Resources

The reference material and tools the South End runs on — the original fish ID charts and lake ecosystem poster, plus a working reel-fill calculator, rebuilt clean for a phone.

Depth & presentation

Dipsy & mag dipsy charts

Depth by setting and line-out is specific to each diver model, line diameter, and boat speed — Off Shore Tackle and your diver's manual carry the exact published numbers. Worth a laminated copy on the boat.

Leadcore & copper

Feet-down per color and per 100 ft of copper at typical trolling speed — Off Shore Tackle's charts are the standard the fleet trolls off.

Reel fill calculator

Backing plus main line to fill any spool to the lip. Live tool below — no more guessing yardage at the counter.

Reference charts (original South End artwork)

Preferred water temperature ranges by species

Preferred temps by species

Optimal / tolerable range for Chinook, coho, steelhead, brown, lake trout, walleye, and both bass — match your target to the thermocline.

Trout and salmon species identification chart

Trout & salmon ID

Brown vs. brook vs. rainbow (steelhead), and the Great Lakes salmon & lake trout — spotting patterns, mouth color, tail shape.

Coho vs. Chinook, fast

Gum color is the tell from across the cooler — black gums on both, but coho's are lighter and the mouth interior is white.

Hatchery versus wild salmon adipose fin comparison

Hatchery vs. wild

Clipped adipose fin (top) means hatchery-raised; intact (bottom) is a wild fish — matters for harvest rules on some species.

The lake

Ecosystems of the Indiana Coastal Region — Lake Michigan food web, species, and bathymetry poster

Ecosystems of Lake Michigan (Indiana coast)

Food web, native vs. invasive species timeline, and basin bathymetry off the Indiana shore. Poster credit: Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Coastal Program, NOAA, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.

Reference

Fishing regulations

Current limits and seasons, straight from each state's DNR.

Indiana DNR — Fishing Illinois DNR — Fishing Michigan DNR — Fishing

Fish log (PDF)

The original South End printable trip log — download it, fill it in, keep your own record.

Download fish log →

Buoy & weather

Live water temp, wind, and wave height off Michigan City.

NOAA buoy 45026 (Michigan City) GLERL Great Lakes conditions

Reel fill calculator

Enter your reel's rated capacity from the spec sheet, then how much main line you want on top — it works out the backing.

Rated capacity

— at test / diameter

Main line wanted

Main line type

Backing needed

— yds

Total on spool

— yds

Math: line volume on a spool scales with diameter², so capacity at a new diameter = rated capacity × (rated diameter ÷ new diameter)². Backing fills whatever room is left under your main line. Leave a few wraps of slack — don't fill dead to the lip.

Planning a trip? MittenRun is a Lake Michigan salmon & trout trolling decision-support tool — conditions, pattern suggestions, and trip planning built by a South End regular.

Visit MittenRun →