Northwest Indiana has a thriving charter fishing industry on Lake Michigan, many of which are affiliated with Indiana’s North Coast Charter Association – charterfish.org. Where do these anglers originate? An informal survey of the captains in INCCA reports that more than half of their customers are not local - “local” defined as people who live near enough to Lake Michigan to commute to the marina to meet their captain the morning of their fishing trip…
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Lake Michigan is shared by Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, with Indiana’s portion of the lake being the smallest. Members of Indiana's North Coast Charter Association know this, but are quick to point out Indiana’s portion is also the most important part for many reasons, especially for the quality and quantity of salmon, lake trout, steelhead and other species of fish available to visiting anglers. Thousands of fishermen from across the country and around the world come to Indiana’s portion of Lake Michigan to fish each year. But wait, there’s more…
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Before we leave the harbor, I point out the location of the most important safety gear on the boat. I want everyone to know where the lifejackets are stowed and even offer Type V (inflatable) flotation devices for anyone who wants one. I want everyone to know where the fire extinguishers are located…
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Lake Michigan’s South Shore Region is one of the premier fishing areas in all the Great Lakes. That’s why thousands of visitors from across the region, from across the country and even from around the world visit each year to go fishing. Many visit Northwest Indiana just to go fishing. Others come for a variety of reasons, but take the time (or make the time) to go fishing along with visiting the beaches, casinos or any of the other area attractions…
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Going fishing is many things to many people. That’s one of the allures of the sport. For some, the solitude of the game is what’s important. It’s man against the fish. The angler chooses when, where and how to fish and success is a quiet joy. For others, fishing is quality time with family. It could be father and son, brother and sister or generational, with Grandpa, parents and children involved. Catching a fish is a sidelight to just being together and enjoying the outdoors together. But occasionally, fishing can be the star of the party and become the party. It could be a corporate outing designed as a team-building event or a reward for a job well done. It could be a family reunion, involving brothers, uncles, sisters and nieces. How about bachelor parties, graduations – you name it and with a little work and planning – a summer fishing outing on Lake Michigan can be a memory maker! …
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Indiana residents kept a secret for many years. Hoosiers knew their Lake Michigan beaches ranked among the top beaches in the world, but other than local residents going to beaches along their city’s lakefront or visitors mostly from another part of Indiana traveling to the Indiana Dunes State Park, few outsiders knew of them…
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Some people don’t know there are salmon in Lake Michigan. Some people think there has always been salmon in Lake Michigan. The fact is, there are millions of salmon in Indiana’s Great Lake and they were put there by the states which share Lake Michigan’s waters. The story of how salmon native to the…
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As a lifelong fisherman, I’ve seen lakes cycle from boom to bust or bust to boom many times. Fish populations naturally go through cycles in almost all lakes for many reasons. Among these reasons is the reproductive or spawning success of native fish. A few years after a couple of good spawns, the lakes may team with catchable fish. A few years after a poor spawn, often due to weather issues, the number of fish can decline. It’s nature’s way.... It’s natural. I’ve been fishing for Lake Michigan salmon for most of my adult life and operating a charter fishing business on Lake Michigan for half my adult life. Why is it the fishing on Lake Michigan, season after season, remains consistently good? Is it unnatural…
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Photo:More than 15 thousand cranes stop in NW Indiana on their migrations north and south each year. Wild birds are an important part of almost every outdoor person’s enjoyment of the natural world. Whether a person is hiking, picnicking, fishing or just sitting on a Lake Michigan beach, birds will be encountered. For some, the bird will just be a flitting glimpse, a bit of color. For others, perhaps spotting wedge of geese or a storm of swarming gulls is a momentary diversion. Birds are just a part of the overall mix which makes an outdoor activity enjoyable…
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Photo: Shooters at Oakwood Gun Club break clay targets for fun and to hone hunting skills. It’s surprising how many hunters put down their guns at the end of the season and don’t load them again until they are uncased and ready to be carried on opening day the following year. Perhaps in the good ol’ days when rabbits, quail and pheasants were far more abundant a hunter only needed to walk far enough and shoot often enough to eventually bring home some game. Those good ol’ days must have occurred before I started hunting…
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