Laughery Creek Fishing
A creek of Dearborn, Ohio and Ripley counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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What an Indiana angler should know about Laughery Creek
Through Dearborn, Ohio and Ripley counties, Laughery Creek traces 76 miles of mapped NHD line. It carries the label NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). From the mapped point it is roughly 3 miles to Versailles.
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 Laughery Creek
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedSource just east of Morris in Ripley Co. to confluence with Ohio River
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
State lists supplied Laughery 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 Laughery Creek
Laughery 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.
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The DNR access layer lists nothing on Laughery Creek; ask landowners before crossing private banks.
Launches worth knowing near Laughery Creek
- Versailles Lake boat rampVersailles Lake, 3 miles
- Old Timber Lake boat rampOld Timber Lake, 10 miles
- Brush Creek Reservoir boat rampBrush Creek Reservoir, 16 miles
- Bischoff Reservoir boat rampBischoff Reservoir, 17 miles
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 Laughery Creek
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | April | Sauger | 340,000 | |
| 2008 | Multiple | Sauger | 10,935 | 1.42 |
| 2006 | April | Sauger | 274,700 | |
| 2004 | April | Sauger | 224,100 | |
| 2003 | April | Sauger | 196,800 | |
| 1999 | November | Smallmouth Bass | 2,051 | 5.21 |
| 1997 | October | Smallmouth Bass | 5,000 | 3.09 |
| 1996 | November | Largemouth Bass | 3,944 | 8.0 |
| 1996 | November | Smallmouth Bass | 4,900 | 2.7 |
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 Laughery 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 Laughery Creek, use the stream rows for bass and catfish.
- 12-inch river bass countiesAll rivers and streams in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn counties (with the exception of the Blue River, where the slot limit applies in Crawford, Harrison, and Washington counties).
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.
Laughery Creek beside other Indiana streams
For a second option near Laughery Creek, Otter Creek (Jennings and Ripley Counties) lies about 13 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laughery Creek | this stream | 76 | 0 | 0 |
| Otter Creek (Jennings and Ripley Counties) | 13 miles west | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Indian Kentuck Creek | 13 miles south | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Graham Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) | 16 miles west | 48 | 0 | 0 |
| Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties) | 19 miles southwest | 40 | 1 | 0 |
| Tanners Creek | 19 miles east | 11 | 1 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Down the state road from Laughery Creek
A second lake to try after Laughery Creek
- Versailles Lake3 miles
- Old Timber Lake9 miles
- Brush Creek Reservoir16 miles
- Mollenkramer Reservoir16 miles
Bait counters along the drive to Laughery Creek
- Grandpa's Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Dillsboro, 3 miles
- R & J Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Versailles, 3 miles
- R & J Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Versailles, 4 miles
- SCC Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Versailles, 4 miles
- Sunset Bay Marina & Campgroundmarina, Aurora, 17 miles
- Newt's Bait Housebait and tackle shop, Aurora, 17 miles
Hiring a Hoosier guide for Laughery Creek
- Top 2% Guide Services LLCfishing guide, (573) 418-2148
Beds and diners within reach of Laughery Creek
- Versailles3 miles
- Osgood8 miles
- Milan8 miles
Neighbouring streams of Laughery Creek
- Otter Creek (Jennings and Ripley Counties)13 miles
- Indian Kentuck Creek13 miles
- Graham Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)16 miles
- Big Creek (Jefferson and Jennings Counties)19 miles
- Tanners Creek19 miles
Each county touching Laughery Creek, linked
- Dearborn County
- Ohio County
- Ripley County
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Laughery Creek
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Hoosier lakes and creeks near Laughery Creek, on camera
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0 1.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0 1.0
Laughery Creek, one question at a time
How do I find Laughery Creek?
Find it in Dearborn, Ohio and Ripley counties, and its mapped point is about 3 miles from Versailles.
What length is given for Laughery Creek?
The NHD map shows 76 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Is there a ramp on Laughery Creek?
It has no DNR-mapped access.
What fish are in Laughery Creek?
Expect sauger, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass, by DNR records.
What bass rules apply on Laughery 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 Its counties fall under the 12-inch rule for Ohio River counties.
Which Indiana permit belongs in the tackle box for Laughery Creek?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
What is the stage on Laughery Creek?
It is ungauged in our data.
Where do I get crawlers for Laughery Creek?
Head to Grandpa's Live Bait, about 3 miles away,.
What state status does Laughery Creek have?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Watch the gauge, then float Laughery Creek
Know the slot before the first cast.