Monroe Lake Fishing
This reservoir lies in Brown and Monroe counties, 10,750 acres.
Pick for redear sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Scott Weingart, CC BY 2.0
Taking stock of Monroe Lake
Monroe Lake is a reservoir in Brown and Monroe counties; its mapped outline covers 10,750 acres. Smithville-Sanders sits about 4 miles from the lake point, the nearest place on the Census list.
You can launch from 9 boat ramps that the DNR maps. DNR hatchery releases appear here in 116 stocking rows. A dated Corps pool reading appears further down.
Acres as stated on the Indiana DNR property or lake page, read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026. Census 2023 places.
What the DNR lake layer records for Monroe Lake
- Location (DNR)East of Smithville, Southeast of Bloomington
- Owner (DNR)DNR State Parks and Reservoirs, State
- DNR districtDNR fisheries district 5
- Monroe Lake Paynetown SRAboating, boat ramps, camping, fishing, FISHING PIER, marina, hike trails, hunting, INN restaurant, dump station, seasonal interpretive center, PICNICKING, play/sports area, SHELTER HOUSE, swimming, phone 812-837-9546
- Monroe Lake Allen's Creek SRAboat launch, camping, phone 812-837-9546
The attribute text for Monroe Lake above is as the DNR stores it.
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
Urban fishing and habitat work at Monroe Lake
- Reservoir habitat structures1 (1 Hoosier Cube), built 2024
The DNR urban sites and habitat layers are the source for Monroe Lake here.
Indiana DNR urban fishing sites and reservoir habitat layers on gisdata.in.gov, read November 5, 2026.
Species on the DNR list for Monroe Lake
At Monroe Lake the list mirrors DNR labels; no angler reports went into it.
Indiana DNR lake layer and Fishing Access Sites species fields, Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026; 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.
For the redear sunfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Ramps onto Monroe Lake
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen's Creek boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Crooked Creek boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Cutright boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Fairfax boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Hardin Ridge boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req | Hoosier National Forest |
| Moore's Creek boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Paynetown boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Pinegrove boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, fee: Lake Permit Required | Monroe Lake State Reservoir |
| Salt Creek boat ramp on Monroe Lake | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
More DNR launches that reach Monroe Lake
- Crooked Creek Lake boat rampCrooked Creek Lake, 9 miles northeast
- Yellowwood Lake boat rampYellowwood Lake, 10 miles northeast
- Griffy Lake boat rampGriffy Lake, 10 miles north
- Lake Lemon boat rampLake Lemon, 14 miles north
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.
Pool elevation reported for Monroe Lake
At 2026-11-05 19:25:00 UTC the reported pool on Monroe Lake was 537.58 feet (feet as published by NWS for the pool gauge (datum not printed in the API)); treat it as history, not as now.
USACE Louisville District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge MONI3, read November 5, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek (IN) at Monroe Lake | 537.58 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:25:00 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).
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe Lake Near Harrodsburg, In | 537.56 ft lake elevation | Nov 6 9:25 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 10:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The Monroe Lake USGS panel is live and unreviewed.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
Fingerlings and catchables added to Monroe Lake
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 34,227 | 1.21 |
| 2026 | Multiple | Walleye | 5,622,856 | 0.24 |
| 2025 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 53,750 | 1.11 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Walleye | 1,573,606 | 0.24 |
| 2024 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 53,750 | 1.09 |
| 2024 | April | Walleye | 6,471,900 | 0.2 |
| 2024 | Multiple | Largemouth Bass | 279,885 | |
| 2023 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 53,750 | 1.11 |
| 2023 | April | Walleye | 6,414,325 | 0.2 |
| 2022 | October | Largemouth Bass | 2,700 | 7.0 |
| 2022 | August | Hybrid Striped Bass | 140,575 | 1.35 |
| 2022 | April | Walleye | 8,944,100 | 0.2 |
DNR releases into Monroe Lake, as the dashboard prints them.
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Indiana limits in force on Monroe Lake
| Species as printed | 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) |
Those statewide guide rows govern Monroe Lake unless a special regulation line says otherwise.
- Walleye size lineWalleye taken from all public waters (lakes, rivers, and streams) south of State Road 26 must be 14 inches or longer. Walleye taken north of State Road 26 must be 16 inches in length or longer, except for: Bass Lake (Starke County) and Wolf Lake (Lake County); minimum size 14 inches Lake George (Steuben County); minimum size 15 inches Wall Lake (LaGrange County); minimum size 16 inches with a daily bag limit of two walleye There is no minimum size requirement for saugeye on all state waters, except for Huntingburg Lake (Dubois County), Glenn Flint Lake (Putnam County), and Sullivan Lake …
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Statewide limits 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.
