By Jack Spaulding

 Indiana’s Fish of the Year program grew again in 2021, with anglers submitting a record 117 entries from 59 different individuals. The total marks the fifth consecutive year with a record number of entries. The number of species entered into the contest grew as well, with a record of 54. Four species made their first appearance on the Fish of the Year list. The newcomers were brindled madtom, burbot, common shiner and mooneye. Common catches missing from the list were brown, rainbow and lake trout as well as Chinook salmon and striped bass.

Paul Reschke took top honors for the longest fish with his 54-inch muskie from Lake Webster. Reschke caught the giant through the ice on a tip-up, measured her, and immediately released her back into the depths. Ron Anderson caught the smallest winner of 2021 with his 4-inch brindled madtom, a small member of the catfish family. Anderson won a total of five awards this year, tying with fellow river angler Liu He. Surprisingly, the mark was not enough to claim the most – Joe Johnson garnered six awards caught from the Ohio and Wabash rivers.

The Wabash was the go-to location for big fish in 2021, yielding eight winning entries. Four winners each came from the Tippecanoe River, Kankakee River and East Fork of the White River. Rivers and streams were anglers’ favorite spots, accounting for 35 of the 56 awards.

Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide 

The 2022-2023 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide is now available to view online. Individuals will be able to find free hard copies at DNR properties and retailers by the end of February. Highlights of the new guide include the 2022 Free Fishing Days, 2021 Fish of the Year winners, State Record Fish updates, articles on fishing and its mental health benefits, and tips for cooking bluegill.

Ice fishing basics: tips and tactics for bluegill

While many different fish can be caught while ice fishing, targeting bluegill will provide the most consistent ice angling success.

Start fishing at locations where you successfully caught bluegill in the fall. Along the edge of plant beds or near a drop-off are good locations to find roaming fish. Drilling multiple holes ahead of time in likely locations will give you a good start.

Use a small ice fishing jig baited with a single bee moth (or wax worm). Since most fish during the winter are oriented toward the bottom of a body of water, drop the jig to the bottom and raise it a few inches. Twitch the rod tip 1 to 2 inches to attract the fish. Pauses often trigger the bite.

Start fishing each hole for 10 to15 minutes. Stay if you’re catching fish, but move to catch the most active fish at each location. Try different types of habitat when searching for active fish.

Bluegill will often bite throughout the day, but action slows near dark. If you are keeping your catch, put the fish in a bucket with a water/snow mixture to keep them from freezing. The fish will be easier to fillet when you get home.

Input On deer management

On Jan. 31, you may have received an email inviting your participation in the 2022 Deer Management Survey. The survey collects input from individuals (both hunters and non-hunting individuals) interested in Indiana’s deer management. DNR uses the results to set the annual antlerless quota, understand opinions on current deer management topics, and to identify new topics needing to be addressed or studied. The results from the annual Deer Management Survey are posted online. Help be a part in responsible deer herd management in Indiana by taking this year’s survey. If you did not receive a survey and would like to receive an invitation, email DeerSurvey@dnr.IN.gov.

Shedding light on deer season

Many outdoor enthusiasts take a break from the woods after the end of deer season. But for others, late winter presents a great opportunity to scout for next season or hunt for deer treasure. You can do both through shed hunting.

During winter, bucks lose their antlers – once an antler falls off, it’s called a “shed.” Finding sheds can teach you where bucks are spending their time during the late season and can often reveal their core area. As an added bonus, the sheds may be collected and displayed as decorations, or they may be used in arts and craft projects.

To increase your chance of finding sheds, focus on areas where deer tend to congregate. Search common late-season food sources like red oak groves, stands of young trees deer like to browse, and the edges of crop fields. Bedding areas, typically areas with dense, brushy vegetation or fields with tall grass are also great spots. Walking along trails between the locations can also yield sheds. Have some fun shed hunting this winter and you’ll be better prepared for deer season in the fall.

Years ago, I had a fantastic Beagle named Dulce. She had a great talent besides running rabbits… she would find and retrieve antler sheds. She always seemed so proud to bring me one!

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication, or e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net. Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.