Introducing Kids to Fishing

For the past 2 years, members of the Indiana Smallmouth Alliance have donated their time to helping kids get their first fishing experience by volunteering at the Indiana State Fair IDNR fishing pond. Members bait hooks, remove fish, repair tackle and assist in many other ways to help nearly 20,000 kids who have participated in the program since the construction of the new pond was completed back in 2006. Stocked with bluegill and catfish, the pond has become one of the premier attractions at the State Fair along with the indoor fish exhibit at the DNR Pavillion. 

Active Grant Participation

The Indiana Smallmouth Alliance has been actively working with various state and county entities to support important smallmouth habitat related grant projects. In early summer 2007 our members contributed over $1,000 in in-kind contributions to the Putnam County SWCD Big Walnut Creek Watershed Grant by documenting land use and critical habitat issues along a 15-mile stretch of the creek. We have also teamed with the Tippecanoe County SWCD by sponsoring and contributing $2,000 toward a Clean Water Indiana (CWI) marketing grant which will ultimately put into place conservation buffers on 15-25 acres of property bordering the Wildcat Creek.

At present we are party to another CWI grant currently in review by IDEM which would put critical research and habitat remediation on stretches of the Eel River in northern Indiana. This grant is being written and supported by Manchester College.

Conference Sponsorships

The Indiana Smallmouth Alliance has been very active in sponsoring various fishery related conferences around the state. We were a 'Gold' level sponsor of the 2006 Indiana Lakes Management Society conference, as well as a sponsor of both the Non-Point Source Pollution Conference and the Indiana Rivers Rally, both hosted by Hanover College. Our Board members also attended the 2006 North American Lakes Management Society's International Symposium held in Indianapolis, IN.