Lake Michigan Fishing in Indiana
43 shoreline miles and 224 square miles of Indiana water, from Hammond and Whiting to Michigan City.
Pick for coho salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
Indiana water on Lake Michigan, in brief
The Indiana slice of Lake Michigan touches Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, and the DNR counts 43 miles of shoreline and 224 square miles of water.
The Indiana shoreline gives anglers coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, brown trout, lake trout, yellow perch, catfish and freshwater drum, per the DNR.
- DNRIndiana's share of Lake Michigan is the smallest of the four states bordering the lake. Indiana has 43 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 224 square miles of Lake Michigan water.
- DNR general textLake Michigan and its tributaries in Indiana provide a number of fishing opportunities for salmon, trout, perch, whitefish, and other species. Any trout or salmon taken from Lake Michigan tributaries defined in this section must be hooked in the mouth. Foul-hooked fish must be returned to the body of water from which they were foul-hooked. The bag limit for yellow perch is 15 while fishing Indiana waters (even if you have a fishing license from a neighboring state). Bowfin, buffalo fish, carp, gar, shad, and sucker from Lake Michigan can be taken with a bow and arrow. A trot line, set line, or throw line cannot be used to take fish from Lake Michigan. See Lake Michigan bass regulations .
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
For the coho salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Fishing the Indiana harbors of Lake Michigan
- Michigan City HarborMichigan City, LaPorte County; 7 access sites
- Port of Indiana (Burns Harbor)Portage, Porter County; 1 access site
- Portage-Burns WaterwayPortage, Porter County; 4 access sites
- Indiana Harbor (East Chicago)East Chicago, Lake County; 2 access sites
- Hammond Marina and Calumet Harbor shoreHammond, Lake County; 3 access sites
The harbor pages split the Indiana shore into five fishing stops.
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
Launches on Lake Michigan
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilhala Beach Co. Pk. boat ramp on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | Lake County Parks Dept. |
| Pastrick Marina on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | East Chicago Port Authority |
| Trail Creek Marina on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms | City of Michigan City |
| Washington Park on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | City of Michigan City |
| Whiting Park on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, fishing pier, restrooms, lights | City of Whiting Parks Dept. |
| Portage Marina (Burns Waterway) on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | City of Portage |
| Hammond Marina on Lake Michigan | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | City of Hammond Park Board |
| Portage Lakefront Park on Lake Michigan | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | City of Portage/National Park Service |
| L. Michigan Fishing Pier (E. Chicago) | shore access | ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of East Chicago |
| Lake Michigan Fishing Pier (Hammond) | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Hammond Park Dept. |
| Lemon Lake County Park on Lake Michigan | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | Lake County Parks Dept. |
| Port of Indiana shore access on Lake Michigan | shore access | concrete ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded | LaSalle Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Lake Michigan (State Line) shore access | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | State Line Energy (Dominion) |
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.
Rules for the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan
| Species as printed | 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 |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in Lake Michigan) | 3, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
- Hook restrictionsHook Restrictions Fishing with more than one single hook or artificial lure is prohibited in the following waters: Lake Michigan tributaries St. Joseph River and its tributary streams from the Twin Branch Dam downstream to the Michigan state line (St. Joseph County) Single hooks, including those on artificial lures, cannot exceed ½ inch from point to shank. Double and treble hooks are allowed only on artificial lures and shall not exceed 3/8 inch from point to shank.
- SmeltSmelt may be taken from Lake Michigan from March 1 through May 30. Smelt may be taken only with a single seine or net. The seine or net may not exceed 12 feet in length and 6 feet in depth, nor have a stretch mesh larger than 1½ inches. A dip net may not exceed 12 feet in diameter.
- Tributary closuresTributary Closures No fishing is allowed within 100 feet upstream of the Trail Creek sea lamprey barrier or downstream to the Pottawattomie Country Club Golf Course property line located adjacent to Springland Avenue in Michigan City. Fishing is not allowed within 100 feet above or below the Praxair Dam on the East Branch of the Little Calumet River.
