Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) Fishing
Crawford, Harrison and Washington counties carries this river; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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The Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) on the Indiana map
The NHD map gives the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) 72 miles of line within Indiana, across Crawford, Harrison and Washington counties. Its state status: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). The handiest town is Corydon, around 12 miles away.
The DNR map shows 4 ramps reaching it. Flow 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.
State designations on the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedConfluence of Middle Fork Blue to confluence with Ohio River
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
These the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison 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 the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Blue River At Fredericksburg, In | 30 cfs, 2.91 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:30 pm |
| Blue River Near White Cloud, In | 287 cfs, 2.75 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 7, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Provisional live values from USGS on the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties).
NOAA gauge readings on the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue River (IN) at Fredericksburg | 3.4 ft | 0.0844 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
| Blue River (IN) at White Cloud | 2.63 ft | – | 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 the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
The fish shown for the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison 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.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 DNR access points along the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue River Chapel boat ramp | boat ramp | gravel ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Lock & Dam #44 boat ramp on Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Old Iron Bridge boat ramp on Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) | boat ramp | boat ramp, no fee recorded | Harrison- Crawford State Forest |
| Rothrock Mill boat ramp on Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) | boat ramp | gravel ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded | Harrison-Crawford State Forest |
| Milltown shore access on Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
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.
Indiana limits in force on the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison 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 the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison 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.
Heavy fish from the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) on the DNR list
| Species | Weight as printed | Year | Water as listed | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 40 lb. 3.8 oz. | 2023 | Blue River | Harrison |
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.
The Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) and its closest neighbours
Indian Creek (Clark and Floyd Counties) sits near 10 miles from the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties), the closest listed.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) | this stream | 72 | 2 | 4 |
| Indian Creek (Clark and Floyd Counties) | 10 miles southeast | 64 | 0 | 0 |
| Little Blue River (Crawford County) | 14 miles southwest | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Little Indian Creek (Clark and Floyd Counties) | 18 miles east | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Stinking Fork | 18 miles southwest | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Buck Creek (Floyd and Harrison Counties) | 19 miles southeast | 27 | 3 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Around the edges of Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
Lakes in the same part of Indiana as Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
- Buffalo Trace Lake9 miles
- Bluegill Pond (Crawford County)9 miles
- Hayswood Lake12 miles
- Cold Friday Pond13 miles
Picking up nightcrawlers and minnows near Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
- Patoka Lake Boat and Marinebait and tackle shop, French Lick, 20 miles
- Gilligan's Boatsmarina, Birdseye, 21 miles
- Four Seasons Market & Baitbait and tackle shop, Borden, 22 miles
- Red Barn Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Salem, 22 miles
- Patoka Lake Marinamarina, Birdseye, 22 miles
Hoosier towns sitting near Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
- Corydon12 miles
- Greenville14 miles
- New Pekin16 miles
One more river beside the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
County guides tied to Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
- Crawford County
- Harrison County
- Washington County
Piscifun picks for a day out on Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
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Telling Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) fish apart from a photo

Photo: Craig Chew-Moulding, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Things Indiana anglers ask about the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
Which town is near the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)?
It runs through Crawford, Harrison and Washington counties, and its mapped point is about 12 miles from Corydon.
Is the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) a long river?
The NHD map shows 72 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
How do I get onto the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)?
Blue River Chapel boat ramp is among 5 access sites.
Which species does the DNR list for the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)?
DNR sources name common carp, catfish, sauger, smallmouth bass and striped bass.
How many black bass may an Indiana angler keep from the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison 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 the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison 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 the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)?
USGS gauge Blue River at Fredericksburg, IN reports live; see the flow band.
Is there a bait shop by the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)?
Our list starts with Patoka Lake Boat and Marine, about 20 miles away,.
Is the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties) a trout stream?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Which record row names the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)?
Striped Bass, 40 lb. 3.8 oz. (2023), appears on the DNR record list; angler names are not printed here.
Plan a float down the Blue River (Crawford and Harrison Counties)
Fees, stamps and river rules sit on one page.

