One lake that is known for great autumn bluegill fishing is Lake James in Steuben County. This 1,038-acre natural lake is located on the shores of Pokagon State Park north of Angola, and it is home to some hand-sized bluegills. Fall bluegills feed heavily in preparation for winter, and one of the best baits to use for them is a simple bee moth suspended beneath a small float.

Neil Ledet is the District 2 fisheries biologist for the DNR, and he recommends Lake James as a great place to pursue 'gills when the weather starts to turn cold. "It is one of the best fall bluegill fisheries in this corner of the state," he reports. "Try fishing in Sowles Bay and near the old Docksiders on the west shore."

NOVEMBER
Patoka Lake Crappies
Patoka Lake in southern Indiana is a crappie fisherman's dream. There are 8,800 acres of flooded timber, shallow creek arms, extensive weedbeds, rocky shorelines and deep creek channels to explore. Since it is nestled within the borders of the Hoosier National Forest, there is a feeling of solitude and isolation there. Located almost due south of the town of French Lick, Patoka Lake is also within easy reach of most Hoosiers.

According to Dan Carnahan, the DNR's District 7 fisheries biologist, Patoka Lake's crappie population is doing very well.

"We did a crappie survey in 2009 at Patoka," he said. "The data was very good. The catches of 10-inch and larger crappies were just about the best I've ever seen here. Crappies larger than 10 inches comprised 10 percent of the sample, and crappies larger than 12 inches accounted for 4 percent. Crappie fishing should be good this year!"

One fisherman who monitors Patoka's crappies is Tim Gibson from nearby Paoli. Tim is a local fishing guide who specializes in catching big crappies.

"November is a great time to fish for crappies in relatively shallow water," he said. "Fish brushpiles, logs and submerged treetops in 5 to 8 feet of water."

For more information, visit the Web site for the Patoka Lake area at www.patokalakeindiana.com. It lists information on local lodging, dining, activities and more.

DECEMBER
St. Joseph River Steelhead
The St. Joseph River near Mishawaka is a steelhead-fishing hotspot, and December is a great month to try it. Summer-run Skamania-strain steelhead have been in the river since July, and winter-run Michigan-strain fish are arriving now, too. The Skamanias typically average 6 to 10 pounds, but fish in the 10- to 15-pound range are not unusual. Winter-run fish tend to be a little smaller.

There are plenty of good places to fish on the river, but one of the most popular is the stretch of river just below and downstream of the Twin Branch Dam. There is good public access and room for lots of anglers. There are also many underwater snags in that area, so be prepared to lose some lures and terminal tackle.

Steelhead can be finicky at times, but they will actually hit a wide variety of lures. Inline spinners, crankbaits and tiny flies are all good. Popular colors include orange, red, pink and silver with a splash of orange or red. Good natural baits include wax worms, night crawlers, minnows, salmon eggs and sardines (canned sardines tied into small spawn bags).

For current fishing reports or river conditions, call Parker's Central Park Bait shop at (574) 255-7703.