Thousands of chinook salmon take plunge in East Chicago

"After discussion with our angling groups," said Michelle Cain, wildlife information specialist with the state DNR, "both the DNR and angling groups believe stocking in East Chicago marina will offer boat anglers more and easier opportunities to target these fish when they return to spawn as adults, and possibly offer better survival of the young fish at the time of stocking."

Both Warren and Cain also noted this could provide more opportunity for shore fishermen to catch the mature fish when they return. Cain said the East Chicago Marina area has access for shore anglers that Buffington Harbor doesn't currently provide.

"We are kind of fortunate this year," Warren said.

A similar number of chinook salmon fingerlings were released into the East Branch of the Little Calumet River and along Trail Creek, for a total of about 200,00 fingerlings.

It is likely these numbers won't be as high in the future. Warren said because of officials' concerns about a decline in bait fish, the number of the chinook salmon has been reduced dramatically from what it was a few years ago.

Ben Dickinson, assistant Lake Michigan Fisheries biologist, said of concern over the amount of bait fish in the lake, "it is likely that chinook salmon reductions will happen in the future in order to bring predator and prey back in balance."

Dickinson said these reductions possibly could occur as early as next year, although no formal decision has been made. He indicated a lot of factors need to be considered and data reviewed first.

He said the decision on stocking quotas are made cooperatively with agencies in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.