Cobus Creek Fishing
A creek of Elkhart County; DNR put-and-take salmonid stream.
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What an Indiana angler should know about Cobus Creek
Through Elkhart County, Cobus Creek traces 6 miles of mapped NHD line. It carries the label DNR put-and-take salmonid stream. From the mapped point it is roughly 4 miles to Osceola.
Scroll on for access, fish and the river rules.
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 Cobus Creek
- DesignationDNR put-and-take salmonid stream
State lists supplied Cobus Creek 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.
Species on the DNR list for Cobus Creek
Cobus Creek 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 brown trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Ramps and access sites on Cobus Creek
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobus Creek Park Pond | fishing pier | fishing pier, restrooms, no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| Cobus Creek Park | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
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 Cobus Creek
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April | Brown Trout | 747 | 12.37 |
| 2026 | April | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 11.42 |
| 2025 | April | Rainbow Trout | 100 | 9.7 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Brown Trout | 2,831 | 7.29 |
| 2024 | October | Brown Trout | 2,500 | 5.0 |
| 2024 | April | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 9.0 |
| 2023 | April | Rainbow Trout | 188 | 10.24 |
| 2023 | Multiple | Brown Trout | 2,075 | 4.7 |
| 2022 | April | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 10.0 |
| 2020 | April | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 11.5 |
| 2019 | April | Rainbow Trout | 180 | 11.3 |
| 2018 | Multiple | Rainbow Trout | 375 | 11.0 |
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 Cobus Creek
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned number | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening day streams, north | Cobus Creek | 250 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Cobus Creek | 750 | Brown Trout |
For Cobus Creek, 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 Cobus 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 |
For Cobus Creek, 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 Cobus Creek
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Cobus Creek (Elkhart) | Trout | Closed April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) on the stocked section while DNR completes trout stockings |
| Cobus Creek (Elkhart) | Trout | Year-round catch-and-release only, artificial lures or flies only, from Old U.S. 20 downstream to the St. Joseph River |
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.
Cobus Creek beside other Indiana streams
For a second option near Cobus Creek, Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) lies about 2 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobus Creek | this stream | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | 2 miles south | 38 | 2 | 14 |
| Willow Creek (St. Joseph County) | 4 miles west | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Eller Ditch | 6 miles southwest | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Judy Creek | 6 miles west | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Baugo Creek | 9 miles south | 21 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Down the state road from Cobus Creek
A second lake to try after Cobus Creek
- Mt Tea State Forest Lake3 miles
- Simonton Lake5 miles
- Heaton Lake7 miles
- Indiana Lake11 miles
Bait counters along the drive to Cobus Creek
- Midway Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Osceola, 3 miles
- Wyland's Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 5 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 7 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 7 miles
- Starboard Choice Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 8 miles
- Stacy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, South Bend, 9 miles
Beds and diners within reach of Cobus Creek
- Osceola4 miles
- Granger5 miles
- Simonton Lake5 miles
Neighbouring streams of Cobus Creek
- Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)2 miles
- Willow Creek (St. Joseph County)4 miles
- Eller Ditch6 miles
- Judy Creek6 miles
- Baugo Creek9 miles
Each county touching Cobus Creek, linked
- Elkhart County
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Cobus Creek
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Hoosier lakes and creeks near Cobus Creek, on camera
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Cobus Creek, one question at a time
How do I find Cobus Creek?
Find it in Elkhart County, and its mapped point is about 4 miles from Osceola.
What length is given for Cobus Creek?
The NHD map shows 6 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Is there a ramp on Cobus Creek?
Start at Cobus Creek Park Pond, one of 2 access sites.
What fish are in Cobus Creek?
Expect bluegill, brown trout, common carp, some largemouth bass and rainbow trout, by DNR records.
What bass rules apply on Cobus 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 permit belongs in the tackle box for Cobus Creek?
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 Cobus Creek?
It is ungauged in our data.
Where do I get crawlers for Cobus Creek?
Head to Midway Bait & Tackle, about 3 miles away,.
What state status does Cobus Creek have?
State lists name it: DNR put-and-take salmonid stream.
Watch the gauge, then float Cobus Creek
Know the slot before the first cast.