Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) Fishing
Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley counties carries this creek; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) on the Indiana map
The NHD map gives Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) 40 miles of line within Indiana, across Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley counties. Its state status: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). The handiest town is Madison, around 9 miles away.
Flow comes from 1 USGS gauge.
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.
State designations on Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedEast side of Jefferson Military Reservation boundary to Graham Creek
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
These Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) rows repeat state list text.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
Today's height and speed of Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Near Wadesville, In | 0 cfs, 1.84 ft gage height | Nov 8 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Provisional live values from USGS on Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties).
NOAA gauge readings on Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Creek (IN) above Wadesville | 1.85 ft | 0 kcfs | not defined | 2026-11-05 19:15:00 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.
Fish the DNR names on Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
The fish shown for Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) carry DNR labels from access sites, stocking rows or records, not catch reports.
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.
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Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) has no DNR-mapped access point.
Other ramps if Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) is busy
- Kruger Lake boat ramp on Krueger LakeKrueger Lake, 6 miles
- Whip-poor-will Lake boat rampWhip-poor-will Lake, 7 miles
- Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area on Nighthawk LakeNighthawk Lake, 8 miles
- Goose Pond boat ramp (east)Goose Pond, 8 miles
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.
DNR releases logged for Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | October | Smallmouth Bass | 877 | 0.01 |
| 1980 | August | Smallmouth Bass | 12 | |
| 1980 | May | Rock Bass | 106 |
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 Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
| 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 |
The guide treats Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) as moving water for bass and catfish limits.
- 12-inch river bass countiesAll rivers and streams in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn counties (with the exception of the Blue River, where the slot limit applies in Crawford, Harrison, and Washington counties).
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.
Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) and its closest neighbours
Graham Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) sits near 6 miles from Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties), the closest listed.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) | this stream | 40 | 1 | 0 |
| Graham Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) | 6 miles north | 48 | 0 | 0 |
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River | 11 miles northwest | 79 | 1 | 2 |
| Indian Kentuck Creek | 13 miles east | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Otter Creek (Jennings and Ripley Counties) | 13 miles north | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Laughery Creek | 19 miles northeast | 76 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Around the edges of Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
Lakes in the same part of Indiana as Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
- Krueger Lake6 miles
- Arrowhead Marsh7 miles
- Birch Pond7 miles
- Whip-poor-will Lake7 miles
Picking up nightcrawlers and minnows near Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
- Rivercrest Marinamarina, Madison, 10 miles
- Monday's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, North Vernon, 12 miles
- Eagle Hollow Marine and Motorsportsmarina, Madison, 13 miles
- SCC Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Versailles, 15 miles
- Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, North Vernon, 16 miles
- Adams Marinamarina, Madison, 16 miles
Hoosier towns sitting near Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
- Madison9 miles
- Hanover11 miles
- North Vernon12 miles
One more river beside Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
- Graham Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)6 miles
- Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River11 miles
- Indian Kentuck Creek13 miles
- Otter Creek (Jennings and Ripley Counties)13 miles
- Laughery Creek19 miles
County guides tied to Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
- Jefferson County
- Jennings County
- Ripley County
Piscifun picks for a day out on Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
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Telling Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) fish apart from a photo
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
What the bait counter hears about Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
Which town is near Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)?
It runs through Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley counties, and its mapped point is about 9 miles from Madison.
Is Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) a long river?
The NHD map shows 40 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
How do I get onto Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)?
No public site is mapped on it.
Which species does the DNR list for Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)?
DNR sources name smallmouth bass and rock bass.
How many black bass may an Indiana angler keep from Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)?
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 The 12-inch minimum for the Ohio River counties covers it.
Can I fish Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) without paying a fee to the state?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Who measures Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)?
USGS gauge Big Creek Near Wadesville, IN reports live; see the flow band.
Is there a bait shop by Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)?
Our list starts with Rivercrest Marina, about 10 miles away,.
Is Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) a trout stream?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Plan a float down Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)
Fees, stamps and river rules sit on one page.