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Skeet Reese Report
IDNR Report
Interested anglers and members of the public are invited to an open meeting April 25 in Columbia City to learn and ask questions about a largemouth bass management project planned for Tri-Lakes.
The chain of lakes is located north of Columbia City and consists of Round, Cedar and Little Cedar.
The multi-year project aims to increase the number of sizable largemouth bass in Tri-Lakes through a series of largemouth bass relocations. The system has an abundance of slow-growing bass between 8-13.5 inches and the plan calls to remove some them to another lake. Biologists believe the project will allow those bass remaining in Tri-Lakes to grow faster with less competition and create more of a balance in the fishery.
The meeting will be held at the Thorncreek Township Fire Department, 821 E 500 N. From 7-8:30 p.m. ET, DNR fisheries biologists will introduce the project, explain its goals, share data and anticipated results, and then answer questions.
“Local anglers have wanted us to improve the size of largemouth bass at Tri-Lakes for several years,” said Tyler Delauder, the district’s fisheries biologist. “We hope this project will allow us to do that.”
To learn more about the project, see wildlife.IN.gov/fishing/largemouth-bass. To learn more about the open meeting, see events.IN.gov/event/tri-lakes-open-meeting.
If you can’t attend the meeting and would like additional information, email D3Fish@dnr.IN.gov.
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IDNR Report
As a result of an investigation conducted by Indiana Conservation Officers, Ryan Jinkerson, 46, of Lowell, and Randy Kirk, 34, of Winfield, face multiple charges of and related to poaching deer.
The two Lake County men were charged with illegal taking of deer, hunting with the aid of a motorized conveyance, providing false information to a deer check station, failing to check in deer, hunting deer without a license, hunting without consent of landowner, hunting deer by the aid of bait, unlawful taking of a federally protected species, unlawfully placing surveillance cameras on private property, and hindering a conservation officer, all of which are misdemeanors.
The investigation stemmed from information provided via TIP (Turn in a Poacher), a hotline for reporting such crimes, received late last year.
Both suspects surrendered themselves after conservation officers filed charges and issued arrest warrants. Each subsequently posted $750 bond.
All suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Conservation officers remind the public that wildlife belongs to all Hoosiers. If you see illegal activity or want to report possible illegal activity, contact TIP at 1-800-TIP-IDNR (800-847-4367) or tip.IN.gov. Doing so will help conserve wildlife for future generations.
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IDNR Report
Accessibility Information Now Available
Want to enjoy Indiana’s outdoors but are concerned about what areas might present barriers?
A new one-stop feature of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website highlights work that has been purposeful in reducing challenges to allow guests to experience all that DNR properties offer.
Just go to on.IN.gov/dnr-accessibility and select the activity you would like and which properties interest you or those of your family or friends.
Once there, you’ll find maps, photos, and details about some of the destinations that feature accommodations for hunting and fishing, trail chairs, wheelchair accessible trails, paved trails, beach mats, and the like.
While this list is expansive, it is not a comprehensive list of accessible activities. If there is a property that appeals to your interests, we recommend calling the property office for more information.
“This is one of the many things we are doing to welcome all to DNR properties so they can enjoy the many benefits of Indiana’s great outdoors,” said DNR director Dan Bortner.
Make sure to bookmark the link for quick access and share it with anyone you think could benefit.
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By Louie Stout
Lake Wawasee apparently had a pretty good spawn a few years ago, according to an Indiana DNR fisheries survey there.
Biologist Tyler DeLauder said the May, 2022 survey turned up a lot of bass – in fact, a higher than normal collection for that time of year.
“Most of the fish were in the 13-inch size range but we saw quite a few 14 inchers as well,” said DeLauder. “Compared to a 2008 survey (the last time one was done on the lake), we saw a significant increase.”
The fish were surveyed with an electro-fishing boat that temporarily stuns fish in the shallows and brings them to the surface where they are netted, info gathered and released.
In addition to largemouth up to 20 inches, they also handled 17 smallmouth.
“Growth looked good, too,” the biologist added. “We didn’t get many big ones but those fish were likely deeper than our electric probes can penetrate. However, I suspect that quite a few of those fish we did get will be legal size this spring and summer.”
DeLauder said he hadn’t had a chance to analyze results gathered from information submitted by tournaments. Tournaments with 15 or more boats are required to report their catch.
“The data we get from tournaments is valuable because it gives us a different way to assess the adult population,” said DeLauder.
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IDNR Report
Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened a public comment period for proposed changes to the state’s river otter trapping rules before its members vote on their final adoption. If adopted, the changes would take effect this November, in time for river otter trapping season.
Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket by locating the “Submit Comments Here” link in the Rulemaking Docket for the River Otter Trapping Rule. Comments can also be mailed to: