Elkhart River Fishing
Elkhart and Noble counties carries this river; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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The Elkhart River on the Indiana map
The NHD map gives the Elkhart River 41 miles of line within Indiana, across Elkhart and Noble counties. Its state status: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). The handiest town is Goshen, around 5 miles away.
The DNR map shows 10 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 Elkhart River
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedS.R. 13 to Island Park in Elkhart
These the Elkhart 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 Elkhart River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhart River At Goshen, In | 17 cfs, 2.40 ft gage height | Nov 6 8:15 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 Elkhart River.
NOAA gauge readings on the Elkhart River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart River at Goshen | 2.41 ft | 0.0171 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 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 Elkhart River
The fish shown for the Elkhart 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.
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| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton boat ramp on Elkhart River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Elkhart Co. Parks |
| Edgewater Park on Elkhart River | boat ramp | boat ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ City of Elkhart |
| Ligonier Public Access Site on Elkhart River | boat ramp | boat ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
| Mallard Roost #1 boat ramp on Elkhart River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Mallard Roost #2 boat ramp on Elkhart River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Ox Bow Park Canoe Launch on Elkhart River | boat ramp | boat ramp, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| Rogers Park on Elkhart River | boat ramp | boat ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | City of Goshen |
| Shanklin Park on Elkhart River | boat ramp | gravel ramp, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | City of Goshen |
| Studebaker Park on Elkhart River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | City of Elkhart |
| William T. Malle boat ramp on Elkhart River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
| Benton Spillway shore access on Elkhart River | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| Ox Bow Park Fishing Pier on Elkhart River | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| American Park on Elkhart River | shore access | no fee recorded | City of Elkhart |
| Baintertown Park on Elkhart River | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| Benton Hydro shore access on Elkhart River | shore access | no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| DeFries Gardens shore access on Elkhart River | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| Baintertown Hydro shore access on Elkhart River | shore access | no fee recorded | Elkhart County Parks Dept. |
| High Dive Park on Elkhart River | shore access | restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | City of Elkhart |
| Baintertown Dam shore access on Elkhart River | shore access | 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.
DNR releases logged for the Elkhart River
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October | Walleye | 3,250 | |
| 2022 | October | Walleye | 2,917 | 7.5 |
| 2020 | October | Walleye | 3,250 | 7.0 |
| 2018 | October | Walleye | 3,250 | 7.5 |
| 2016 | October | Walleye | 3,250 | 7.0 |
| 2014 | October | Walleye | 3,250 | 7.2 |
| 2012 | October | Walleye | 3,250 | 7.0 |
| 2002 | October | Walleye | 2,200 | |
| 2001 | October | Walleye | 2,000 | |
| 1998 | May | Walleye | 42,900 | 1.7 |
| 1994 | April | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 10.91 |
| 1980 | September | Northern Pike | 225 | 8.0 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Indiana limits in force on the Elkhart 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 Elkhart 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 Elkhart River and its closest neighbours
Juday Ditch sits near 5 miles from the Elkhart River, the closest listed.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart River | this stream | 41 | 1 | 10 |
| Juday Ditch | 5 miles southeast | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Solomon Creek | 9 miles southeast | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Rowe-Eden Ditch | 11 miles northeast | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Little Elkhart River | 12 miles northeast | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Baugo Creek | 13 miles northwest | 21 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Around the edges of Elkhart River
Lakes in the same part of Indiana as Elkhart River
- Sunnyside Park Pond North1 mile
- Goshen Dam Pond4 miles
- Fidler Pond4 miles
- Syracuse Lake7 miles
Picking up nightcrawlers and minnows near Elkhart River
- Premier Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 5 miles
- Allan's Mobile Marinemarina, Syracuse, 7 miles
- Track & Channel Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 7 miles
- Main Channel Marinamarina, Syracuse, 8 miles
- Wawasee Boat Worksmarina, Syracuse, 8 miles
- Dewart Lake Tackle Companybait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 10 miles
Guide services listed around Elkhart River
- Voirol Chartersfishing guide, (574) 377-8892
Hoosier towns sitting near Elkhart River
- Goshen5 miles
- Syracuse7 miles
- Milford7 miles
One more river beside the Elkhart River
- Juday Ditch5 miles
- Solomon Creek9 miles
- Rowe-Eden Ditch11 miles
- Little Elkhart River12 miles
- Baugo Creek13 miles
County guides tied to Elkhart River
- Elkhart County
- Noble County
Piscifun picks for a day out on Elkhart River
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Telling Elkhart River fish apart from a photo
Photo: Craig Chew-Moulding, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rex Hammock, CC BY-SA 2.0
Things Indiana anglers ask about the Elkhart River
Which town is near the Elkhart River?
It runs through Elkhart and Noble counties, and its mapped point is about 5 miles from Goshen.
Is the Elkhart River a long river?
The NHD map shows 41 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
How do I get onto the Elkhart River?
Benton boat ramp on Elkhart River is among 19 access sites.
Which species does the DNR list for the Elkhart River?
DNR sources name common carp, catfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout, northern pike and brown trout.
How many black bass may an Indiana angler keep from the Elkhart 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 Elkhart 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 Elkhart River?
USGS gauge Elkhart River at Goshen, IN reports live; see the flow band.
Is there a bait shop by the Elkhart River?
Our list starts with Premier Bait & Tackle, about 5 miles away,.
Is the Elkhart River a trout stream?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Plan a float down the Elkhart River
Fees, stamps and river rules sit on one page.