OCTOBER
Trail Creek
Chinook Salmon
By the beginning of October, most of the mature chinook salmon have left Lake Michigan and are in the creeks, preparing to spawn. Trail Creek in Michigan City receives an excellent run of fall kings, and bank-fishermen at Washington Park have the first crack at them. Rain and a strong current flow encourage the fish to swim upstream faster, so in the matter of a few days the fish may be well upstream.

It is still possible to catch these spawning fish, though. Anglers who take advantage of the territorial nature of these salmon can make good catches.

When the salmon first enter the creek, they are aggressive and energetic. They are much easier to persuade to hit an artificial lure than later in the run, so be sure to hit the creek early. After they have been in the creek for a while, they settle down and concentrate on spawning. Males battle for females and for the best spawning riffles. During this time, feeding completely ceases.

It is still possible to catch these spawning fish, though. Anglers who take advantage of the territorial nature of these salmon can make good catches. Bright-colored spinners and crankbaits are effective for provoking strikes from otherwise reluctant fish, and glow-in-the-dark spoons and crankbaits are especially productive during low-light conditions.

Chinook salmon die after spawning, so don’t be surprised to see plenty of dead salmon along the stream banks. The dead fish don’t go to waste, though. Mammals like raccoons, minks and opossums feed on them. The rotting fish also return valuable nutrients to the creek, which helps sustain the entire aquatic community.

NOVEMBER
Webster Lake
Muskies
Webster Lake in Kosciusko County has been touted as the best muskie lake in the Midwest for many years, and the fishing continues to get better every year. This 585-acre lake is home to a fantastic population of trophy-sized muskies, and a strong catch-and-release ethic is keeping it that way. For a real chance at a 50-inch muskie, Webster is the place to go.

The main lake has some good deep-water basins that are surrounded by shallow, weedy flats. This is where many muskie hunters will concentrate their efforts. Whether you troll along these deep edges or cast with diving plugs, you will always have a good chance of contacting a quality fish.

Some muskie fishermen stick with over-sized bucktail spinners, while others switch between bucktails, large stick baits and magnum crankbaits. Large soft-plastic lures have also become popular. Be sure to use a quality steel leader -- these fish have razor-sharp teeth!

DECEMBER
Brookville Lake
Striped Bass
Brookville Lake in southeastern Indiana’s Union and Franklin counties is one of the few good places to pursue striped bass in Hoosierland. This large reservoir (5,260 acres) is characterized by deep water, flooded timber and a definite lack of aquatic vegetation. It is also known for excellent fishing!

Striped bass (or stripers) will spend plenty of time chasing giant schools of gizzard shad on Brookville. If fishermen can locate those feeding areas, they will latch onto some tackle-busting fish. Trolling is a good way to cover a large amount of territory when searching for stripers.

During the cold-weather months, the stripers tend to suspend over deep water. Look for spots that are close to a dropoff. The fish won’t be in the middle of a shallow flat, but they might be in the deep water adjacent to the dropoff at the edge of the flat.

Stripers will hit a variety of lures, but locals like to use crankbaits, jigging spoons, bucktail jigs and jig/minnow combinations. Anything that resembles a shad is a good choice. Since Brookville’s gizzard shad average 4 to 8 inches in length, don’t be afraid to try magnum-sized lures. These bass won’t have any trouble inhaling them!

Find more about Indiana fishing and hunting at: IndianaGameandFish.com/”