If you take some time and look around our website you'll see that N.E.I.T.A. has only one goal, and that is to improve trout fishing opportunities in Northeastern Indiana. That is the charter we were formed on in 1944 and have strived to accomplish since then. 

 

N.E.I.T.A. has been stocking the Pigeon River near Mongo for 60+ years. For quite some time in the 1960s we also stocked lakes. We are back in the lake stocking business since 2000.

 Oliver Lake has been stocked with Brown Trout annually since 2000, with the exception of 2006. There was an emergency Federal order then that prohibited inter state transfer of fish because of the threat of a disease called VHS. All fish we stock are certified disease free, and fulfill all permitting requirements of The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. 

 We expanded our lake stocking efforts to include CLEAR LAKE in 2005. Clear was again stocked in the Spring of 2007 with over $2000 worth of Brown Trout. We did not reach our goal of $2000 in 2008, but did manage to stock over $900 worth of Brown Trout 9-11" long in Clear. 

 As you are well aware, Clear is an exceptional lake, and perhaps the best Trout lake in Indiana.

The IDNR agrees, and fully endorses our stocking program of Brown Trout, especially since they presently only stock Rainbows. They also feel that the food base and water quality are excellent in Oliver and Clear Lakes. The addition of another "sought after" game fish to the waters of Clear and Oliver is a value added benefit to property owners. 

The majority of our club members are river fishers, and our club is only 130 members strong. Most of our funds raised from our annual raffle, go towards stocking the Pigeon River. However because we have been able to find resident donors to help support the Oliver Lake stocking program, we've been able to continue an annual stocking of Oliver. Last year through our small but dedicated number of members and supporters we collected and spent $6000 stocking Brown Trout in the public waters of Northeastern Indiana. We want to emphasize that all stocking is done with the approval of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources,  and meets all their guidelines. In addition all fish we stock have passed all required health inspections.  

The resident Oliver Lake donors have successfully raised $2000 annually to support that program. We are still looking for more donors for that program as fish costs continue to mount every year. If we want to continue to stock the same number of fish annually, then we need to raise more money. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division recently passed a new regulation that makes the Oliver Lake Chain a TROPHY fishery for Brown Trout. A Brown must be 18" long to be kept, if caught in that chain of lakes. 

 Our goal is to try and find that same resident donor base at Clear Lake. The past two stockings have been supported in large by a few residents of Clear, along with donations from some of our members that fish lakes. Our first stocking in 2005 had over $1000 worth of fish. Because we were not allowed to stock in 2006 our funds accumulated, and in 2007 we put just over $2000 worth of 9 to 11" Browns in Clear Lake.

 Our goal is to have a minimum of $2000 for each of the three stocking sites, Clear, Oliver and The Pigeon River. Our planned stocking date is early April 2009. We like to stock in the early spring as the waters are still cool and the fish acclimate better. 

The Browns we've stocked are growing well as shown in this photo of a 10# 3oz monster caught in 2008 from Clear Lake. This is no doubt a fish from the original stocking in 2005. That year along with the 9-11"ers,  a number of fish up to 4# were also planted. 

 

Obviously time is of the essence with April just around the corner.

We will be more than happy to accept any size donation for any of our projects.

Any donation you send should specify whether you want it to go to CLEAR, or OLIVER LAKE or THE PIGEON RIVER.

If you'd like to join our group we'd be more than happy to include you as a member, there's a link and a form to fill out on this site. 

Checks should be made out to N.E.I.T.A. and be mailed to N.E.I.T.A. at P.O. Box 10664, Ft Wayne, In 46853.

 

 Thanks for taking the time to read this,

The Board of Directors of N.E.I.T.A.