Fishing in Marion County, Indiana
County seat: Indianapolis. Population 977,203 (2020 Census).
- 12lake pages
- 4DNR boat ramps
- 3river pages
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A Hoosier angler's read on Marion County
Marion County runs its government from Indianapolis and had 977,203 residents in the 2020 Census. County lakes are numbered DNR fisheries district 4 by the DNR.
12 lakes here have a guide, and Geist Reservoir covers the most ground. Count 4 boat ramps in the county on the DNR access layer. The DNR layer adds 16 piers and shore sites for fishing from shore. The stocking dashboard shows 278 stocking rows tied to county water.
Census 2020 population; Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites layer (shown on the DNR Where to Fish map; attributes as recorded, blank where not recorded), read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
A pin for each Marion County launch and lake
Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites layer (shown on the DNR Where to Fish map; attributes as recorded, blank where not recorded), read November 5, 2026. Lake points from the Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
Lakes worth a launch in Marion County
| Lake | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geist Reservoir | 1,153 acres (NHD outline area) | reservoir | 1 | bluegill, largemouth bass | |
| Eagle Creek Reservoir | 1,128 acres (NHD outline area) | reservoir | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, common carp | |
| Delaware Lake | lake | 0 | channel catfish, trout, rainbow trout | ||
| Dubarry Park Pond North | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish | ||
| Dubarry Park Pond South | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish | ||
| Duck Pond | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, hybrid sunfish | ||
| Fall Creek Park Pond | pond | 0 | smallmouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish | ||
| Krannert Lake | lake | 0 | channel catfish, catfish, bluegill | ||
| Lilly Pond | pond | 0 | catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass | ||
| Paul Ruster Park Pond | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass | ||
| Pogue's Run Art and Nature Park Pond | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass | ||
| Riverside Park Pond | pond | 0 | catfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish |
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset via IndianaMap), not a DNR survey figure. Maximum depths from DNR Status & Trends surveys with the survey year. Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites layer (shown on the DNR Where to Fish map; attributes as recorded, blank where not recorded), read November 5, 2026.
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Count the nearby lake pages (up to 50 miles from Indianapolis) by fish and largemouth bass is on top.
Species the DNR names on lakes and access sites, the DNR stocking dashboard and record list, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Listed-only lakes and pits of Marion County
1 more lakes, ponds and pits in Marion County appear only in this list for now.
| Water | Kind | Area | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan Lake | lake | 4 acres (NHD outline area) | Speedway |
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026. Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset via IndianaMap), not a DNR survey figure.
Marion County river and creek guides
- White RiverNRC Outstanding River (2013 list), 20 DNR access sites, 22 USGS gauges
- Eagle Creek (Boone and Hamilton Counties)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, 1 DNR access site, 6 USGS gauges
- Fall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties)1 DNR access site, 4 USGS gauges
Live discharge in Marion County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| White River At Southport Rd At Indianapolis, In | 631 cfs, 4.51 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
| White R. At Stout Gen. Stn. At Indianapolis, In | 526 cfs, 1.49 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:45 pm |
| White River At Indianapolis, In | 348 cfs, 2.53 ft gage height | Nov 10 6:45 pm |
| White River At Michigan Street At Indianapolis, In | 535 cfs, 7.21 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:30 pm |
| White River Near Nora, In | 308 cfs, 2.26 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
| White River At Indianapolis Museum Of Art, In | 234 cfs, 3.30 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
NHD named flowlines (mapped length in Indiana), DNR Outstanding River, put-and-take and salmonid stream lists, DNR access sites and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 5, 2026.
NWPS gauges logged near Marion County
| Gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pogues Run at Vermont Street in Indianapolis | 1.45 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Fall Creek (IN) at 16th Street in Indianapolis | 6.65 ft | 0.0762 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:15:00 UTC |
| White River (IN) at Michigan Street in Indianapolis | 7.12 ft | 0.156 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
| White River (IN) at 16th Street in Indianapolis | 6.3 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
| Pogues Run above Dam near I-70 in Eastern Marion County | 4.35 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 UTC |
Every line is one timed reading taken at build time, not a live gauge.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
Ramps and landings of Marion County
- Eagle Creek Reservoir boat rampEagle Creek Reservoir, concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, fee: Entry Fee, <10hp
- Fall Creek Parkway boat rampFall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties), concrete ramp, no fee recorded
- White River-Broad Ripple boat rampWhite River, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded
- White River-Riverside ParkWhite River, concrete ramp, no fee recorded
Pier and bank sites in Marion County
- Delaware Lake (Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park)Delaware Lake, urban fishing site
- Delaware Lake Urban Fishing SiteDelaware Lake, fishing pier, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req
- Dubarry Park Pond NorthDubarry Park Pond North, shore access, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee
- Dubarry Park Pond SouthDubarry Park Pond South, shore access, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee
- Duck Pond (Fort Harrison State ParkDuck Pond, shore access, restrooms, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req, Electric only
- Fall Creek shore accessFall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties), shore access, ADA access, no fee recorded
- Krannert Lake (Krannert Park)Krannert Lake, urban fishing site
- Krannert Lake Urban Fishing SiteKrannert Lake, fishing pier, restrooms, lights
- Lilly Lake shore accessLilly Pond, fishing pier, restrooms, lights
- Paul Ruster Park PondPaul Ruster Park Pond, shore access, ADA access, restrooms, fee: Entry Fee
- Riverside Park Pond (Riverside Park)Riverside Park Pond, urban fishing site
- White River Wapahani Trail New York Street shore accessWhite River, shore access, lights, no fee recorded
- Pogue's Run Art and Nature ParkPogue's Run Art and Nature Park Pond, shore access, no fee recorded
- Southwestway Park on White RiverWhite River, shore access, restrooms
- Town Run Trail Park on White RiverWhite River, shore access, no fee recorded
- White River Wapahani Trail Raymond Street shore accessWhite River, shore access, no fee recorded
Car-top launches in Marion County
Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites layer (shown on the DNR Where to Fish map; attributes as recorded, blank where not recorded), read November 5, 2026.
