Record St. Joe steelhead migration
Awesome spring fishing forecasted
Record numbers of steelhead trout are migrating up the St. Joseph River
through South Bend, Ind.
By Dec. 1, biologists counted 8,138 steelhead migrating through the fish
ladder. The previous highest total of fish counted during the fall run was
in 1999, when 7,970 steelhead swam through the ladder.
Bob Bell, assistant manager at Bodine State Fish Hatchery, attributes the
record run to several factors. “This year’s water levels and mild weather
have been the best we’ve had in a long time,” said Bell.
DNR fisheries biologist Neil Ledet forecasts good fishing. “Those numbers
are really great news. It means the steelhead population is doing well and
fishing for steelhead should be awesome this spring.”
“Next spring, when the thaw increases the river flow, look for steelhead to
move out of winter holding water into the faster runs. Presentations that
get down to the fish in the faster water should be productive,” said Ledet.
DNR fish hatcheries stock more than 1.1 million trout and salmon into Lake
Michigan tributaries every year. These fish grow up in Lake Michigan and
return to stocked streams to spawn.
Different trout and salmon species migrate upriver from June to April.
