Deep River Fishing
A river of Lake and Porter counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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What an Indiana angler should know about the Deep River
Through Lake and Porter counties, the Deep River traces 23 miles of mapped NHD line. It carries the label NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). From the mapped point it is under a mile to Hobart.
Boaters get 1 ramp on the DNR layer. Flow data comes from 3 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.
How the DNR classes the Deep River
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listed1 mile south of U.S. 30 to Little Calumet River
State lists supplied the Deep River 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.
USGS stations on the Deep River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Deep River At Grand Blvd At Merrillville, In | 3.26 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:15 pm |
| Deep River At Lake George Outlet At Hobart, In | 34 cfs, 4.56 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:30 pm |
| Deep River Near Liverpool, In | 5.70 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 11:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The Deep River USGS panel is provisional.
NWS gauges on the Deep River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep River (IN) at Hobart | 4.51 ft | 0.0298 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:30:00 UTC |
| Deep River (IN) at Liverpool | 5.59 ft | – | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:15:00 UTC |
| Deep River (IN) near Merrillville | 3.28 ft | – | no flooding | 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.
Species on the DNR list for the Deep River
The Deep River names follow DNR wording.
- DNR fish survey report 2015 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2015 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2015 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2015 (PDF)
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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| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicentennial Park on Deep River | boat ramp | boat ramp, fishing pier, lights, no fee recorded | Lake Station Parks Dept. |
| Riverview Park on Deep River | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Station Parks Dept. |
| Deep River County Park | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Lake 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 the Deep River
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | November | Channel Catfish | 18,000 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
What can go home from the Deep 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 |
For the Deep River, use the stream rows for bass and catfish.
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.
The Deep River beside other Indiana streams
For a second option near the Deep River, Little Calumet River lies about 6 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep River | this stream | 23 | 3 | 1 |
| Little Calumet River | 6 miles northwest | 19 | 7 | 0 |
| Salt Creek (Porter County) | 7 miles east | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Grand Calumet River | 12 miles northwest | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Coffee Creek (Porter County) | 13 miles east | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana Harbor Canal | 15 miles northwest | 2 | 1 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Down the state road from Deep River
A second lake to try after Deep River
- Lake George (Lake County)2 miles
- Robinson Park Pond3 miles
- Rosser Park Pond4 miles
- Three Rivers County Park Pond5 miles
Bait counters along the drive to Deep River
- Dick's Sporting Goods Merrillvillesporting goods store, Merrillville, 3 miles
- Slez's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Lake Station, 5 miles
- Westforth Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Gary, 6 miles
- Lair's Pawn-Sports-Petbait and tackle shop, Portage, 7 miles
- Freedom Arms Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Crown Point, 7 miles
- South Shore Marina Inc Jrmarina, Portage, 8 miles
Hiring a Hoosier guide for Deep River
- Captain Q Charterscharter, Portage, (219) 869-0297
- Rainmaker Charterscharter, Portage, (219) 762-9336
- Triplecatch Lake Michigan Sportfishing Charterscharter, Lake Station, (219) 588-5929
Beds and diners within reach of Deep River
- Hobartunder a mile
- Merrillville3 miles
- New Chicago4 miles
Neighbouring streams of the Deep River
- Little Calumet River6 miles
- Salt Creek (Porter County)7 miles
- Grand Calumet River12 miles
- Coffee Creek (Porter County)13 miles
- Indiana Harbor Canal15 miles
Each county touching Deep River, linked
- Lake County
- Porter County
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Deep River
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Hoosier lakes and creeks near Deep River, on camera
Photo: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Mike Maehr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Steve Shook, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mike Steele, CC BY 2.0
What the bait counter hears about the Deep River
How do I find the Deep River?
Find it in Lake and Porter counties, and its mapped point is under a mile from Hobart.
What length is given for the Deep River?
The NHD map shows 23 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Is there a ramp on the Deep River?
Start at Bicentennial Park on Deep River, one of 3 access sites.
What fish are in the Deep River?
Expect common carp, catfish and channel catfish, by DNR records.
What bass rules apply on the Deep 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
Which Indiana permit belongs in the tackle box for the Deep River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
What is the stage on the Deep River?
Look for Deep River at Grand Blvd at Merrillville, IN above.
Where do I get crawlers for the Deep River?
Head to Dick's Sporting Goods Merrillville, about 3 miles away,.
What state status does the Deep River have?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Watch the gauge, then float the Deep River
Know the slot before the first cast.