TOPIC:

Was up in Mich City for a couple days, nosed around some of the old places on trail I used to fish just looking around, didn't even fish. Stopped at the lamprey barrier and was really stunned by the numbers I saw posted on the board...year to date a grand total of 26 chinook have been passed, and the counting started on august 11, with 10 of those passed between august 11 and august 16.
I know that's just what was trapped in the barrier, and I believe it said it's just recently been opened to allow unfettered passing, but that sure is a low number. I know the numbers suck with the decline in stocking. Also, I'm to keep in mind the number that successfully jump that ridiculous steel/concrete structure. While we were there, we witnessed several chinook leaps, but none made it. Just continue and throw yourself into the steel and hope you make it before you beat yourself to death.
Saw many futile coho attempts as well. Over the period of an hour, we saw one fish leap successfully...and countless failures.
Just my rant, and my opinion, but I view that thing as a catastrophe. I fished that creek for 25+ years and I can never remember ever seeing a lamprey in it.
On a brighter note, we stopped up at the county park upstream of johnson road. Someone has been very busy there trying to revitalize the stream in that area. Some beautiful work has been done to try to open up more gravel for our fish, and to stabilize the banks in that area. Really and amazing effort, and some nice gravel areas there now, but no fish on them, or even a sign of activity.
Met the gentleman I believe was behind this effort, I believe a professor at valparaiso. Talked to him for a bit and thanked him for his efforts. Every natural we can get can only help

The barrier stuff has been beat to death and I'm not going to rehash any of the old stuff, but just post some context:

The barrier has been on free passage since late August.

Since that time, there have been FOUR trapping events during the salmon run in September and October. During a very, very long dry spell, to boot.

On chinook stocking:
The chinook stocking reductions from 200K to 60K for Indiana took place THIS SPRING in Indiana, and Trail Creek received 63K, which is basically the same quota and long-term average it has had this entire decade. Little Cal did not receive chinooks this spring. Going forward with the first significant chinook reduction Indiana has taken in a long time, our entire quota (60K) will be stocked in Trail Creek and the Little Cal in alternating years. Next year is Little Cal's year.

It will be another 2-3 years (the time it takes for them to mature and return to Trail Creek in fall) before you can accurately blame bad fishing in Indiana tribs during the fall on the stocking cuts. For now, you'll have to settle for some other explanation.


The restoration work at Creek Ridge County Park is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the park manager, Jeremy Sobecki, who was a DNR property manager down south before taking a job up here to be closer to family. Valpo, DNR, IDEM, GLRI, and LaPorte Cty Parks have all been involved in one way or another for several projects there in the last coupla years. He's been a great partner and asset to area anglers. He's a big hunter and fisherman himself.

Thank You for the insite and please keep up the good work your group puts in.