From big water to farm ponds, Indiana has great fishing year-round. Hoosier anglers have many choices of where to fish these days: huge reservoirs, tiny farm ponds, sprawling natural lakes and mighty rivers. Each hold fish populations as diverse as the habitat where they live.
Where is the best fishing in Indiana?
- Patoka Lake – Patoka Lake. Paul/Flickr.
- Lake Monroe – Bloomington. Elizabeth Nicodemus/Flickr.
- Summit Lake State Park – New Castle.
- Geist Reservoir – Indianapolis.
- Lake Maxinkuckee – Culver.
- Lake Shafer – Monticello.
- Potato Creek State Park – North Liberty.
Does Indiana have good fishing?
For those who don’t live there, Indiana might not come to mind as a fishing destination, but there is actually great fishing to be found year-round. Stripers, walleye, northern pike, coho salmon, steelhead trout, muskies, crappie, and largemouth bass are just a few of the popular target species.
What is the best fish to catch in Indiana?
- Largemouth bass. The largemouth bass is the undisputed king of all fish in the state.
- Smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass are not as plentiful and widely distributed as their largemouth bass cousins.
- Crappie.
- Walleye.
- Striped bass.
- Hybrid bass.
- Musky.
- Northern pike.
Where is the best walleye fishing in Indiana?
- Bass Lake (Starke County)
- Big Turkey (Steuben and LaGrange counties)
- Brookville Lake (Franklin and Union counties)
- Cagles Mill Lake (Putnam and Owen counties)
- Clear Lake (Steuben County)
- Crooked Lake (Steuben County)
- Kokomo Reservoir (Howard County)
- Lake Freeman (White and Carroll counties)
What is the cleanest lake in Indiana?
There’s a tiny town in Indiana that is more water than land as it is home to the clearest lake in the state. Appropriately named Clear Lake, Indiana, this community of about 340 people is a secret oasis few know about.
How many fishing rods can you use in Indiana?
You may not fish with more than three poles or hand lines at a time. Each line may have no more than three single- or multi-pronged hooks, three artificial lures, or a combination of hooks and artificial lures.
Can I eat fish from a lake?
Fish are an important part of a healthy diet. They are a lean, low-calorie source of protein. Some sport fish caught in the nation’s lakes, rivers, oceans, and estuaries, however, may contain chemicals that could pose health risks if these fish are eaten in large amounts.
What is the best bait for walleye?
Live bait can be highly successful for walleye, which usually involves still fishing, drifting, or trolling the bait. A bottom-bouncing rig or slip sinker is effective for drawing the walleye’s attention in clear water. The best choices of live bait include leeches, minnows, and nightcrawlers.
Where is the best crappie fishing in Indiana?
- Hardy Lake.
- Starve Hollow Lake.
- Monroe Lake.
- Thousand Islands Pit.
- West Boggs Lake.
- Dogwood Lake.
- Loon and Otter pits.
- Hovey Lake.
What is the prettiest lake in Indiana?
- Patoka Lake. Known as: The second-largest reservoir in Indiana; the “Jewel of Southern Indiana”
- Clear Lake. Known as: The clearest lake in Indiana.
- Barbee Lake. Known as: A chain of seven interconnecting lakes.
- Tippecanoe Lake.
- Lake Wawasee.
- Lake James.
- Lake Michigan.
- Brookville Lake.
Where is the clearest water in Indiana?
- The Tippecanoe River. Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr.
- Patoka Lake. Patoka Lake/Facebook.
- Lake James. Brian Wolfe/Flikcr.
- Lake Monroe. nessie grace/flickr.
- Lake Michigan. Tom Gill/Flickr.
- Hidden Paradise Quarry. Jason Irwin/Youtube.
- Morse Beach.
- Deam Lake.
Where is the largest lake in Indiana?
Lake Wawasee, formerly Turkey Lake, is a natural lake southeast of Syracuse in Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States. It is the largest natural lake wholly contained within Indiana. It is located just east of Indiana State Road 13.
Is it illegal to catch fish with your hands in Indiana?
It’s also illegal to catch fish in Indiana using your bare hands, a firearm or an electric current.
Is night fishing legal in Indiana?
Is it legal to use a light to attract minnows at night to fish for crappie? Yes, use of lights is allowed. There are no restrictions on fishing hours. Some lakes do have restrictions on boat speeds during certain hours.
Is it legal to use goldfish as bait in Indiana?
Wild fish may be used as live bait as long as the fish was caught legally and meets any size, catch, or possession limits established for that species. Goldfish may be used as live bait. Carp cannot be used as live bait at any location.
What fish is not edible?
Are you aware that four fish have been designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( USDA ) and Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) to be unsafe to eat due to their typically high levels of mercury? Making the “do not eat” list are King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish and Tilefish.
Is bluegill healthy to eat?
Bluegill is a type of sunfish, which is nutritious and delicious to catch and eat. In general, three ounces of bluegill is 97 calories. This type of fish is high in protein, and low in carbohydrates and cholesterol. While you’d want to benefit from fish oils when eating a fresh catch, Bluegills are actually quite lean.
What are the healthiest fish?
- Salmon. Salmon is versatile and one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acid, which is essential as the body cannot make it on its own so it must be obtained through food.
- Mackerel.
- Cod.
- Trout.
- Sardines.
- Crab.
- Haddock.
- Tuna.
What is the record crappie in Indiana?
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, there is no designation for state records between white and black crappie. The sole record sits at an astounding 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and was caught on a private pond by Willis Halcomb in 1994.
What is the record for bluegill?
The current all-tackle bluegill record is held by T. Hudson, who caught a 4-pound 12-ounce fish on April 9, 1950 in Alabama’s Ketona Lakes. No other details about the catch are recorded by the IGFA, but subsequent stories say the fish was 15 inches long and had an incredible 18.25-inch girth.
Is there buffalo fish in Indiana?
There are three species of buffalo in Indiana: Smallmouth Buffalo (pictured), Bigmouth Buffalo and Clack Buffalo. Carp, suckers and buffalo are found in rivers, streams and reservoirs across Indiana.
Can you fish in Indiana without a license?
A fishing license is required if you are planning to fish in public lakes, streams, rivers or boundary waters in the State. If you are planning to fish for trout or salmon in Indiana, there are special license regulations that you need to follow, including the purchase of a trout/salmon stamp.
Who is exempt from fishing license in Indiana?
Exemptions: Landowners or lessees of farmland who farm that land and are residents of Indiana are not required to obtain a permit while hunting, fishing, or trapping on the land they own or lease. A license is also NOT required for the landowner’s or lessee’s spouse or children living with them.
Is there a limit on bluegill in Indiana?
The most common bag limit is 25 bluegills, which Indiana implemented statewide in 1961.