Marion County on the stocking dashboard
| Year | Month | Water | Species (as listed) | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | August | Delaware Lake | Channel Catfish | 1,000 | 10.3 |
| 2026 | August | Delaware Lake | Hybrid Sunfish | 1,500 | 7.0 |
| 2026 | March | Delaware Lake | Rainbow Trout | 602 | 10.73 |
| 2026 | Multiple | Dubarry Park Pond North | Channel Catfish | 247 | 11.81 |
| 2026 | Multiple | Dubarry Park Pond South | Channel Catfish | 422 | 10.2 |
| 2026 | Multiple | Krannert Lake | Channel Catfish | 753 | 10.66 |
| 2025 | October | Lilly Pond | Channel Catfish | 440 | 7.8 |
| 2025 | August | Delaware Lake | Channel Catfish | 923 | 10.8 |
| 2025 | August | Delaware Lake | Hybrid Sunfish | 1,500 | 7.0 |
| 2025 | March | Delaware Lake | Rainbow Trout | 702 | 9.54 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Dubarry Park Pond North | Channel Catfish | 320 | 12.69 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Dubarry Park Pond South | Channel Catfish | 320 | 12.69 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Krannert Lake | Channel Catfish | 782 | 12.26 |
| 2024 | November | Lilly Pond | Channel Catfish | 440 | 7.7 |
| 2024 | October | Delaware Lake | Black Crappie | 4,154 | 2.38 |
| 2024 | October | Delaware Lake | Bluegill | 9,000 | 1.3 |
| 2024 | October | Krannert Lake | Bluegill | 2,200 | 1.3 |
| 2024 | August | Delaware Lake | Channel Catfish | 975 | 11.2 |
| 2024 | August | Delaware Lake | Hybrid Sunfish | 1,500 | 7.0 |
| 2024 | March | Delaware Lake | Rainbow Trout | 706 | 9.02 |
| 2024 | Multiple | Dubarry Park Pond North | Channel Catfish | 320 | 11.6 |
| 2024 | Multiple | Dubarry Park Pond South | Channel Catfish | 320 | 11.6 |
| 2024 | Multiple | Krannert Lake | Channel Catfish | 782 | 11.29 |
| 2023 | October | Lilly Pond | Channel Catfish | 440 | 8.0 |
| 2023 | August | Delaware Lake | Channel Catfish | 500 | 11.9 |
| 2023 | August | Delaware Lake | Hybrid Sunfish | 1,750 | 7.0 |
| 2023 | May | Dubarry Park Pond North | Largemouth Bass | 16 | 15.3 |
| 2023 | May | Dubarry Park Pond South | Largemouth Bass | 17 | 15.3 |
| 2023 | May | Krannert Lake | Largemouth Bass | 33 | 15.3 |
| 2023 | March | Delaware Lake | Rainbow Trout | 707 | 10.5 |
Put-and-take trout listed for Marion County
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned number | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Delaware Lake | 600 | Rainbow Trout |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026; rows reach the county through the water they name. Indiana DNR 2026 trout stocking plan (updated March 20, 2026; planned targets, DNR notes actual numbers may vary), read November 5, 2026.
Keeper rules across Marion County
For Marion County, the statewide rows apply first and special water entries override them. The DNR fee table sets the yearly license at $23 for Indiana residents and $60 for everyone else.
| Species | Daily limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Redear Sunfish | 25 | no size limit |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in lakes) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in rivers and streams) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | No fish 12 to 15 inches may be kept, and no more than two fish over 15 inches may be kept |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in Lake Michigan) | 3, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Yellow Bass | Unlimited | no size limit |
| White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass | 12, any combination of white bass or hybrid striped bass | No more than two fish may exceed 17 inches |
| Striped Bass | 2 | no size limit |
| Rock Bass | 25 | no size limit |
| Crappie | 25 | no size limit |
| Walleye, Walleye-Sauger Hybrid (Saugeye), Sauger | 6, any combination of walleye, walleye-sauger hybrid, and sauger | For walleye: 14 inches south of SR 26; 16 inches north of SR 26 For sauger and saugeye: No size limit |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 1 muskellunge or 1 tiger muskellunge | 36 inches |
| Northern Pike | 3 | 24 inches; no more than one 30 inches or longer |
| Yellow Perch | Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan) | no size limit |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in rivers and streams) | Unlimited | 13 inches; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in lakes) | 10 | None; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Bullhead | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Unlimited | 25 inches (fork length) |
Rule changes by water in Marion County (3)
| Water (counties) | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Krannert Lake (Marion) | Black Bass | No minimum size limit |
| Lake Sullivan (Marion) | Black Bass | No minimum size limit |
| Ruster Lake (Marion) | Black Bass | No minimum size limit |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026. Special regulation waters as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR license fees (license year April 1 to March 31), read November 5, 2026.
