Fishing in Indiana

Indiana · Fishing

Fishing in Indiana

Indiana has 263 fishing spots indexed on Roamze, and the variety is wider than most people expect. The bulk of the action happens on lakes — from small community impoundments like Dollar Lake near Columbia City and Coyote Lake near Birdseye

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Fishing · 200 spots

Featured spots

Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber SRA)reservoir

Lake fishing

Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber SRA)

Reelsville, Indiana

largemouth bass, crappie

Stocked
Celina Lakelake

Lake fishing

Celina Lake

Huntington, Indiana

largemouth bass, bluegill

Stocked
Geist Reservoirreservoir

Lake fishing

Geist Reservoir

Indianapolis, Indiana

largemouth bass, crappie

Stocked
Hardy Lakereservoir

Lake fishing

Hardy Lake

Commiskey, Indiana

largemouth bass, crappie

Stocked
Mississinewa Lakereservoir

Lake fishing

Mississinewa Lake

Wabash, Indiana

walleye, muskellunge

Stocked

All spots · 200 of 266 spots

Airline

Lake fishing

Airline

Linton, Indiana

Amazon Lake

Lake fishing

Amazon Lake

Spencer, Indiana

Axel Lake

Lake fishing

Axel Lake

Rome City, Indiana

Banning Lake

Lake fishing

Banning Lake

Leesburg, Indiana

Bass Lake

Lake fishing

Bass Lake

Sullivan, Indiana

Bass Lake

Lake fishing

Bass Lake

Albion, Indiana

Bear Lake

Lake fishing

Bear Lake

Albion, Indiana

Beigh Lake

Lake fishing

Beigh Lake

Claypool, Indiana

Bell Lake

Lake fishing

Bell Lake

Nineveh, Indiana

Big Barbee Lake

Lake fishing

Big Barbee Lake

Pierceton, Indiana

Big Long Lake

Lake fishing

Big Long Lake

Gravel Beach, Indiana

Boner Lake

Lake fishing

Boner Lake

Syracuse, Indiana

Boner Lake

Lake fishing

Boner Lake

Syracuse, Indiana

Bongi borrow pit

Lake fishing

Bongi borrow pit

Gary, Indiana

Boot Lake

Lake fishing

Boot Lake

Elkhart, Indiana

Boot Lake

Lake fishing

Boot Lake

Elkhart, Indiana

Bowen Lake

Lake fishing

Bowen Lake

Albion, Indiana

Brazils Lake

Lake fishing

Brazils Lake

Georgetown, Indiana

Brokesha Lake

Lake fishing

Brokesha Lake

Middlebury, Indiana

Brookhaven Addition Lake

Lake fishing

Brookhaven Addition Lake

Marion, Indiana

Brookville Lake

Lake fishing

Brookville Lake

Connersville, Indiana

Brown Lake

Lake fishing

Brown Lake

Columbia City, Indiana

Buck Lake

Lake fishing

Buck Lake

Angola, Indiana

Burnside Pit

Lake fishing

Burnside Pit

Shelbyville, Indiana

Indiana has 263 fishing spots indexed on Roamze, and the variety is wider than most people expect. The bulk of the action happens on lakes — from small community impoundments like Dollar Lake near Columbia City and Coyote Lake near Birdseye to larger reservoirs like Summit Lake Reservoir near Mooreland and Brookville Lake, which also offers tailwater fishing below the dam at spots like Tailwater Shelter 2. The northern part of the state leans heavily on glacial lakes: Diamond Lake near Ligonier, Twin Lakes near South Bend, Lake Eliza near Hebron, and Case Lake near Wolcottville are all within a reasonable drive of each other and tend to hold largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. Central and southern Indiana fills in with spots like Scales Lake near Boonville, Rockville Lake near Rockville, and the White River Oxbow near Indianapolis, which fishes differently from a standard reservoir and rewards anglers who know how to read slower, connected water. Indiana does not have a long list of designated wild trout or gold medal waters, so warmwater species — bass, catfish, crappie, and panfish — are the realistic target for most trips. Licensing is handled through the Indiana DNR, and non-residents will need to pick that up before they hit the water.

Frequently asked questions

What species can I realistically target at Indiana's lakes and reservoirs?

Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish are the most consistent targets across Indiana's lake fisheries, including spots like Scales Lake, Diamond Lake, and Summit Lake Reservoir. Larger impoundments like Brookville Lake also hold white bass and saugeye. Tailwater areas below dams, such as Tailwater Shelter 2 at Brookville Lake, can produce different species than the main lake, so it's worth checking DNR stocking and survey reports for the specific water you're targeting.

When is the best time of year to fish in Indiana?

Late April through June is the most productive window for bass and panfish, as water temperatures rise and fish move shallow to spawn. Crappie fishing on lakes like Twin Lakes near South Bend and Banning Lake near Leesburg tends to peak in May when fish stack up near structure. Fall — September through October — is a strong second season for bass and catfish before water temps drop. Ice fishing is viable on northern Indiana lakes like Indian Lake near Corunna and Lake Eliza near Hebron in a typical winter, though ice conditions vary year to year.

Do I need a fishing license, and where do I get one?

Yes, anyone 18 or older needs a valid Indiana fishing license. Residents and non-residents can purchase licenses through the Indiana DNR's online portal, at license agents around the state, or at many sporting goods retailers. Make sure you have it on your person while fishing — digital copies on your phone are accepted.

What gear setup makes sense for most of these lakes?

A medium-action spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles the majority of situations you'll encounter on Indiana lakes, from pitching soft plastics for bass to bobber fishing for crappie and bluegill. For catfish on larger waters like Brookville Lake or Scales Lake near Boonville, a heavier medium-heavy rod with 15- to 20-pound monofilament and cut bait or chicken liver is the standard approach. If you're fishing the White River Oxbow near Indianapolis, weedless rigs are worth having since oxbow water tends to carry more vegetation and debris than open reservoirs.

Are these fishing spots accessible without a boat?

Many of Indiana's smaller lakes — including Shadyside Lake near Anderson, Massey Lake near Oakland City, and Schori Lake near Plymouth — have bank fishing access and are manageable on foot. Larger reservoirs like Brookville Lake are much better fished from a boat, though designated bank access points like the tailwater shelter areas exist. Check the Indiana DNR's public fishing areas map before you go, since parking and access points vary significantly from one lake to the next.

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