Fishing in Porter County, Indiana
County seat: Valparaiso. Population 173,215 (2020 Census).
- 7lake pages
- 4DNR boat ramps
- 9river pages
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Porter County for the angler, in short
At the 2020 count Porter County had 173,215 residents, with county offices in Valparaiso. Lakes inside the county show DNR fisheries district 1 in DNR data. From Porter County, Lake Michigan fishing starts at 6 harbors and 7 big-lake launches on the DNR list.
Flint Lake is the largest of the 7 county lakes with a page here. The DNR Fishing Access Sites layer places 4 boat ramps inside the county. DNR access data also shows 15 piers and shore sites. DNR stocking data lists 70 stocking rows for lakes and streams here.
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.
Every DNR access point across Porter County, pinned
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.
The paged lakes of Porter County
| Lake | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint Lake | 107 acres (NHD outline area) | 72 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2012) | lake | 0 | walleye |
| Long Lake (Porter County) | 67 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | |
| Loomis Lake | 58 acres (NHD outline area) | 54 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2016) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie |
| Eliza Lake | 46 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass | |
| Clear Lake (Porter County) | 25 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | |
| Spectacle Lake | 12 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish | |
| Harbor Lake | lake | 0 | bluegill, yellow perch, brown trout |
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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Lake Michigan is covered on a separate page; harbors for this shore are below.
- Port of Indiana (Burns Harbor)Portage, 1 access row
- Portage-Burns WaterwayPortage, 4 access rows
Porter County access along the coast
- Portage Marina (Burns Waterway) on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded
- Port of Indiana shore access on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, concrete ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Portage Lakefront Park on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, 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.
Most-named fish on water close to Porter County
Bars count lake guides within 50 miles of Valparaiso where the DNR names each fish; largemouth bass comes up most.
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.
Smaller lakes on the Porter County roll
These 11 Porter County waters are listed until the DNR publishes more on them.
| Water | Kind | Area | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Louise | lake | 226 acres (NHD outline area) | Shorewood Forest |
| Mink Lake | lake | 30 acres (NHD outline area) | Valparaiso |
| Lake Minnehaha | lake | 20 acres (NHD outline area) | Portage |
| Wauhob Lake | lake | 19 acres (NHD outline area) | Valparaiso |
| Carlson Pond | lake | 18 acres (NHD outline area) | Valparaiso |
| Morgan Lake | lake | 14 acres (NHD outline area) | Chesterton |
| Moss Lake (Porter County) | lake | 11 acres (NHD outline area) | Valparaiso |
| Canada Lake | lake | 8 acres (NHD outline area) | Valparaiso |
| Coffee Creek Park Pond | pond | Chesterton | |
| Dog Lake | lake | Hebron | |
| Haven Hollow Lake | lake | South Haven |
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.
Porter County creeks with a guide
- Salt Creek (Porter County)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, Lake Michigan tributary, 2 USGS gauges
- East Arm Little Calumet RiverDNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, Lake Michigan tributary
- Little Calumet RiverNRC Outstanding River (2013 list), DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, 7 USGS gauges
- Kankakee RiverNRC Outstanding River (2013 list), 10 DNR access sites, 5 USGS gauges
- Deep RiverNRC Outstanding River (2013 list), 1 DNR access site, 3 USGS gauges
- Crooked Creek (LaPorte and Porter Counties)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, 1 USGS gauge
- Coffee Creek (Porter County)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Reynolds CreekDNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Slocum Ditch (LaPorte and Porter Counties)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
Other named creeks through Porter County (7)
- Beauty CreekDNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Damon RunDNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Pepper CreekDNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Peterson Ditch (Porter County)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Robbins Ditch (Porter County)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Samuelson DitchDNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Squirrel Creek (Porter County)DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
Porter County stream gauges, live
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee River At Dunns Bridge, In | 971 cfs, 3.86 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
| Little Calumet River At Porter, In | 106 cfs, 4.30 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:45 pm |
| Salt Creek At Valparaiso, In | 110 cfs, 4.07 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
| Burns Ditch At Ushwy 20 At Lake Station, In | 7.94 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.