The biggest Hoosier fish near Marion County
The Record Fish Program list skips Marion County; these record waters lie within 70 miles.
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Bass | 3 lb. | Sugar Creek (Hancock and Henry Counties) | Hancock County | 1969 |
| Yellow Bass | 2 lb. 15 oz. | Morse Reservoir | Hamilton County | 2000 |
| Bighead Carp | 53 lb. 8 oz. | White River | Pike County | 2000 |
| Flathead Catfish | 79 lb. 8 oz. | White River | Lawrence County | 1966 |
Indiana DNR Indiana Record Fish Program list (keeper: Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife (Indiana Record Fish Program); angler names left off here), read November 5, 2026.
Tackle and guides for Marion County
Marion County tackle counters
- Eagle Creek Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Indianapolis
- Flymasters of Indianapolisbait and tackle shop, Indianapolis
- Naptown Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Indianapolis
- The Bait Barnbait and tackle shop, Indianapolis
- Westside Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Indianapolis
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Indianapolissporting goods store, Indianapolis
- Dick's Sporting Goods Indianapolis, 6020 E 82nd Streetsporting goods store, Indianapolis
- Dick's Sporting Goods Indianapolis, 6030 West 86th Streetsporting goods store, Indianapolis
- Reeder Trausch Marine Indymarina, Indianapolis
- Riverside Marina Restaurantmarina, Indianapolis
Marion County guide listings
- Broken Nock Bowfishingfishing guide, (812) 699-9607
- Dixon Guide Servicefishing guide, (317) 908-8984
- FightNFliesfishing guide, (317) 847-9141
- Go Fishin' with Clint, LLCfishing guide, (217) 369-4042
- Humes Outdoorsfishing guide, (812) 870-8359
- Mike's Fly Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, (219) 765-3860
- Smallmouth Pursuit Guide Cofishing guide, (765) 366-7796
- Sweet Creek Smallmouthfishing guide, (765) 366-0407
- Two Forks Guide Service, LLCfishing guide, (317) 223-6590
- White River Guide Servicefishing guide, (317) 691-7388
Yellow Pages, chain store and DNR property listings; the DNR licensed fishing guide list and tourism bureau charter listings (matched by the waters they list or their county), read November 5, 2026.
Beyond Marion County
Places to stay in Marion County
- Indianapolispop. 887,642
- Lawrencepop. 49,370
- Beech Grovepop. 14,717
- Speedwaypop. 13,952
- Southportpop. 2,123
- Meridian Hillspop. 1,774
- Warren Parkpop. 1,490
- Clermontpop. 1,384
Close counties to Marion County
- Hancock County19 miles east
- Hamilton County20 miles north
- Hendricks County20 miles west
- Johnson County20 miles south
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Marion County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Hardwood shorelines around Marion County through a lens
Photo: jonnyabcde, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Philip Brewer, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Sarah Stierch, CC BY 2.0
Photo: pepplerchristine, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fishing Marion County: what people ask
How many DNR boat ramps does Marion County have?
DNR access data has 4 boat ramps, such as Eagle Creek Reservoir boat ramp.
Which Marion County lake stretches widest on the map?
Geist Reservoir, at 1,153 acres (NHD outline area).
Which species top the DNR lists around Marion County?
Largemouth bass leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, channel catfish and redear sunfish; the DNR names them on lake and access records.
Where do I find live bait inside Marion County?
The county has 10 listed, Eagle Creek Bait & Tackle among them.
Which town keeps the Marion County courthouse square?
County offices are in Indianapolis.
What license covers fishing Marion County water?
The DNR fee table sets the yearly license at $23 for Indiana residents and $60 for everyone else.
Which counties ring Marion County on the map?
The nearest county pages are Hancock County, Hamilton County and Hendricks County.
Is Marion County in a DNR fisheries district?
The DNR lake layer gives the county's own lakes the number for DNR fisheries district 4.
Which Marion County spots suit bank fishing?
The DNR layer lists 16 piers and shore sites, such as Delaware Lake (Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park).
Do any Marion County waters carry special guide rules?
The guide lists 3 special regulation waters in this county, starting with Krannert Lake; the table above shows each.
Does the DNR stock fish in Marion County?
The DNR dashboard carries 278 rows; the newest lists 1,500 Hybrid Sunfish, 7.0 in average (August 2026) in Delaware Lake.
Hitch the boat and point it at Marion County
Open a lake for its ramps and special rules.