Driftwood River Fishing
Bartholomew County carries this river; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Pick for catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of Columbus: Jeff Hart, CC BY 2.0
The Driftwood River on the Indiana map
The NHD map gives the Driftwood River 15 miles of line within Indiana, across Bartholomew County. Its state status: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). The handiest town is Columbus, around 5 miles away.
The DNR map shows 2 ramps reaching it. Flow comes from 1 USGS gauge.
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 Driftwood River
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedAtterbury Fish and Wildlife Area to Columbus
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
These the Driftwood River 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 Driftwood River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh, In | 270 cfs, 2.03 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 11:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Provisional live values from USGS on the Driftwood River.
NOAA gauge readings on the Driftwood River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driftwood River near Edinburgh | 1.96 ft | 0.245 kcfs | 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.
Fish the DNR names on the Driftwood River
The fish shown for the Driftwood River 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 Driftwood River
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Newton Public Access Site on Driftwood River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Lowell Bridge boat ramp on Driftwood River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, 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 Driftwood 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 |
The guide treats the Driftwood River as moving water for bass and catfish limits.
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 Driftwood River and its closest neighbours
North Fork Salt Creek sits near 18 miles from the Driftwood River, the closest listed.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driftwood River | this stream | 15 | 1 | 2 |
| North Fork Salt Creek | 18 miles west | 44 | 1 | 0 |
| Sand Creek (Bartholomew and Decatur Counties) | 23 miles east | 55 | 1 | 0 |
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River | 27 miles southeast | 79 | 1 | 2 |
| White River | 28 miles west | 346 | 22 | 20 |
| Flatrock River | 29 miles northeast | 91 | 4 | 3 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Around the edges of Driftwood River
Lakes in the same part of Indiana as Driftwood River
- Meadowlark Pit6 miles
- Plover/Sandpiper Pit6 miles
- Lake Cottonwood9 miles
- Pisgah Lake9 miles
Picking up nightcrawlers and minnows near Driftwood River
- Bobs bait and tacklebait and tackle shop, Edinburgh, 6 miles
- Ed's Trading Postbait and tackle shop, Nineveh, 9 miles
- Nineveh Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Nineveh, 9 miles
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Nashville, 10 miles
- Popes Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Shelbyville, 20 miles
- Honey Creek Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bargersville, 20 miles
Hoosier towns sitting near Driftwood River
- Columbus5 miles
- Edinburgh6 miles
- Prince's Lakes10 miles
One more river beside the Driftwood River
- North Fork Salt Creek18 miles
- Sand Creek (Bartholomew and Decatur Counties)23 miles
- Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River27 miles
- White River28 miles
- Flatrock River29 miles
County guides tied to Driftwood River
- Bartholomew County
Piscifun picks for a day out on Driftwood River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling Driftwood River 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 Driftwood River
Which town is near the Driftwood River?
It runs through Bartholomew County, and its mapped point is about 5 miles from Columbus.
Is the Driftwood River a long river?
The NHD map shows 15 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
How do I get onto the Driftwood River?
Bill Newton Public Access Site on Driftwood River is among 2 access sites.
Which species does the DNR list for the Driftwood River?
DNR sources name common carp, catfish, rock bass and smallmouth bass.
How many black bass may an Indiana angler keep from the Driftwood 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
Can I fish the Driftwood River 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 Driftwood River?
USGS gauge Driftwood River Near Edinburgh, IN reports live; see the flow band.
Is there a bait shop by the Driftwood River?
Our list starts with Bobs bait and tackle, about 6 miles away,.
Is the Driftwood River a trout stream?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Plan a float down the Driftwood River
Fees, stamps and river rules sit on one page.