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon in Lake Michigan and its tributaries also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
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.
Run timing off Lake Michigan
- Coho and Chinook salmon (stream)September through mid-November
- Skamania (summer-run) steelhead (stream)Mid-July to mid-October; winter months January through March, depending on stream conditions; return from July (sometimes mid-June), spawn mid-February to March
- Michigan (winter-run) steelhead (stream)Mid-November to mid-March; return from mid to late October with the bulk in February and March; spawn March to mid-April
- Coho salmon (lake, boat and pier)Boat season from ice-out (mid-February to April); March to mid-May coho are close to 90 percent of the catch within two miles of shore; shore anglers best March through April
- DNR stocking scheduleYearling Skamania steelhead early April; Chinook early May; brown trout mid-March; fingerling Skamania in October; coho early November; winter-run steelhead in December (DNR shoreline guide p.3)
Rivers tied to Lake Michigan
- Trail Creek (LaPorte County)10 DNR access sites
- East Arm Little Calumet River6 DNR access sites
- Salt Creek (Porter County)4 DNR access sites
- Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)12 DNR access sites
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
Warm outfalls and fish ladders of Lake Michigan
- South Bend Fish Ladder (Seitz Park)Managed by Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, part of the St. Joseph River Trout and Salmon Project; Motion-activated video camera counts fish; historical counts from 2011 on the DNR dashboard; Public may view fish from above; no fishing within 100 feet of the entrance and exit (South Bend, St. Joseph River)
- Mishawaka Fish Ladder (Central Park)One of two Indiana ladders on the St. Joseph River; fish pass upstream to the base of Twin Branch Dam (Mishawaka, St. Joseph River)
- BP Whiting Refinery dischargeDay and night fishing at the discharge off Indianapolis Boulevard/119th Street, near the eastern edge of Whiting Park; private property, may close at any time
- NIPSCO Michigan City generating station dischargeJust west of the DNR Lake Michigan Fisheries Office (100 W. Water St.), open to angling sunrise to sunset; private property, may close at any time
For ladder counts, use the DNR dashboard; we do not reprint them.
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
Two-state rules on Lake Michigan
- Calumet Harbor reciprocal sportfishing area (Illinois and Indiana)Residents of either state, and holders of either state's nonresident license, may fish the reciprocal area (Calumet Harbor breakwater system, Calumet River main channel to the Ewing Avenue bridge, Calumet Park shoreline) taking one state's daily limit, not both; North Slip, South Slip and private shorelines excluded
- Border textLake Michigan — We share Lake Michigan borders with Illinois and Michigan. There is a reciprocal fishing zone in Calumet Harbor with Illinois—view details and boundary information in the Calumet Harbor reciprocal zone map (PDF) . There is NO license reciprocity anywhere else on our Lake Michigan border waters. Indiana licensed anglers will need an Illinois license to fish Illinois waters of Lake Michigan, and a Michigan license to fish Michigan waters of Lake Michigan, even if launching out of Indiana.
- NOAA water levelNOAA station 9087044 (Calumet Harbor, IL) read 578.701 ft above IGLD 1985 at 2026-11-05 14:30 local (LST/LDT).
