Post by sam on Oct 1, 2010 10:35:45 GMT -5
This page was last updated on OCT 01 2010 10:16 A.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
Brown 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. The brown trout has a white mouth, teeth and gums and some orange or red spots on its sides. This trout also has some spots enriched with light blue and a caudal fin margin that is square with no spots on the upper or lower lobe.
Bait: NA
Depth: Na
Comments about fish:
As of September 30, 1 brown trout has been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. Brown trout are rare in Indiana's stretch of the St.Joe River with only a few fish passing South Bend each fall.
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 30, a total of 23 chinook salmon have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. The salmon spawn should begin in mid to late October.
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 30, a total of 85 coho have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. The coho spawn usually follows the chinook spawn in late October to early November.
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 30, a total of 302 steelhead have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. State fish hatchery personel have completed steelhead broodstock collections. A total of 431 steelhead have been collected and transported back to Bodine State Fish Hatchery. The ladders are open to pass fish above South Bend.
Comments about body of water:
A total of 411 salmonids have been counted moving past South Bend as of September 30. River water levels are low. River temperature is 64 degrees. The St. Joe River fishing website will now be updated weekly 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
Brown 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. The brown trout has a white mouth, teeth and gums and some orange or red spots on its sides. This trout also has some spots enriched with light blue and a caudal fin margin that is square with no spots on the upper or lower lobe.
Bait: NA
Depth: Na
Comments about fish:
As of September 30, 1 brown trout has been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. Brown trout are rare in Indiana's stretch of the St.Joe River with only a few fish passing South Bend each fall.
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 30, a total of 23 chinook salmon have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. The salmon spawn should begin in mid to late October.
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 30, a total of 85 coho have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. The coho spawn usually follows the chinook spawn in late October to early November.
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 30, a total of 302 steelhead have been counted moving past the South Bend Fish Ladder. State fish hatchery personel have completed steelhead broodstock collections. A total of 431 steelhead have been collected and transported back to Bodine State Fish Hatchery. The ladders are open to pass fish above South Bend.
Comments about body of water:
A total of 411 salmonids have been counted moving past South Bend as of September 30. River water levels are low. River temperature is 64 degrees. The St. Joe River fishing website will now be updated weekly until the run ends in late November. For additional trout and salmon fishing information contact our fishing hotline at 574-257-TIPS (8477).