Big Blue River Fishing
A river of Hancock County and 4 other counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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What an Indiana angler should know about the Big Blue River
Through Hancock County and 4 other counties, the Big Blue River traces 76 miles of mapped NHD line. It carries the label NRC Outstanding River (2013 list) and DNR put-and-take salmonid stream. From the mapped point it is roughly 4 miles to Morristown.
Boaters get 4 ramps on the DNR layer. Flow data comes from 2 USGS gauges.
USGS NHD named flowlines (mapped length in Indiana, not a DNR figure); Indiana DNR stream designation layers and Fishing Access Sites, read November 5, 2026.
How the DNR classes the Big Blue River
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- DesignationDNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- Reach as listedFlatrock River to Carthage
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
State lists supplied the Big Blue River entries above.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
USGS stations on the Big Blue River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River At Carthage, In | 141 cfs, 0.70 ft gage height | Oct 1 12:45 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2005. |
| Big Blue River At Shelbyville, In | 125 cfs, 4.86 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 11:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The Big Blue River USGS panel is provisional.
NWS gauges on the Big Blue River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River (IN) at Carthage | 0.76 ft | 0.0601 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
| Big Blue River (IN) at Shelbyville | 4.87 ft | 0.126 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 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 instantaneous values, provisional.
Species on the DNR list for the Big Blue River
The Big Blue River names follow DNR wording.
Indiana DNR 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 catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Ramps and access sites on the Big Blue River
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage Public Access Site on Big Blue River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Irwin Park Public Access Site on Big Blue River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Knightstown Public Access Site on Big Blue River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Shelbyville boat ramp on Big Blue River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South/ City of Shelbyville |
| Wilbur Wright F&W Area on Big Blue River | shore access | no fee recorded | Wilbur Wright Fish & Wildlife Area |
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.
What the DNR put into the Big Blue River
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,123 | 9.88 |
| 2025 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 9.0 |
| 2024 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 9.45 |
| 2023 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 9.37 |
| 2022 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 10.0 |
| 2021 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 10.71 |
| 2020 | Multiple | Rainbow Trout | 2,255 | 9.35 |
| 2019 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 10.7 |
| 2018 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 11.2 |
| 2017 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,025 | 10.73 |
| 2016 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 11.09 |
| 2015 | April | Rainbow Trout | 1,125 | 10.58 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
The 2026 trout plan for the Big Blue River
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned number | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening day streams, south | Big Blue River | 1,125 | Rainbow Trout |
For the Big Blue River, the DNR trout plan sets targets that can change.
Indiana DNR 2026 trout stocking plan (updated March 20, 2026; planned targets, DNR notes actual numbers may vary), read November 5, 2026.
What can go home from the Big Blue River
| Species as printed | Daily limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Bluegill | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Redear Sunfish | 25 | 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 |
| 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 |
| Northern Pike | 3 | 24 inches; no more than one 30 inches or longer |
For the Big Blue River, use the stream rows for bass and catfish.
- Inland troutInland Trout sizes & limits | Species | Daily Bag Limit | Minimum Size | Brook Trout | 5, any combination of brook, rainbow, or brown trout; no more than one may be brown trout | 7 inches* | Rainbow Trout | Brown Trout | *There is no minimum size limit for trout caught from lakes, except for an 18-inch size limit for brown trout at Oliver, Olin, and Martin lakes in LaGrange County and Brookville Lake tailwater (East Fork Whitewater River) in Franklin County. |
Local exceptions at Big Blue River
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River (Henry) | Trout | Closed April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) on the stocked section while DNR completes trout stockings |
Special regulation waters as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
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.
The Big Blue River beside other Indiana streams
For a second option near the Big Blue River, Little Blue River (Henry and Rush Counties) lies about 6 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River | this stream | 76 | 2 | 4 |
| Little Blue River (Henry and Rush Counties) | 6 miles southeast | 41 | 1 | 0 |
| Sugar Creek (Hancock and Henry Counties) | 12 miles west | 78 | 3 | 1 |
| Flatrock River | 15 miles southeast | 91 | 4 | 3 |
| Little Flatrock River | 18 miles southeast | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Fall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties) | 19 miles northwest | 54 | 4 | 1 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Down the state road from Big Blue River
A second lake to try after Big Blue River
- Soldiers and Sailors Pond8 miles
- Sunset Park Pond8 miles
- Beckenholdt Park Pond11 miles
- Paul Ruster Park Pond17 miles
Bait counters along the drive to Big Blue River
- Anglers Worldfly shop, Greenfield, 7 miles
- McDonald's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Knightstown, 9 miles
- BReelBaitbait and tackle shop, Shelbyville, 15 miles
- Popes Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Shelbyville, 15 miles
- L D Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, New Castle, 19 miles
- Geist Marinamarina, Indianapolis, 22 miles
Beds and diners within reach of Big Blue River
- Morristown4 miles
- Greenfield8 miles
- Knightstown9 miles
Neighbouring streams of the Big Blue River
- Little Blue River (Henry and Rush Counties)6 miles
- Sugar Creek (Hancock and Henry Counties)12 miles
- Flatrock River15 miles
- Little Flatrock River18 miles
- Fall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties)19 miles
Each county touching Big Blue River, linked
- Hancock County
- Henry County
- Johnson County
- Rush County
- Shelby County
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Big Blue River
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Hoosier lakes and creeks near Big Blue River, on camera
Photo: Philip Brewer, CC BY 2.0
Photo: pepplerchristine, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Serge Melki, CC BY 2.0
What the bait counter hears about the Big Blue River
How do I find the Big Blue River?
Find it in Hancock County and 4 other counties, and its mapped point is about 4 miles from Morristown.
What length is given for the Big Blue River?
The NHD map shows 76 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Is there a ramp on the Big Blue River?
Start at Carthage Public Access Site on Big Blue River, one of 5 access sites.
What fish are in the Big Blue River?
Expect common carp, catfish, smallmouth bass, trout and rainbow trout, by DNR records.
What bass rules apply on the Big Blue River?
The guide row for rivers and streams reads: 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
Which Indiana permit belongs in the tackle box for the Big Blue River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
What is the stage on the Big Blue River?
Look for Big Blue River at Carthage, IN above.
Where do I get crawlers for the Big Blue River?
Head to Anglers World, about 7 miles away,.
What state status does the Big Blue River have?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list); DNR put-and-take salmonid stream.
Watch the gauge, then float the Big Blue River
Know the slot before the first cast.