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigan at Calumet Harbor | 1.37 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 UTC |
| Indiana Harbor Canal at East Chicago (Lake Michigan outlet) | 9.45 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 UTC |
| Trail Creek at Michigan City Harbor | 5.73 ft | – | not defined | 2026-11-05 19:40:00 UTC |
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
Border water and reciprocity text as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Heaviest Indiana fish from Lake Michigan
| Species | Weight as printed | Year | Water as listed | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 37 lb. 8.8 oz. | 2016 | Lake Michigan | Porter |
| Brown Trout | 29 lb. 4.8 oz. | 2006 | Lake Michigan | Lake |
| Coho Salmon | 20 lb. 12 oz. | 1972 | Lake Michigan | LaPorte |
| Atlantic Salmon | 14 lb. 4 oz. | 1979 | Lake Michigan | Lake |
| Burbot | 14 lb. 3.6 oz | 2024 | Lake Michigan | Lake |
| Lake Whitefish | 9 lb. 5.4 oz. | 2021 | Lake Michigan | Porter |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lb. 2 oz. | 2024 | Lake Michigan | Lake |
| Tiger Trout | 3 lb. | 1978 | Lake Michigan | Lake |
| Pink Salmon | 2 lb. 12.5 oz. | 1985 | Lake Michigan | Lake |
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.
A Hoosier back-road drive from Lake Michigan
Grab bait on the way into Lake Michigan
- Burns Harbor Townmarina, Chesterton, 6 miles
- Stevens Marinemarina, Michigan City, 7 miles
- Chiefsbaitbait and tackle shop, Michigan City, 7 miles
- Portage Marinamarina, Portage, 8 miles
- Cms Marinemarina, Portage, 8 miles
- Westerman Marinamarina, Portage, 8 miles
- Marina Shores at Dune Harbormarina, Portage, 8 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Portagesporting goods store, Portage, 8 miles
Guided Indiana trips on Lake Michigan
- 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
Indiana towns close to Lake Michigan
The counties Lake Michigan passes through
- Lake County
- Porter County
- LaPorte County
DNR offices serving Lake Michigan
- Indiana DNR Lake Michigan Fisheries Office100 West Water Street, Michigan City, (219) 874-6824
- Mixsawbah State Fish Hatchery (Lake Michigan)(219) 369-9591
- Bodine State Fish Hatchery (St. Joseph River)(574) 255-4199
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Lake Michigan
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Hardwood shorelines around Lake Michigan through a lens
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mike Steele, CC BY 2.0
Lake Michigan: questions Hoosier anglers bring up
How much of Lake Michigan belongs to Indiana?
The DNR gives Indiana 43 miles of shoreline and 224 square miles of water, the smallest share of the four bordering states.
How many trout and salmon can I keep from Lake Michigan in Indiana?
5 total salmon and trout; no more than 3 may be lake trout; size: 14 inches.
What is the yellow perch limit on the Indiana side of Lake Michigan?
15 (on Lake Michigan only) a day; size: no size limit.
Do I need a stamp to fish Lake Michigan for salmon?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon in Lake Michigan and its tributaries also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
Can I fish the Illinois part of Lake Michigan with an Indiana license?
Only inside the Calumet Harbor reciprocal area; elsewhere an Illinois license is needed for Illinois water and a Michigan license for Michigan water, as the guide states.
When do steelhead and salmon run up Indiana tributaries?
Coho and Chinook salmon (stream): September through mid-November. Skamania (summer-run) steelhead (stream): Mid-July to mid-October; winter months January through March, depending on stream conditions; return from July (sometimes mid-June), spawn mid-February to March.
Which streams carry Lake Michigan runs in Indiana?
Trail Creek (LaPorte County), East Arm Little Calumet River, Salt Creek (Porter County) and Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), each with its own page and DNR access sites.
Where can I fish Lake Michigan from shore in Indiana?
The DNR maps 13 access sites on the Indiana shore, including Wilhala Beach Co. Pk. boat ramp on Lake Michigan, Pastrick Marina on Lake Michigan and Trail Creek Marina on Lake Michigan.
Where is the DNR Lake Michigan fisheries office?
100 West Water Street, Michigan City, (219) 874-6824.
Which Indiana state records came from Lake Michigan?
9 records on the DNR list, the heaviest being Lake Trout at 37 lb. 8.8 oz. (2016).
Plan a Lake Michigan morning out of Michigan City or Portage
Buy the Indiana license and trout/salmon stamp before the first harbor trip.