The Nature Conservancy in Indiana - JWN

What You Need to Know Before You Go

The Tippecanoe Rivers does allow inboard and outboard powered boats and offers good shoreline fishing with no fees! However, all Indiana fishing regulations must be followed.

Don't Forget Your License

In order to fish in Indiana's public lakes, streams or rivers as well as its bordering waters, one must have a valid fishing license.

Indiana License Regulations
Indiana License Fees and Purchasing

Take Me Fishing

TakeMeFishing.org is a great tool on fishing, boating, family fun and conservation. Check out their information on how to be a more environmentally responsible boater and angler.

It Was THIS Big!

Think you caught the biggest fish ever? If so, you may have Indiana's Record Fish!

Download an entry form and check out the rules to see if your name will go down in Indiana history.

The Indiana writer William Herschell wrote these words after pondering the beauty of the Tippecanoe River while on a fishing trip. While many of us may not choose to put down our appreciation for this great river in verse, we Hoosiers can all realize the joys of fishing the Tippe ourselves this fall.

On the Tippecanoe River
Twisting and turning for 225 miles throughout northern Indiana, the Tippecanoe River is considered by many as one of the more beautiful waterways in the nation. Although named after the Miami Indian word for buffalo fish, it is known as the "river of lakes" as it fed by 88 natural lakes. It is also home to various kinds of fish, mussels, birds and wildlife that require its clean streams and wooded shores for survival.

Not only is the fishing good on the Tippecanoe, but so are the sights! The banks are lined with maple, pine, oak, and sycamore trees - which will soon by turning lovely shades of red, orange and yellow. The Tippe is also host to a multitude of wildlife including deer, red-headed woodpeckers and, if you're lucky, river otters. This peaceful river, with its natural beauty, certainly makes a perfect fishing spot.

What You May Find on the End of your Line
The Tippecanoe River is well-known for its cool, clear waters making is a prime fishing spot in northern Indiana. According to the DNR, there is an abundance of fish found in the river. Fishing for northern pike, channel catfish and largemouth, smallmouth and rock bass is good on the Tippecanoe. Bluegill, hybrid striped bass, and walleye can also be found swimming around.

...and Some Tips on How to Catch that Catch
According to Game & Fish Magazine, when fishing for northern pike you want to use dead bait like suckers and minnows and they suggest fishing in shallow water weed beds. Pike are also happy to target lures that will trigger their bullish nature - these fish are very protective of their territory and always searching for the next meal.

When it comes to catfishing, the magazine advises to keep it simple. Any type of bait will suffice for the channel catfish. Just make sure to cast your line with a needle-sharp hook and into the deeper waters of the river.

Bass is fun to fish for because they are always willing to put up a fight. Bass, whether it is a largemouth, smallmouth or rock, are more active in the fall when water temperatures drop into the 60's. They still prefer deep, shaded areas but no preference when it comes to bait just as long as it' moving fast.

To catch a hybrid striper, make the hook is sharp and the rod is strong enough to stand the certain tugging that will ensure.

When it comes to walleyes, look for baitfish populations in shallow waters and you are bound to find them.

If you are fishing for bluegills, they prefer shallower waters in the fall compared to the deep water habitats in the summer. Bluegills won't chase their meal, so fish slowly with a light line and tackle.

Remember...in the clear waters like the Tippecanoe, fish will feed mostly by sight so avoid using lures that rattle. Also, weather conditions and temperatures are big factors when it comes to fall fishing so keep informed. Knowing the signs of the river are important as well; check out Game & Fish's article about fishing on the river for more information.

The Indiana Outfitter's website on the Upper Tippecanoe River and the Lower Tippecanoe River is an excellent source of information on where to go for the best spots to fish, maps to public access points and live stream flow data.

Know What You're Eating and If You Should
Make sure to visit the Indiana State Department of Health's Indiana Fish Consumption Advisory before you dig in on your fresh catch. The amounts of PCB's and mercury found in the species you fish will determine whether the fish is safe for consumption, how much is safe for consumption or whether it should be consumed at all.

Why You Pay Those Taxes: Sport Fish Restoration
America's fish population has been declining for more than a hundred years now. According to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the nation has lost 20% of our fish and aquatic populations and currently 40% of the nation's native fish populations are in rapid decline. This problem was first recognized in 1871 when the U.S. Office of the Commission of Fisheries was created. The agency asked states to implement conservation efforts in order to protect the fish population but the programs - like closed seasons - could not be properly funded by state license fees alone.

The answer was the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program of 1950 which allowed an excise tax included in fishing-related purchases such as rods, reels and artificial bait. In 1984, the Wallop-Breaux amendment went in affect by extending the excise taxes to include almost all fishing tackle, taxes paid on fuel used by motorboats and fishing-related import duties. Thanks to the program, states are able to restore, conserve and enhance the nation's fish and wildlife resources and to provide anglers recreational area to fish from these resources. It is basically a "user pays, user benefits" program as all monies benefit recreational fishing and boating services.

Other acts that helped the program include: Coastal Wetlands Planning and Protection Act of 1990; the Clean Vessel Act, 1992; and Sport fishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998. For more detailed information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife offer a Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Handbook for downloading or printing. Up-to-date information concerning federal aid in sport fish restoration is available as well.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing for the Tippecanoe

The Nature Conservancy considers the Tippecanoe River as one of the top ten rivers that must be preserved. Not only is it important to the community, but the number of endangered and threatened species that live there rely on it as well. In fact, four of the twelve state-endangered fish species can be found there. All four are darters and include the blue breast darter; gilt darter; spotted darter; and the Tippecanoe darter. The river also maintains 49 of the 57 mussel species it historically had such as slippershells and salamander mussels.

Sedimentation, probably more than other types of water pollution, has contributed to a decline of fish that thrive in clear water. TNC's Tippecanoe River Project Office has worked with its partners and local communities to help keep the river healthy. Tree plantings and no-till agriculture are some of the methods used to prevent erosion and sedimentation.

The Nature Conservancy is always looking for more ways to protect and conserve our nation's rivers and other freshwater habitats while meeting the community's need for water. To learn more about what The Nature Conservancy, visit our Sustainable Waters website.

For More Information

DNR's 2001 Recreation and Fishing Guide has a plethora of information on where to go to fish and the state's fishing regulations. Their fishing webpage provides fishing reports and techniques on how to catch muskies, pike and walleye besides other useful information.

Indiana Info offers a variety of information pertaining to Indiana fishing. Tips on catfishing, panfishing and smallmouth fishing is offered.

The Weather Channel's Fishing Forecast

When's the best time to fish? Check out ESPN's table on how to determine the best times to go out.

Interested in other places to fish in Indiana? Game and Fish magazine has a great article on where to go for what you want to catch. Or visit DNR's Where to Fish in Indiana.

Making Fishing Elementary - Fishing with kids!

National Fish Habitat Action Plan - working with fisheries, anglers and aquatic leaders to improve the quantity of aquatic and riparian habitats.

More Fish Campaign - a five-year initiative launched by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to raise awareness and funding to protect, conserve and enhance the nation's fish populations and their habitat

An article from the World Resources Institute that offers the consumer links as to how what they affects the ecosystem and fishing globally.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Graphics© Elena Blando/TNC using images from DNR's Fishing Guide

"It’s on th’ good old Tippecanoe
an’ let me here declare

Earth boasts no stream ner ocean
any sweeter anywhere."