State marks set on Monroe Lake
| Species | Weight as printed | Year | Water as listed | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 8 lb. 3.6 oz. | 2024 | Monroe Lake | Monroe |
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.
Bass events at Monroe Lake
The Monroe Lake tournament page lists coming events and sourced results.
Monroe Lake beside its Indiana neighbours
Blackwell Pond covers the most water in this group around Monroe Lake: 2 acres (NHD outline area).
| Lake | Distance | Size | DNR ramps | Stocking rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Lake | this lake | 10,750 acres | 9 | 116 |
| Bluegill Pond (Monroe County) | 3 miles south | not printed | 0 | 0 |
| Holland Ridge Pond | 3 miles south | not printed | 0 | 11 |
| Blackwell Pond | 4 miles southeast | 2 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 1 |
| Grouse Hollow Lake | 7 miles southeast | not printed | 0 | 17 |
| Henderson Pond | 8 miles southeast | not printed | 0 | 0 |
Indiana DNR lake layer, NHD outline areas, DNR Fishing Access Sites and stocking dashboard; read November 5, 2026.
A Hoosier back-road drive from Monroe Lake
Other lakes a county or two from Monroe Lake
- Bluegill Pond (Monroe County)3 miles south
- Holland Ridge Pond3 miles south
- Blackwell Pond4 miles southeast
- Grouse Hollow Lake7 miles southeast
- Henderson Pond8 miles southeast
Grab bait on the way into Monroe Lake
- Lake Monroe Marinamarina, Bloomington, 2 miles
- Lake Monroe Boat Rentalmarina, Bloomington, 3 miles
- Fairfax Marine Sales & Service Incmarina, Bloomington, 3 miles
- Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marinamarina, Bloomington, 3 miles
- Handy Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bloomington, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Bloomingtonsporting goods store, Bloomington, 8 miles
Guided Indiana trips on Monroe Lake
- Good Time Charter, LLCfishing guide, (812) 821-3368
- Isaacs Guiding Servicefishing guide, (765) 265-5317
- Nick Leisure Guide Servicefishing guide, (765) 432-1088
- White River Guide Servicefishing guide, (317) 691-7388
Indiana towns close to Monroe Lake
- Smithville-Sanders4 miles
- Bloomington8 miles
- Oolitic12 miles
The counties Monroe Lake passes through
- Brown Countyseat: Nashville
- Monroe Countyseat: Bloomington
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Monroe Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling Monroe Lake fish apart from a photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ray Dumas, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Monroe Lake: questions Hoosier anglers bring up
Which Indiana county is Monroe Lake in?
East of Smithville, Southeast of Bloomington. It lies in Brown and Monroe counties, about 4 miles from Smithville-Sanders.
Roughly how big is Monroe Lake, in acres?
About 10,750 acres.
Can I tow a bass boat to Monroe Lake?
The DNR maps 9 boat ramps; Allen's Creek boat ramp on Monroe Lake is one.
What might bite for a Hoosier angler at Monroe Lake?
Look for bluegill, redear sunfish, common carp, catfish, crappie, hybrid striped bass and largemouth bass; the DNR names them.
Which bass rule applies at Monroe Lake?
The statewide lake row reads: 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, size 14 inches.
Which Indiana license papers cover Monroe Lake?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Under-18 anglers are exempt.
Can a bank angler without a boat work Monroe Lake?
The access layer records no bank site for it.
Which listed shop can outfit a Hoosier trip to Monroe Lake?
Stop at Lake Monroe Marina, about 2 miles away,.
What was the last reading at Monroe Lake?
On the reading taken 2026-11-05 19:25:00 UTC, the pool at Monroe Lake stood at 537.58 feet (feet as published by NWS for the pool gauge (datum not printed in the API)); it is a dated snapshot, not a live gauge.
Which Indiana record entry names Monroe Lake?
Smallmouth Bass, 8 lb. 3.6 oz. (2024), is on the DNR record list for this water; the DNR list shown here leaves out angler names.
Does the DNR stock Monroe Lake?
The latest dashboard row: 5,622,856 Walleye, 0.24 in average (Multiple 2026).
Take the county road out to Monroe Lake
Check the limits, then pick a ramp.