Trout, salmon, muskies and panfish are keeping anglers satisfied during the wet, windy weather.

Despite low numbers of trout and salmon that have entered the St. Joseph River this fall, the catches have been pretty good throughout the system.

Dick Parker of Central Park Bait in Mishawaka says a fair number of steelhead and salmon are being taken by anglers. Similar reports are coming out of Niles and Berrien Springs.

However, the steelhead run remains disappointing; less than 900 have been recorded passing the South Bend ladder, well below average. Salmon are helping the cause, as nearly 200 kings and 175 coho are roaming between South Bend to the Twin Branch dam.

“There’s still some fish moving up,” said Parker. “Nobody is talking about fishing beds yet, but then a lot the traditional bedding areas have been out of water because of the drought. The river comes up at night but goes back down during the day.”

Spawn, inline spinners, crankbaits and shrimp have accounted for most of the fish, he added.

“The fish are healthy but aren’t running very big,” he said. “Steelhead are averaging 6 to 8 pounds, kings 10 to 16 and coho 2 to 8 pounds.”

Brian Williams of Trailhead Mercantile said some Michigan steelhead have moved upriver, too. Fishing has been good in Niles at Pucker Street.

“I think the salmon run is about done but there are quite a few fish being caught,” he noted. “There are still a few fresh ones, but a lot of the salmon are turning dark.”

On the inland lake scene, big bluegills are being taken deep on several southern Michigan lakes, according to Greg Smith at the Trading Post in Edwardsburg.

“The fish are schooling deep, with the little ones holding in the upper part of the water while the big ones are down in the ‘pig trough’,” he joked. “The best success is 4 to 6 feet off the bottom in just about all of the lakes. Red wigglers have been the best producing bait.”

Perch are finally starting to appear in the catch, too. Smith said good ones are being caught in Diamond, Cory, Big Pleasant, although they’re still hanging deep on Michigan lakes.

“The guys with good electronics are seeing them on their graphs as balls near the bottom,” he offered. “They’re drifting through the area with livebait and picking them up.”

John Durham of the Tackle Box in North Webster, Ind. also said perch fishing has been good on Lake Wawasee in 6 to 7 feet of water.

Muskie fishing also has improved on Kosciusko County lakes, according to Durham.

“We’re hearing of quite a few 49- and 50-inch muskies being caught,” said Durham. “Most of the fish are coming 15 feet or shallower.”

Suckers and cowgirls (spinners) have been best baits. Black and silver and Christmas tree colors are best in lures.

Durham added that bass fishing has been pretty good on the flats for anglers fishing worms and Flukes, especially at Wawasee.