Post by sam on Sept 21, 2010 15:07:09 GMT -5
This page was last updated on SEP 21 2010 01:11 P.M.
St. Joseph River
stjoe@dnr.in.gov
Description:
The St. Joe River and its tributaries drain approximately 2,600 square miles in southwestern Michigan and 1,685 square miles in northern Indiana. Located primarily in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, the river is home to thirty-six species of fish, as of a 1989 DNR survey.Angling opportunities are available for a number of sport fish including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, rock bass, walleye and bluegill. The lower 13 miles of the river from the state line upstream to the Twin Branch Dam also provides steelhead and salmon fishing.
Fish
Chinook salmon or king salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The chinook or king salmon teeth are set in dark gums, with black spots on the back and both lobes of the square caudal fin. The chinook or king salmon has 15-17 anal fin rays and averages 30 pounds though some can reach over 100 pounds.
Bait: spinners
Depth: main river channels
Comments about fish:
As of September 12, a total of 8 chinook salmon have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder.
Coho salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The teeth of the coho salmon are set in light color gums. The coho salmon has black spots on the upper lobe of a slightly forked caudal fin with 12-15 anal fin rays.
Bait: spinners
Depth: main river channels
Comments about fish:
As of September 12, a total of 9 coho have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder.
Rainbow or steelhead trout
Description:
Ever popular among Indiana anglers is the trout family, which includes the brown, lake and rainbow or steelhead trout. Many fisherman can be spotted on the shores during spawning season when the trout begin their runs into the tributaries. Rainbow or steelhead trout have a white mouth, teeth and gums and small black spots on their backs, sides, and caudal and dorsal fins. The caudal fin margin of the rainbow or steelhead trout is square and the fish has 9-12 anal fin rays.
Bait: spinners
Depth: main river channels
Comments about fish:
As of September 12, a total of 211 steelhead have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. State fish hatchery personel are collecting steelhead broodstock at South Bend and the ladders are closed Monday-Friday. A total of 336 steelhead have been collected and transported back to Bodine State Fish Hatchery. The ladders are open on weekends to pass fish above South Bend. Steelhead broodstock collections will end on September 30.
Comments about body of water:
Warm river temperatures have impacted the summer steelhead run and very few fish moved into the river. The fall trout and salmon migration has also gotten off to a slow start due to the warm river temperatures. River temperature is 68 degrees. The St. Joe River fishing website will now be updated daily until the run ends in late November. For additional trout and salmon fishing information contact our fishing hotline at 574-257-TIPS (8477).
St. Joseph River
stjoe@dnr.in.gov
Description:
The St. Joe River and its tributaries drain approximately 2,600 square miles in southwestern Michigan and 1,685 square miles in northern Indiana. Located primarily in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, the river is home to thirty-six species of fish, as of a 1989 DNR survey.Angling opportunities are available for a number of sport fish including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, rock bass, walleye and bluegill. The lower 13 miles of the river from the state line upstream to the Twin Branch Dam also provides steelhead and salmon fishing.
Fish
Chinook salmon or king salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The chinook or king salmon teeth are set in dark gums, with black spots on the back and both lobes of the square caudal fin. The chinook or king salmon has 15-17 anal fin rays and averages 30 pounds though some can reach over 100 pounds.
Bait: spinners
Depth: main river channels
Comments about fish:
As of September 12, a total of 8 chinook salmon have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder.
Coho salmon
Description:
Members of the pacific salmon family, the chinook or king salmon and the coho salmon can be found in Lake Michigan and its tributaries in northern Indiana. Pacific salmons do not feed during spawning, but will strike a lure during their runs. Cohos will spawn in the fall in their third year of life and die, while chinooks will spawn in the fall, winter or spring in the fifth year of life, allowing them to grow larger. The teeth of the coho salmon are set in light color gums. The coho salmon has black spots on the upper lobe of a slightly forked caudal fin with 12-15 anal fin rays.
Bait: spinners
Depth: main river channels
Comments about fish:
As of September 12, a total of 9 coho have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder.
Rainbow or steelhead trout
Description:
Ever popular among Indiana anglers is the trout family, which includes the brown, lake and rainbow or steelhead trout. Many fisherman can be spotted on the shores during spawning season when the trout begin their runs into the tributaries. Rainbow or steelhead trout have a white mouth, teeth and gums and small black spots on their backs, sides, and caudal and dorsal fins. The caudal fin margin of the rainbow or steelhead trout is square and the fish has 9-12 anal fin rays.
Bait: spinners
Depth: main river channels
Comments about fish:
As of September 12, a total of 211 steelhead have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. State fish hatchery personel are collecting steelhead broodstock at South Bend and the ladders are closed Monday-Friday. A total of 336 steelhead have been collected and transported back to Bodine State Fish Hatchery. The ladders are open on weekends to pass fish above South Bend. Steelhead broodstock collections will end on September 30.
Comments about body of water:
Warm river temperatures have impacted the summer steelhead run and very few fish moved into the river. The fall trout and salmon migration has also gotten off to a slow start due to the warm river temperatures. River temperature is 68 degrees. The St. Joe River fishing website will now be updated daily until the run ends in late November. For additional trout and salmon fishing information contact our fishing hotline at 574-257-TIPS (8477).