Iroquois River Fishing
Moving water in Jasper and Newton counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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The Iroquois River, sized up for Indiana anglers
Mapped NHD line puts 46 miles of the Iroquois River inside Indiana, through Jasper and Newton counties. The state lists it as NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). Plan on roughly 6 miles to the town of Rensselaer.
DNR access data shows 3 ramps. Discharge is measured at 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.
Special status of the Iroquois River
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedS.R. 16 to Indiana/Illinois line
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
The rows for the Iroquois River quote the state stream lists.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
Stage and discharge along the Iroquois River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Iroquois River Near Parr, In | 0 cfs, 3.24 ft gage height | Nov 8 12:15 am |
| Iroquois River At Rensselaer, In | 63 cfs, 3.96 ft gage height | Nov 7 11:30 pm |
| Iroquois River Near Foresman, In | 88 cfs, 5.11 ft gage height | Nov 7 11:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS readings for the Iroquois River update live and are provisional.
Dam gauge readings on the Iroquois River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois River near Foresman | 5.12 ft | 0.065 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Iroquois River at Rensselaer | 4.05 ft | 0.0699 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.
DNR-listed fish in the Iroquois River
For the Iroquois River each name traces to a DNR label or row.
- DNR fish survey report 2013 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2013 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2013 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2013 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois River #2 boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Rensselaer (Laird's Landing) on Iroquois River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
| St. Joseph College Public Access Site on Iroquois River | boat ramp | boat ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
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.
How many fish leave the Iroquois River in your cooler
| 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 |
On the Iroquois River, the river versions of the bass and catfish rows replace the lake ones.
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.
Nearby Indiana current around the Iroquois River
Ryan Ditch (Jasper and Pulaski Counties) is the nearest neighbour of the Iroquois River, roughly 17 miles off.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois River | this stream | 46 | 3 | 3 |
| Ryan Ditch (Jasper and Pulaski Counties) | 17 miles northeast | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Mud Pine Creek | 27 miles south | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Big Pine Creek | 28 miles south | 45 | 1 | 0 |
| Kankakee River | 30 miles northeast | 74 | 5 | 10 |
| Little Pine Creek (Tippecanoe and Warren Counties) | 34 miles south | 15 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A short haul from Iroquois River
More Indiana lakes within reach of Iroquois River
- J.C. Murphey Lake13 miles
- South Pit25 miles
- North Pit25 miles
- Lake Shafer26 miles
Places to eat and sleep near Iroquois River
- Rensselaer6 miles
- Morocco10 miles
- Remington11 miles
Further Hoosier streams by the Iroquois River
- Ryan Ditch (Jasper and Pulaski Counties)17 miles
- Mud Pine Creek27 miles
- Big Pine Creek28 miles
- Kankakee River30 miles
- Little Pine Creek (Tippecanoe and Warren Counties)34 miles
County pages that take in Iroquois River
- Jasper County
- Newton County
A Piscifun lineup sized for Iroquois River
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Lakes and stream bends close to Iroquois River, in pictures
Photo: Jim Hammer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Plain answers about the Iroquois River
Which counties does the Iroquois River cross?
Head for Jasper and Newton counties, and its mapped point is about 6 miles from Rensselaer.
How many mapped Indiana miles does the Iroquois River run?
The NHD map shows 46 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Which access sites serve the Iroquois River?
Try Iroquois River #2 boat ramp, one of 3 access sites.
Which fish does the DNR name in the Iroquois River?
DNR labels name common carp, catfish, crappie, northern pike, smallmouth bass and walleye.
Which bass limit covers the Iroquois 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
May an out-of-state visitor wet a line on the Iroquois River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Is there a flow gauge on the Iroquois River?
Iroquois River Near Parr, IN reports it live.
Which Indiana bait counter is handiest to the Iroquois River?
Buy bait before the drive.
What designation does the Iroquois River carry?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Give the Iroquois River a Saturday
Get the Indiana license on the DNR site before the float.