Mississinewa River Fishing
An Indiana river through Delaware County and 4 other counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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The Mississinewa River, the Hoosier rundown
The Mississinewa River covers 102 miles of NHD-mapped channel in Delaware County and 4 other counties. State lists class it as NRC Outstanding River (2013 list) and DNR put-and-take salmonid stream. Upland is the nearest Census place, about 2 miles from the mapped point.
The DNR access layer maps 3 ramps on it. You can check 3 USGS gauges for today.
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.
What the state lists the Mississinewa River as
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- DesignationDNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- Reach as listedMississinewa Reservoir to confluence with Wabash River
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
For the Mississinewa River, the reach notes are the wording of the source lists.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
What the Mississinewa River is doing right now
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Mississinewa River At Ridgeville, In | 22 cfs, 3.84 ft gage height | Nov 8 12:00 am |
| Mississinewa River At Marion, In | 89 cfs, 1.13 ft gage height | Nov 7 11:45 pm |
| Mississinewa River At Peoria, In | 2.73 ft gage height | Nov 8 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Live USGS data on the Mississinewa River may still be revised.
NWS stage figures for the Mississinewa River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississinewa River at Peoria | 5.08 ft | 1.93 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 UTC |
| Mississinewa River at Marion | 1.12 ft | 0.0786 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Mississinewa River at Ridgeville | 3.86 ft | 0.0234 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 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.
The fish the DNR records for the Mississinewa River
DNR lists produced this the Mississinewa River species line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Mill Park on Mississinewa River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Marion Parks Dept. |
| Gas City Public Access Site on Mississinewa River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Public Access South/ Gas City Parks |
| Matthews boat ramp on Mississinewa River | boat ramp | boat ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Matthews Cemetery Association |
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.
Stocking dashboard lines for the Mississinewa River
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April | Rainbow Trout | 403 | 9.88 |
| 2025 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 9.0 |
| 2024 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 9.45 |
| 2023 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 9.37 |
| 2022 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 9.6 |
| 2021 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 10.71 |
| 2020 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 10.9 |
| 2019 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 10.7 |
| 2018 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 11.2 |
| 2017 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 10.73 |
| 2016 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 10.6 |
| 2015 | April | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 10.02 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Where the trout plan sends fish on the Mississinewa River
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned number | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening day streams, north | Mississinewa River | 400 | Rainbow Trout |
Planned, not delivered: the Mississinewa River trout numbers.
Indiana DNR 2026 trout stocking plan (updated March 20, 2026; planned targets, DNR notes actual numbers may vary), read November 5, 2026.
Bag and size rules on the Mississinewa 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 |
Bass and catfish in the Mississinewa River fall under the river and stream rows of the guide.
- Inland troutInland Trout sizes & limits | Species | Daily Bag Limit | Minimum Size | Brook Trout | 5, any combination of brook, rainbow, or brown trout; no more than one may be brown trout | 7 inches* | Rainbow Trout | Brown Trout | *There is no minimum size limit for trout caught from lakes, except for an 18-inch size limit for brown trout at Oliver, Olin, and Martin lakes in LaGrange County and Brookville Lake tailwater (East Fork Whitewater River) in Franklin County. |
Special regulation water rules at Mississinewa River
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Mississinewa River (Randolph) | Trout | Closed April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) on the stocked section while DNR completes trout stockings |
Special regulation waters as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
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 Mississinewa River in a table with nearby streams
Next over from the Mississinewa River: Salamonie River, around 15 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississinewa River | this stream | 102 | 3 | 3 |
| Salamonie River | 15 miles northeast | 78 | 3 | 1 |
| Fall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties) | 36 miles southwest | 54 | 4 | 1 |
| Little River | 37 miles north | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Eel River (Allen and Cass Counties) | 42 miles northwest | 89 | 2 | 7 |
| Saint Marys River | 42 miles northeast | 38 | 4 | 1 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A few Hoosier miles off Mississinewa River
Other lakes a state-road drive from Mississinewa River
- Mansfield Park Pond20 miles
- Shadyside Lake22 miles
- Prairie Creek Reservoir24 miles
- Salamonie Lake24 miles
Topping off the minnow bucket near Mississinewa River
- Boatman's Marina & Power Sportsmarina, Muncie, 13 miles
- Riverside Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Marion, 13 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Munciesporting goods store, Muncie, 16 miles
- JBC Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Muncie, 17 miles
- Lighthouse Bait & Tackle, 2830 E Memorial Drbait and tackle shop, Muncie, 19 miles
- S & S Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Andrews, 22 miles
Towns with a motel near Mississinewa River
- Upland2 miles
- Gas City6 miles
- Hartford City7 miles
Indiana streams near the Mississinewa River
- Salamonie River15 miles
- Fall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties)36 miles
- Little River37 miles
- Eel River (Allen and Cass Counties)42 miles
- Saint Marys River42 miles
Indiana counties along Mississinewa River
- Delaware County
- Grant County
- Miami County
- Randolph County
- Wabash County
Piscifun tackle for the next run to Mississinewa River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Picture ID for the fish swimming at Mississinewa River
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
The Mississinewa River, one question at a time
Where in Indiana is the Mississinewa River?
It crosses Delaware County and 4 other counties, and its mapped point is about 2 miles from Upland.
How many miles of the Mississinewa River are in Indiana?
The NHD map shows 102 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Which DNR access site puts me on the Mississinewa River?
3 access sites are mapped, Charles Mill Park on Mississinewa River among them.
What swims in the Mississinewa River?
The DNR lists smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye and rock bass.
May I keep a 13-inch bass from the Mississinewa 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
What will an Indiana license run me for the Mississinewa River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
Where can I check the flow of the Mississinewa River?
See Mississinewa River at Ridgeville, IN above.
What tackle store is closest on the drive to the Mississinewa River?
Boatman's Marina & Power Sports, about 13 miles away, heads the list.
Is the Mississinewa River an Outstanding River?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list); DNR put-and-take salmonid stream.
Wade into the Mississinewa River this season
The flow panel tells you when to go.