Black River Fishing
An Indiana river through Gibson and Posey counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Pick for largemouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Wabash River: Sarah Stierch, CC BY 2.0
The Black River, the Hoosier rundown
The Black River covers 19 miles of NHD-mapped channel in Gibson and Posey counties. State lists class it as NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). Owensville is the nearest Census place, about 7 miles from the mapped point.
You can check 3 USGS gauges for today.
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.
What the state lists the Black River as
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedConfluence with Higginbotham Ditch to confluence with Wabash River
For the Black River, the reach notes are the wording of the source lists.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
What the Black River is doing right now
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Black Creek At Darling Rd Near Harlan, In | 1.63 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:05 pm |
| Black Creek At Brush College Rd Near Harlan, In | 0 cfs, 1.38 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:05 pm |
| Black Creek Near Harlan, In | 5 cfs, 2.08 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 11:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Live USGS data on the Black River may still be revised.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
Getting onto the Black River
No DNR access site names the Black River; bridges and public road crossings are the usual entry, so respect posted land.
Ramps one cove over from Black River
- Crawleyville boat ramp on Wabash RiverWabash River, 6 miles
- New Harmony boat ramp on Wabash RiverWabash River, 10 miles
- Patoka Island boat ramp on Wabash RiverWabash River, 12 miles
- Harmonie State Park on Wabash RiverWabash River, 14 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 and size rules on the Black 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 |
Bass and catfish in the Black River fall under the river and stream rows of the guide.
- 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.
For the largemouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 The Black River in a table with nearby streams
Next over from the Black River: Patoka River, around 44 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River | this stream | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Patoka River | 44 miles east | 147 | 4 | 9 |
| Anderson River | 55 miles east | 45 | 0 | 1 |
| Middle Fork Anderson River | 59 miles east | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Busseron Creek | 64 miles north | 34 | 1 | 0 |
| Stinking Fork | 69 miles east | 13 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A few Hoosier miles off Black River
Other lakes a state-road drive from Black River
- Gibson Lake10 miles
- Harmonie State Park Big Pond13 miles
- Harmonie State Park Little Pond13 miles
- Lafayette Park Pond16 miles
Topping off the minnow bucket near Black River
- M & M Rod Shopbait and tackle shop, Princeton, 15 miles
- Bucks & Jakes Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Evansville, 18 miles
- Dwillsbait.Combait and tackle shop, Evansville, 19 miles
- Indiana Port Commmarina, Mount Vernon, 20 miles
- Smith's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Evansville, 20 miles
- Bait Bucketbait and tackle shop, Evansville, 22 miles
Towns with a motel near Black River
- Owensville7 miles
- Haubstadt12 miles
- Fort Branch12 miles
Indiana streams near the Black River
- Patoka River44 miles
- Anderson River55 miles
- Middle Fork Anderson River59 miles
- Busseron Creek64 miles
- Stinking Fork69 miles
Indiana counties along Black River
- Gibson County
- Posey County
Piscifun tackle for the next run to Black River
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Picture ID for the fish swimming at Black River
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
The Black River, one question at a time
Where in Indiana is the Black River?
It crosses Gibson and Posey counties, and its mapped point is about 7 miles from Owensville.
How many miles of the Black River are in Indiana?
The NHD map shows 19 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Which DNR access site puts me on the Black River?
Nothing on the DNR layer reaches it.
What swims in the Black River?
No DNR species list exists for it.
May I keep a 13-inch bass from the Black 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 In this county set the 12-inch river rule applies instead, per the guide.
What will an Indiana license run me for the Black River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Where can I check the flow of the Black River?
See Black Creek at Darling Rd Near Harlan, IN above.
What tackle store is closest on the drive to the Black River?
M & M Rod Shop, about 15 miles away, heads the list.
Is the Black River an Outstanding River?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Wade into the Black River this season
The flow panel tells you when to go.