Indiana Lake Michigan Tributaries
Salmon and steelhead streams from Michigan City to South Bend: runs, rules, ladders and access.
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The Indiana streams that carry Lake Michigan salmon and steelhead
Four Indiana tributaries carry Lake Michigan runs: Trail Creek at Michigan City, the East Arm of the Little Calumet River and Salt Creek in Porter County, and the St. Joseph River through South Bend and Mishawaka. The DNR shoreline guide and access layer list 37 public fishing sites along them.
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.
| Stream | County | Access sites | DNR notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail Creek | LaPorte County | 12 | Ten public fishing sites (two handicap accessible): access site by the DNR building, Hansen Park (E Street), Winding Creek Cove (8th/Dickson Streets), Fire Station #2 (2005 E. U.S. Hwy 12), Robert Peo Public Access (Liberty Trail), Karwick Nature Park (Karwick Road), U.S. 35 (Chapala Parkway), Trail Creek Forks (U.S. 20), Johnson Road (Johnson/Wozniak Roads), Creek Ridge Park (7943 W. 400 North) ( |
| East Branch Little Calumet River | Porter County | 6 | Deer Creek Path at Ameriplex Woods (S.R. 249/Ameriplex Drive) and Burns Harbor Public Access (S.R. 149/Navaho Drive) offer fishing on the East Arm; portions flow through Indiana Dunes National Park (guide p.4); Closed to all fishing April 1 to June 15 from the branch at Burns Ditch upstream to U.S. 20 (guide p.15; check the current DNR fishing guide); No fishing within 100 feet above or below the |
| Salt Creek | Porter County | 4 | Runs through Imagination Glen County Park and Haven Hollow Park; state-managed Chustak Public Fishing Area and Salt Creek Public Fishing Area near Valparaiso (guide p.4) |
| St. Joseph River | St. Joseph County | 13 | Fish ladders at Mishawaka (Central Park) and South Bend (Seitz Park) pass fish through the lower 63 river miles from Lake Michigan to the base of Twin Branch Dam in Mishawaka; no fishing within 100 feet of a ladder entrance or exit (DNR South Bend Fish Ladder page); Hook restrictions from Twin Branch Dam downstream to the Michigan line: one single hook per line or one artificial bait; single hooks |
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
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| Fish | Timing as printed |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing guide (PDF), read November 5, 2026.
Gear bans and closures on the Indiana tributaries
Tributary Restrictions Possession of a fish spear, gig, gaff, bowfishing equipment, crossbow, grab hook, spear gun, club, snag hook, or underwater spear is prohibited in the following water bodies: in or adjacent to the Galena River (LaPorte County), Trail Creek (LaPorte County), the East Branch of the Little Calumet River (LaPorte and Porter counties), Salt Creek (Porter County), the West Branch of the Little Calumet River (Lake and Porter counties), Burns Ditch (Lake and Porter counties), Deep River downstream from the dam at Lake George (Lake County), and the tributaries to these waters.
Tributary 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.
Hook 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.
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
The South Bend and Mishawaka fish ladders
- 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
- 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
Daily ladder counts sit in a DNR dashboard that was not read; no counts are printed here.
Indiana DNR South Bend fish ladder page, read November 5, 2026.
Public fishing sites along the Indiana tributaries
| Site | Type | Recorded features | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve shore access | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy |
| Burns Harbor/NW Indiana Steelheaders on East Arm Little Calumet River | shore access | no fee recorded | NW Indiana Steelheaders |
| Howe Road shore access on East Arm Little Calumet River | shore access | courtesy dock, no fee recorded | Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore |
| Ameriplex Woods shore access on Little Calumet River | shore access | no fee recorded | Portage Parks Dept. |
| Heron Rookery (East Side) shore access on Little Calumet River | shore access | no fee recorded | Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore |
| Heron Rookery (West Side) shore access on Little Calumet River | shore access | no fee recorded | Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore |
| Lake Etta County Park on Little Calumet River | shore access | fee: Entry Fee | Lake County Parks Dept. |
| Portage Marina on Little Calumet River | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Portage Parks Dept. |
| Chustak State Fishing Area on Salt Creek (Porter County) | shore access | ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Haven Hollow Park on Salt Creek (Porter County) | fishing pier | fishing pier, restrooms, no fee recorded | Portage Parks Dept. |
| Imagination Glen Park on Salt Creek (Porter County) | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Portage Parks Dept. |
| Salt Creek PFA shore access | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
| Baugo Bay boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | gravel ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ St. Joseph Co. Parks |
| Central Park (Mishawaka) on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | shore access | restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of Mishawaka |
| Frank Zappia shore access on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Leeper Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | boat ramp, no fee recorded | South Bend Parks |
| Lincoln Park (Mishawaka) on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of Mishawaka |
| Merrifield Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of Mishawaka |
| Miami Island (Mishawaka) boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of Mishawaka |
| Prickett Landing on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of Mishawaka |
| South Bend boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
| St. Patrick's Farm boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ St. Joe Park & Rec Board |
| Twin Branch Dam boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | boat ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Mishawka |
| Veteran's Memorial Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | South Bend Parks |
| Woodlawn Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | shore access | no fee recorded | South Bend Parks |
| Hansen Park on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| IDNR Lake Michigan Office shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Michigan City Fish & Wildlife Headquarters |
| Karwick Nature Park on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Michigan City Firehouse shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Millenium Plaza shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Robert Peo PFA shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Sprague Point shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Trail Creek (Creek Ridge County Park) | shore access | ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ LaPorte Co. Parks |
| Trail Creek (Old Johnson Rd.) shore access | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Trail Creek Forks shore access | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Trail Creek PFA shore access | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Winding Creek Cove boat ramp on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | boat ramp | boat ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
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.
Glacial lakes, quarry pits and creek bends near Tributaries, photographed
Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Kevin Dooley, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Happel, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Lake Michigan tributary questions
Which Indiana streams get Lake Michigan salmon and steelhead?
Trail Creek, the East Arm of the Little Calumet River, Salt Creek and the St. Joseph River.
When do salmon run Indiana tributaries?
Coho and chinook from September through mid-November, per the DNR Lake Michigan guide.
When is summer steelhead season in the tributaries?
Skamania run mid-July to mid-October, with winter fishing January through March depending on stream conditions.
When do winter steelhead run?
Mid-November to mid-March, with the bulk returning in February and March.
Can I use a gaff or snag hook on Trail Creek?
No. Possessing a gaff, spear, snag hook, bowfishing gear and similar tools is banned in and beside the listed tributaries.
What is the trout and salmon minimum on the St. Joseph River?
14 inches below Twin Branch Dam, with no fishing in the East Race Waterway or within 100 feet of the fish ladders.
Do I need a stamp for tributary steelhead?
Yes, the $11 trout/salmon stamp plus a license for anglers 18 and older.
Must tributary fish be hooked in the mouth?
Yes. Trout and salmon from the defined tributaries must be hooked in the mouth; foul-hooked fish go back.