Stage and discharge notes by Porter County
| Gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek (IN) at Valparaiso | 3.23 ft | 0.0111 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 UTC |
| East Arm Little Calumet River at Porter | 3.56 ft | 0.0605 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Deep River (IN) near Merrillville | 3.28 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:15:00 UTC |
| Deep River (IN) at Hobart | 4.51 ft | 0.0298 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
| Portage-Burns Waterway at Portage (Lake Michigan outlet) | 4.74 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
The forecast-service figures show when they were taken and do not update.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
Porter County launch sites on the DNR layer
- Dunns Bridge boat ramp on Kankakee RiverKankakee River, concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Long Lake boat ramp (north), Porter CountyLong Lake, concrete ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Loomis Lake boat rampLoomis Lake, boat ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee, Electric only
- Portage Marina (Burns Waterway) on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded
Piers and shore access across Porter County
- Chustak State Fishing Area on Salt Creek (Porter County)Salt Creek (Porter County), shore access, ADA access, no fee recorded
- Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve shore accessCoffee Creek (Porter County), shore access, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Harbor LakeHarbor Lake, fishing pier, restrooms, fee: Entry Fee, Rentals only
- Haven Hollow Park on Salt Creek (Porter County)Salt Creek (Porter County), fishing pier, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Imagination Glen Park on Salt Creek (Porter County)Salt Creek (Porter County), shore access, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Port of Indiana shore access on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, shore access, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Portage Lakefront Park on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded
- Portage Marina on Little Calumet RiverLittle Calumet River, fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded
- Spectacle shore accessSpectacle Lake, shore access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee, Electric only
- Ameriplex Woods shore access on Little Calumet RiverLittle Calumet River, shore access, no fee recorded
- Burns Harbor/NW Indiana Steelheaders on East Arm Little Calumet RiverEast Arm Little Calumet River, shore access, no fee recorded
- Heron Rookery (East Side) shore access on Little Calumet RiverLittle Calumet River, shore access, no fee recorded
- Heron Rookery (West Side) shore access on Little Calumet RiverLittle Calumet River, shore access, no fee recorded
- Howe Road shore access on East Arm Little Calumet RiverEast Arm Little Calumet River, shore access, courtesy dock, no fee recorded
- Salt Creek PFA shore accessSalt Creek (Porter County), shore access, no fee recorded
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.
Porter County stocking history
| Year | Month | Water | Species (as listed) | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November | Harbor Lake | Brown Trout | 325 | 7.94 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Loomis Lake | Walleye | 1,000 | |
| 2025 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 55,203 | 6.09 |
| 2024 | December | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 26,878 | 6.62 |
| 2024 | November | Harbor Lake | Brown Trout | 250 | 8.41 |
| 2023 | November | Harbor Lake | Brown Trout | 240 | 8.04 |
| 2023 | June | Coffee Creek Park Pond | Bluegill | 1,000 | |
| 2023 | June | Coffee Creek Park Pond | Largemouth Bass | 200 | |
| 2023 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 57,219 | 6.97 |
| 2022 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 87,299 | 6.96 |
| 2021 | March | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 28,028 | 7.28 |
| 2019 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 102,286 | 5.2 |
| 2018 | December | Flint Lake | Walleye | 750 | 4.0 |
| 2018 | December | Loomis Lake | Walleye | 750 | 4.0 |
| 2018 | March | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 30,989 | 7.4 |
| 2017 | October | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Coho Salmon | 25,041 | 6.26 |
| 2017 | March | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 30,019 | 7.1 |
| 2016 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 171,772 | 4.28 |
| 2015 | April | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Coho Salmon | 42,474 | 3.33 |
| 2015 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 77,472 | 4.27 |
| 2014 | November | Flint Lake | Walleye | 400 | 6.0 |
| 2014 | November | Loomis Lake | Walleye | 400 | 6.0 |
| 2014 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 68,451 | 3.73 |
| 2013 | April | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Coho Salmon | 28,033 | 3.32 |
| 2013 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 93,867 | 2.68 |
| 2012 | October | Flint Lake | Walleye | 300 | 6.0 |
| 2012 | October | Loomis Lake | Walleye | 300 | 6.0 |
| 2012 | Multiple | Salt Creek (Porter County) | Steelhead | 98,888 | 2.68 |
| 2011 | November | Flint Lake | Walleye | 600 | |
| 2011 | November | Loomis Lake | Walleye | 900 |
Trout plan targets in Porter County
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned number | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening day streams, north | Crooked Creek | 600 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Harbor Lake | 250 | Brown 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.
Guide limits that cover Porter County
The statewide limits cover Porter County except where the guide lists a water by name. Indiana residents buy the annual license for $23; out-of-state anglers spend $60. Trout and salmon off the Indiana shore need the $11 stamp besides the license.
| 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) |
The Lake Michigan table for Porter County
| Species | Daily limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic, Chinook, Coho and Pink Salmon; Brown, Lake and Steelhead Trout | 5 total salmon and trout; no more than 3 may be lake trout | 14 inches |
| Yellow Perch | 15 (on Lake Michigan only) | no size limit |
| Lake Whitefish | 12 | no size limit |
| Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) | 3, any combination | 14 inches |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR license fees (license year April 1 to March 31), read November 5, 2026.
