Lake Michigan fishing heating up

Every year I launch my boat in Lake Michigan in early March, and every year I go home without fish. It’s always too early.

By the end of March, however, the big lake is a different place. Deep fish are swimming shallow and winter ice flows are usually melted away.

“If I had to pick one week to hit the lake for spring fishing action, I’d choose the first week of April,” said Ed McCain, fishing guru from Mik Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet in Hammond.

Mik Lurch has been the definitive source for information on Indiana Lake Michigan fishing conditions as long as anyone can remember. But despite their unequaled
expertise on all matters regarding the big lake, some
sportsmen are happily surprised they are still in business.

Cabela’s opened one of their mega-stores last year in Hammond, almost
on Mik Lurch’s doorsteps. But for all that Cabela’s has to offer, they
can never replace the inside information and reliable daily updates the
guys at Mik Lurch provide.

Information like the following is critical, and the kind of stuff only available from the guys at Mik Lurch.

“As of March 18, this year there were still big ice flows bobbing around the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan,” McCain reported.

That means fishermen need to avoid the lake this week on days when the north wind blows. North winds blow the flows into Indiana’s shore, making it perilous to fish. In fact, unless anglers have a big boat or a death wish, it’s a good idea to avoid north winds all year long.

A 15-mile-per-hour north wind on the big lake can mean four-foot-waves and rollers. That’s too much for most small boats to navigate and definitely not worth risking for a couple silver fish.

The good news is that the fish are in, according to McCain. The best is yet to come, but on days when the wind is right, it’s now possible to put a couple spring fish in the box from shallow water.

As usual, the best fishing is in places where the water is warmest. The hot water outlet in the Port of Indiana is off limits to boaters, but there is still limited shore access. A better bet for boaters is an area known as “Gary Light.” There is a small light at the end of a rock breakwater marking the spot.

The spot is a good bet because of its heavy, industrial runoff flow of water into the lake. It sits just east of Pastrick Marina in East Chicago. Pastrick has limited parking, but offers the shortest run to Gary Light if the weather is bad.

I’ve made the run from the Portage Marina, but only on days when waves are less than three feet. Portage is a nicer marina, as has the new advantage of being right next to the new Bass Pro shop. Also, more parking is available at Portage than East Chicago.

While cohos and brown trout are being caught at all of the Indiana marinas right now, it is important to remember the general migration the cohos make in the spring. They always arrive at East Chicago first and slowly work their way east. That means Michigan City is one of the last Indiana marinas to report good numbers of spring cohos every year.

Regardless of where they are right now, it‘s important to fish them properly.

“Make sure you troll slow this week,” McCain said. “Blue and fire tiger jointed shad raps are our favorite lures right now.”

He added that most of the browns this week have been bigger than normal, and that the cohos have run two distinct sizes.

“Every fish we seem to catch this year is either a 1-year-old, 12-inch fish or a 2-year-old, 18-inch fish. But that‘s likely to change,” he said.

Heavy rains this week across southern Michigan and Wisconsin should do some real damage to the remaining ice flows on Lake Michigan. Rain also warms the lake, making more fish push into Indiana’s shallow water.

If the wind is right, this should be one of the best weekends of the year to catch spring cohos, brown trout and the occasional steelhead.