Big Walnut Creek Fishing
This creek crosses Boone, Hendricks and Putnam counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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Reading Big Walnut Creek before you wade in
Big Walnut Creek is an Indiana creek that runs 58 miles of mapped NHD line in Boone, Hendricks and Putnam counties. On state lists it is NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). Gas and ice are closest in Heritage Lake, about 4 miles away.
Its flow and height come 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.
Big Walnut Creek on DNR stream lists
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedFrom Rte. 43 (U.S. 231) above Green Castle in Putnam County to Rte. 236 Hendricks County
Each line above for Big Walnut Creek is a state list entry, printed as listed.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
Gauge readings from Big Walnut Creek
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Walnut Creek Near Roachdale, In | 10 cfs, 4.76 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:15 pm |
| Big Walnut Creek Near Reelsville, In | 337 cfs, 0.90 ft gage height | Jan 22 11:00 pm Not updated since Jan 22, 2004. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 11:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Treat the live Big Walnut Creek numbers as provisional.
Stage readings along Big Walnut Creek
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Walnut Creek (IN) near Roachdale | 4.82 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:15:00 UTC |
| Big Walnut Creek (IN) near Reelsville | 0.89 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 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.
Reaching Big Walnut Creek
You will not find Big Walnut Creek on the DNR access layer.
More DNR launches that reach Big Walnut Creek
- Glenn Flint Lake boat rampGlenn Flint Lake, 8 miles
- Portland Mills boat ramp on Cecil M Harden LakeCecil M Harden Lake, 13 miles
- Walker Ramp on Cecil M Harden LakeCecil M Harden Lake, 15 miles
- Hollandsburg boat ramp on Cecil M Harden LakeCecil M Harden Lake, 15 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.
Bag counts and inch rules on Big Walnut Creek
| 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 |
River and stream rows apply to Big Walnut Creek for bass and catfish; other species follow the statewide table.
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.
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The closest stream page to Big Walnut Creek is Big Raccoon Creek, about 13 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Walnut Creek | this stream | 58 | 2 | 0 |
| Big Raccoon Creek | 13 miles west | 77 | 3 | 0 |
| Indian Creek (Montgomery County) | 17 miles northwest | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Mill Creek (Hendricks and Morgan Counties) | 17 miles south | 49 | 2 | 0 |
| Sugar Creek (Boone and Clinton Counties) | 24 miles north | 88 | 2 | 1 |
| Sugar Mill Creek | 26 miles northwest | 20 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A Hoosier back-road drive from Big Walnut Creek
Other lakes a county or two from Big Walnut Creek
- Jaycee Park Pond9 miles
- Glenn Flint Lake9 miles
- Deer Creek Pond13 miles
- Cecil M Harden Lake16 miles
Grab bait on the way into Big Walnut Creek
- Heritage Lake Marinamarina, Coatesville, 3 miles
- Morton Hook & Sinker Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Greencastle, 9 miles
- Beautiful Bud's Sports and Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Crawfordsville, 20 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Plainfieldsporting goods store, Plainfield, 22 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Avon, 214 Gable Crossing Drivesporting goods store, Avon, 23 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Avonsporting goods store, Avon, 23 miles
Indiana towns close to Big Walnut Creek
- Heritage Lake4 miles
- Greencastle8 miles
- Ladoga12 miles
Other Indiana rivers near Big Walnut Creek
- Big Raccoon Creek13 miles
- Indian Creek (Montgomery County)17 miles
- Mill Creek (Hendricks and Morgan Counties)17 miles
- Sugar Creek (Boone and Clinton Counties)24 miles
- Sugar Mill Creek26 miles
The counties Big Walnut Creek passes through
- Boone County
- Hendricks County
- Putnam County
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Big Walnut Creek
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish to know on sight at Big Walnut Creek
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ray Dumas, CC BY-SA 2.0
Big Walnut Creek: questions Hoosier anglers bring up
Through which Indiana country does Big Walnut Creek wind?
Its counties are Boone, Hendricks and Putnam counties, and its mapped point is about 4 miles from Heritage Lake.
What is the mapped length of Big Walnut Creek?
The NHD map shows 58 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Can I put a boat in Big Walnut Creek?
The DNR maps no access site on it; use legal road crossings.
What might bite for a Hoosier angler in Big Walnut Creek?
No species are named for it in DNR data.
Is there a slot limit on Big Walnut Creek?
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 license papers cover Big Walnut Creek?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
How high is Big Walnut Creek running?
The live panel shows Big Walnut Creek Near Roachdale, IN.
Which listed shop can outfit a Hoosier trip to Big Walnut Creek?
Stop at Heritage Lake Marina, about 3 miles away,.
Is Big Walnut Creek on a special state list?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Load the canoe for Big Walnut Creek
Check the stream rows before you keep a bass.