those on the south end, near breakwalls) to spawn

Jig blade baits, jigging spoons, white tubes.  Or troll near the bottom. Spoons or dodger/spin and glow type stuff.  Casting spinners and spoons in the harbors works too

I used 3/4 oz. blade baits to pull a few out by the Cal park breakwall before. Same size i used on Erie for walleye, about 2 in. long.  This year i picked up a 4 oz monster blade to try..... don't know if they'll hit it at 4 inches long but I know it should make plenty racket down there. Hopefully it works as an attractant. 

Assuming you fished the Port of Indiana break wall before but if you havent about 30 yards off the break wall you can see there is another that you can't see that comes up to about 20' deep. If you are trolling be aware because a downrigger ball lodged in doesnt end well. However, lakers hang all over it so work checking out.

Where is the best bet to find them in the morning?

 

I don't think they move around much. Back when I had an outboard, I'd fish them on my days off in the morning and often on afternoons when I worked the early shift. Always in the same area around the rocks or just off them around the Port of Indiana - early morning, midday, no big difference. 

You guys think the lakers are still around? Cal park breakwater? Port of Indiana reef? Thinking of trying something this weekend as long as I don’t run into an ice issue. 

On Monday, there was solid ice as far as the eye can see from EC. South winds may have blown it out by now. A couple years ago, the lakers were thick right outside the mouth of the ditch the end of December. They seem to move off the top of the reef at Portage later in the year in my experience. 

New Buffalo and St Joe river both frozen solid. No way to get to the lake . Not sure that you can get out right now.

Portage Marina and the ditch is wide-open