Record Fish Program lines naming Porter County
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 37 lb. 8.8 oz. | Lake Michigan | Porter County | 2016 |
| Lake Whitefish | 9 lb. 5.4 oz. | Lake Michigan | Porter County | 2021 |
| Redfin Pickerel | 13.8 oz. | Coffee Creek Park Pond | Porter County | 2020 |
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.
Gear and guide listings for Porter County
Porter County bait shops and marinas
- Country Bait & Taxidermybait and tackle shop, Valparaiso
- Lair's Pawn-Sports-Petbait and tackle shop, Portage
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Valparaiso
- Bass Pro Shops Portagesporting goods store, Portage
- Burns Harbor Townmarina, Chesterton
- Capital VI Marinamarina, Portage
- Cms Marinemarina, Portage
- Dick's Sporting Goods Valparaisosporting goods store, Valparaiso
- Doyne's Marine, Inc.marina, Portage
- Doynes Marine Incmarina, Portage
- Erwin's Marinemarina, Valparaiso
- Lefty's Coho Landingmarina, Portage
- Marina Shores at Dune Harbormarina, Portage
- Portage Marinamarina, Portage
- South Shore Marina Inc Jrmarina, Portage
- Westerman Marinamarina, Portage
Porter County fishing guides
- Angry Pirate Fishing Charters, LLCcharter, (815) 546-2671
- Bite Me Fishing Charters LLCcharter, (219) 545-2265
- Boatre Dame Charterscharter, (765) 586-3174
- Brother Nature Charterscharter, (219) 394-2123
- Captain Q Charterscharter, Portage, (219) 869-0297
- Chicago Bass Fishing LLCcharter, (773) 733-3889
- Chucks Guide Servicecharter, (937) 733-2966
- Cloud Nine Fishing Charterscharter, Michigan City, (219) 898-5090
- Fin Addict Charter Fishingcharter, (219) 331-5377
- FinFire Fishingcharter, (219) 898-3602
- Fire Drill Charterscharter, Michigan City, (219) 898-8111
- Fish Mastercharter, (317) 945-3293
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.
Neighbouring pages for Porter County
Town pages for Porter County
- Portagepop. 37,926
- Valparaisopop. 34,151
- Chestertonpop. 14,241
- Porterpop. 5,210
- South Havenpop. 5,084
- Hebronpop. 3,755
- Shorewood Forestpop. 3,033
- Burns Harborpop. 2,055
- Koutspop. 2,028
- Ogden Dunespop. 1,168
Neighbours of Porter County
- Lake County16 miles west
- LaPorte County17 miles east
- Starke County27 miles southeast
- Jasper County34 miles south
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Porter County
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Fish to know on sight at Porter County
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Heath Alseike, CC BY 2.0
Porter County fishing questions
Does Porter County offer a public boat ramp?
The DNR lists 4 boat ramps; Dunns Bridge boat ramp on Kankakee River is the first.
Which Porter County lake has the most mapped area?
Flint Lake, at 107 acres (NHD outline area).
What species does the DNR name on lakes around Porter County?
Largemouth bass leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish; the DNR names them on lake and access records.
Where does a Porter County angler buy minnows?
Start at Country Bait & Taxidermy; the county list has 16.
In which town are the Porter County offices located?
The seat is Valparaiso.
What does a non-Hoosier pay to fish in Porter County?
Indiana residents buy the annual license for $23; out-of-state anglers spend $60. Trout and salmon off the Indiana shore need the $11 stamp besides the license.
Which Indiana counties are close to Porter County?
Look at Lake County, LaPorte County and Starke County next.
Does the DNR number a district for Porter County lakes?
The DNR lake layer gives the county's own lakes the number for DNR fisheries district 1.
Is there shore access in Porter County?
The DNR layer lists 15 piers and shore sites, such as Chustak State Fishing Area on Salt Creek (Porter County).
Are Porter County lakes stocked?
The DNR dashboard carries 70 rows; the newest lists 55,203 Steelhead, 6.09 in average (Multiple 2025) in Salt Creek.
Which record weights name Porter County as the county?
Lake Trout, 37 lb. 8.8 oz., 2016, from Lake Michigan.
Does Porter County have Lake Michigan shore fishing?
Porter County touches Lake Michigan, where the DNR shoreline guide lists 6 harbors and 7 big-lake launches.
Fish Porter County for a whole weekend
River pages carry USGS gauges that update themselves.