Patoka River Fishing
A river of Dubois County and 3 other counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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What an Indiana angler should know about the Patoka River
Through Dubois County and 3 other counties, the Patoka River traces 147 miles of mapped NHD line. It carries the label NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). From the mapped point it is roughly 4 miles to Jasper.
Boaters get 9 ramps on the DNR layer. Flow data comes from 4 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.
How the DNR classes the Patoka River
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedPatoka Reservoir to confluence with Wabash River
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
State lists supplied the Patoka River 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.
USGS stations on the Patoka River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka River Near Cuzco, In | 6.14 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:45 pm |
| Patoka River At Jasper, In | 289 cfs, 8.91 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:15 pm |
| Patoka River At Winslow, In | 208 cfs, 8.91 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.
The Patoka River USGS panel is provisional.
NWS gauges on the Patoka River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patoka River near Cuzco | 5.93 ft | – | not defined | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Patoka River near Jasper | 6.19 ft | 0.0586 kcfs | not defined | 2026-11-05 20:15:00 UTC |
| Patoka River at Princeton | 4.12 ft | 0.252 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Patoka River above Winslow | 9 ft | 0.231 kcfs | not defined | 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.
Species on the DNR list for the Patoka River
The Patoka River 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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| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Station boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Dubois boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | gravel ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Jasper boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South/ City of Jasper |
| Oatsville Station boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Patoka Tail Waters boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Pikeville boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South/ USFWS |
| Stewart boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Survant boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South/ USFWS |
| Winslow boat ramp on Patoka River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, lights, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South/ Town of Winslow |
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 the Patoka River
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | November | Smallmouth Bass | 4,606 | 2.52 |
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 the Patoka 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 |
For the Patoka River, use the stream rows for bass and catfish.
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 Patoka River beside other Indiana streams
For a second option near the Patoka River, Anderson River lies about 19 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patoka River | this stream | 147 | 4 | 9 |
| Anderson River | 19 miles southeast | 45 | 0 | 1 |
| Middle Fork Anderson River | 24 miles southeast | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Lost River | 28 miles northeast | 78 | 1 | 0 |
| Stinking Fork | 29 miles southeast | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Little Blue River (Crawford County) | 32 miles east | 34 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
Down the state road from Patoka River
A second lake to try after Patoka River
- Parkland Park Lake4 miles
- New Huntingburg City Lake6 miles
- Huntingburg Lake7 miles
- Old Holland Lake9 miles
Bait counters along the drive to Patoka River
- The Great Outdoors of Indiana, Inc.bait and tackle shop, Jasper, 5 miles
- Jeff's Bait & Gunsbait and tackle shop, Jasper, 5 miles
- Glendale Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Montgomery, 13 miles
- Hoosier Hills Marinamarina, Celestine, 17 miles
- Genesis Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Montgomery, 19 miles
- Patoka Lake Marinamarina, Birdseye, 19 miles
Beds and diners within reach of Patoka River
- Jasper4 miles
- Huntingburg6 miles
- Ferdinand14 miles
Neighbouring streams of the Patoka River
- Anderson River19 miles
- Middle Fork Anderson River24 miles
- Lost River28 miles
- Stinking Fork29 miles
- Little Blue River (Crawford County)32 miles
Each county touching Patoka River, linked
- Dubois County
- Gibson County
- Orange County
- Pike County
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Patoka River
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Hoosier lakes and creeks near Patoka River, on camera
Photo: Deana Hunter, CC BY 2.0
Photo: adstarkel, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Erica Fischer, CC BY 2.0
What the bait counter hears about the Patoka River
How do I find the Patoka River?
Find it in Dubois County and 3 other counties, and its mapped point is about 4 miles from Jasper.
What length is given for the Patoka River?
The NHD map shows 147 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Is there a ramp on the Patoka River?
Start at Crystal Station boat ramp on Patoka River, one of 9 access sites.
What fish are in the Patoka River?
Expect bluegill, common carp, catfish, largemouth bass, redear sunfish and smallmouth bass, by DNR records.
What bass rules apply on the Patoka 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
Which Indiana permit belongs in the tackle box for the Patoka River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
What is the stage on the Patoka River?
Look for Patoka River Near Cuzco, IN above.
Where do I get crawlers for the Patoka River?
Head to The Great Outdoors of Indiana, Inc., about 5 miles away,.
What state status does the Patoka River have?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Watch the gauge, then float the Patoka River
Know the slot before the first cast.