Here is your chance to directly help in fisheries management. The information you provide is essential in understanding this valuable species and helps the Department of Natural Resources monitor harvest and catch data.
Division of Fish & Wildlife staff collect reports as time permits. During winter months, angler effort is lower, and fewer fishing reports are received, so the reports may be updated less frequently than during other seasons. Additionally, with changing weather conditions and delays between receiving past reports and the public reading them online, ice reports may be unreliable
| Waterbody | Fishing Reports | Date |
|---|---|---|
| JC Murphey (Willow Slough) | After the recent renovation, anglers reported catching some 6-7 inch panfish this winter. Fish are growing fast and are thick bodied. Anglers are mostly reporting catching 6-8 inch bluegill, with some nearing 9 inches already. An abundance of smaller bass in the 8-12 inch range, along with some 12-16 inch channel catfish are also available. Some larger fish are available after being held in salvage ponds during the renovation, and released back into the lake after it filled up. | 8/6/2026 |
| St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam) | Smallmouth bass are a good bet, using crankbaits, jerkbaits, ned rigs, and topwater during low light periods. Look for fast current near woody debris/logjams and depth changes. A variety of fish are being caught near the dams on live bait. Look to lower current areas with wood or weeds for panfish. The water is still in the mid-70s as of Sept 10th, which is delaying any significant numbers of trout and salmon coming up river. | 9/10/2026 |
| Lake Michigan (boat) | Perch fishing was very good last week before some cold water came in near Michigan City on Labor Day. Once conditions stabilize they may turn back on again. Colder water did bring some mature salmon in, and anglers trolling near stocking locations caught a few kings on spoons, meat rigs, and J-plugs. The Michigan City buoy is deployed for the season, and can be viewed at https://data.freeboard.tech/station/45170/. | 9/9/2026 |
| Lake Michigan (shore) | Some colder water nearshore Portage and Michigan City brought in some salmon, with anglers catching a few coho and kings. There are some kings in East Chicago harbor, but warmer surface water is slowing the bite in the harbors, as soon as surface temps cool down the action should improve. Fish during low light or at night with glow spoons or rattling deep diving crankbaits, or skein under a bobber. | 9/9/2026 |
| Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) | Streams are running low, and are Little Calumet/Salt Creek are marginal in temperature for trout and salmon. Cold water nearshore in Michigan City, along with mid-60's temps in Trail Creek, got a modest push of coho and a few kings to come in this week. Covering water with spinners, or downsizing and fishing good holding areas with skein, small shrimp or spawn bags is another good tactic. Please respect fellow anglers, private property, and please do not litter! For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables. | 9/11/2026 |
| Northwest Indiana Lakes | Look for bass in thick cover, under shaded docks, and on outside weedlines. Panfish are on deep weedlines or suspended near thermoclines over open water. Slip bobbers, slow trolling over weed edges dropshot with jig/curly tail, or dropshot with a redworm are great tactics for panfish this time of year. | 9/11/2026 |
| Northeast Indiana lakes | Look for panfish suspended over open water, or on deep weedlines. Dropshotting with a redworm is a great technique for bluegill on deep weedlines. | 8/21/2026 |
| Lake Monroe | Anglers targeting crappie and largemouth bass are doing well around Lake Monroe. Look for crappie suspended on brush piles and tree stumps. Largemouth bass have been caught in shallow water up and around Salt Creek. Anglers are also catching the occasional quality channel catfish and Hybrid Striped Bass. | 9/2/2026 |
| East Fork White River | Water levels came up substantially in August as the floodwaters made their way south, peaking at over 20 feet on August 20th near the city of Bedford, Indiana. Over the last week, water levels in the White River have fallen quickly, currently sitting at around 8 feet and continuing to drop. Exercise caution while traveling to and on the river as the recent flooding may have damaged roads and shorelines and moved debris around. | 9/3/2026 |
