It’s a free fishing weekend
By Dale Bowman Post-Tribune correspondent May 31, 2012 11:06PM
Updated: May 31, 2012 11:07PM
Indiana’s free fishing weekend falls on what looks to be a pleasant weekend, which should draw families. On Saturday and Sunday, Indiana residents do not need a fishing license or a trout/salmon stamp to fish Indiana waters. So there’s no good excuse not to take a kid fishing. And there are options near and far.
The big one should be”Take a Kid Fishing’’ at Porter County Conservation Club (conservationclub.com) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday in Griffith. It’s free to the public with free food and prizes. Fishing poles and bait are available.
The Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce Kid’s Free Fishing Derby is 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday at Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center. It’s for youngsters ages 1 to 13. The first 100 receive a free cane fishing pole and bait. There’s free hot dogs and beverages. For info, call (219) 374-6157.
The Newton County Park Board holds the annual summer fishing derby from 7-11 a.m. Saturday at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area.
In-water boat show: The first Chicago In-Water Boat Show is Thursday through June 10 at the new 31st Street Harbor. It should be the glamor in-water show on the Great Lakes with 100 boats expected on water and another dozen on land, according to show manager Keith Ogulnick.
A multitude of on-water and shore seminars are scheduled to utilize the uniqueness of 31st Street, so show staff are advising early registration. “Try It Cove’’ will allow show-goers to try and learn paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and Flyboard, the latest jet-propulsion technology/nautical.
The three gaudiest boats expected are the 65-foot SkipperLiner Commander 650 luxury houseboat; the 2012 Prestige 60 Flybridge, a French luxury yacht brought by Springbrook Marina; and the 2012 Grand Entertainer Premier Pontoon, a luxury pontoon brought by Bald Knob Marina.
“We think it will be different than anything anybody has seen on the lakefront,’’ Ogulnick said.
For show info (children 15 and younger are free) and to register for seminars, go to chicagoinwaterboatshow.com.
Inland fishing: Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait Shop in Lake Station said catfish and carp are improving at Lake George, boaters are doing OK for bass. He said Potato Creek State Park continues to have good crappie reports. ... Staff at Willow Slough said the panfish slowed some, especially with Thursday’s east wind. Bank fishing remains slow. ... Property manager Ken Bisacchi said Black Oak Bayou is starting to weed up at LaSalle FWA. ... Overall, rivers are very wadeable, barring any major rains overnight. ... Staff at Country Bait in Valparaiso said bluegill were being caught “left and right,’’ but it slowed some this week. They said wigglers and b-moths are taking some redear and crappie.
Lake Michigan: Thursday’s blow will have the lake choppy, but it should be fishable for the weekend. Mik-Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet reported smallmouth bass have been the top bite on Poor Boys or PowerBait twistertails; and full moon is Monday. ... Sleziak expects the lake to settle enough to return to the 90-110 foot range with his Triplecatch Charters out of Burn’s Ditch by weekend. He caught salmon limits quickly last weekend. ... Perch reports have been spotty, at best.
Places and faces: Tim Morris, owner of Just 4 Fun Charters, will discuss Lake Michigan fishing tips and techniques at the Lake County Fish and Game (lakecountyfishandgame.org) meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the clubhouse in Griffith. ... Bisacchi said there were 15 turkeys bagged at LaSalle FWA this spring. Last year there were 14 killed. The record low was six, the record high was 20 in 2010.
