Trail Creek (LaPorte County) Fishing
Moving water in LaPorte County; DNR put-and-take salmonid stream.
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Trail Creek (LaPorte County), sized up for Indiana anglers
Mapped NHD line puts 6 miles of Trail Creek (LaPorte County) inside Indiana, through LaPorte County. The state lists it as DNR put-and-take salmonid stream and DNR salmonid stream. Plan on under a mile to the town of Michigan City.
DNR access data shows 1 ramp. Discharge is measured at 2 USGS gauges. Lake-run fish from Lake Michigan enter it.
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.
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- DesignationDNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- DesignationDNR salmonid stream
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
The rows for Trail Creek (LaPorte County) 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 Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Trail Creek At Michigan City, In | 52 cfs, 2.11 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:30 pm |
| Trail Creek At Michigan City Harbor, In | 38 cfs, 6.25 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:40 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 7, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS readings for Trail Creek (LaPorte County) update live and are provisional.
Dam gauge readings on Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail Creek at Michigan City Harbor | 5.73 ft | – | not defined | 2026-11-05 19:40:00 UTC |
| Trail Creek at Michigan City | 2.04 ft | 0.0483 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.
DNR-listed fish in Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
For Trail Creek (LaPorte County) each name traces to a DNR label or row.
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.
Launch spots on Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winding Creek Cove boat ramp on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | boat ramp | boat ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Trail Creek PFA shore access | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| IDNR Lake Michigan Office shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Michigan City Fish & Wildlife Headquarters |
| Hansen Park on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Trail Creek Forks shore access | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Karwick Nature Park on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Sprague Point shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | fishing pier | fishing pier, ADA access, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Trail Creek (Creek Ridge County Park) | shore access | ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ LaPorte Co. Parks |
| Michigan City Firehouse shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Trail Creek (Old Johnson Rd.) shore access | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Millenium Plaza shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded | City of Michigan City |
| Robert Peo PFA shore access on Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Lake Michigan Office |
| Worthington boat ramp on White River | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
| Bristol boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Town of Bristol |
| Pine Knob Park on Meteer Lake | fishing pier | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | LaGrange County Parks |
| Spencer Pit boat ramp | boat ramp | boat ramp, fee: Lake Permit Required, Electric only | Greene-Sullivan State Forest |
| Bluebird Pit boat ramp | boat ramp | dirt ramp, no fee recorded, Electric only | Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Corky Pit boat ramp | boat ramp | boat ramp, fee: Lake Permit Required, Electric only | Greene-Sullivan State Forest |
| Trimble Pit boat ramp | boat ramp | boat ramp, fee: Lake Permit Required, Electric only | Greene-Sullivan State Forest |
| Spring Mill Park Lake | fishing pier | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req, Electric only | Spring Mill State Park |
| Hurshtown Reservoir boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee, Electric only | Fort Wayne Parks |
| Reflection Lake shore access | shore access | lights, no fee recorded | University of Southern Indiana |
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.
Tributary rules for Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- Coho and Chinook salmon (stream)September through mid-November
- Skamania (summer-run) steelhead (stream)Mid-July to mid-October; winter months January through March, depending on stream conditions; return from July (sometimes mid-June), spawn mid-February to March
- Michigan (winter-run) steelhead (stream)Mid-November to mid-March; return from mid to late October with the bulk in February and March; spawn March to mid-April
- Coho salmon (lake, boat and pier)Boat season from ice-out (mid-February to April); March to mid-May coho are close to 90 percent of the catch within two miles of shore; shore anglers best March through April
- Tributary rulesTributary Restrictions Possession of a fish spear, gig, gaff, bowfishing equipment, crossbow, grab hook, spear gun, club, snag hook, or underwater spear is prohibited in the following water bodies: in or adjacent to the Galena River (LaPorte County), Trail Creek (LaPorte County), the East Branch of the Little Calumet River (LaPorte and Porter counties), Salt Creek (Porter County), the West Branch of the Little Calumet River (Lake and Porter counties), Burns Ditch (Lake and Porter counties), Deep River downstream from the dam at Lake George (Lake County), and the tributaries to these waters.
- ClosuresTributary Closures No fishing is allowed within 100 feet upstream of the Trail Creek sea lamprey barrier or downstream to the Pottawattomie Country Club Golf Course property line located adjacent to Springland Avenue in Michigan City. Fishing is not allowed within 100 feet above or below the Praxair Dam on the East Branch of the Little Calumet River.
- DNR shoreline guideTen public fishing sites (two handicap accessible): access site by the DNR building, Hansen Park (E Street), Winding Creek Cove (8th/Dickson Streets), Fire Station #2 (2005 E. U.S. Hwy 12), Robert Peo Public Access (Liberty Trail), Karwick Nature Park (Karwick Road), U.S. 35 (Chapala Parkway), Trail Creek Forks (U.S. 20), Johnson Road (Johnson/Wozniak Roads), Creek Ridge Park (7943 W. 400 North) (guide p.4)
- DNR shoreline guideClosed to all fishing April 1 to June 15 from the Franklin Street Bridge in Michigan City upstream to U.S. 35 (guide p.15; check the current DNR fishing guide)
- DNR shoreline guideTrail Creek sea lamprey barrier: fixed-crest low-head barrier with stop logs, operated by USFWS about April 1 to June 15 (guide p.9)
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Fishing for trout or salmon in Lake Michigan and its tributaries also needs the $11 trout/salmon stamp.
Indiana DNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan section of the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, read November 5, 2026.
Hatchery rows for Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | May | Chinook Salmon | 99,176 | 4.27 |
| 2026 | Multiple | Coho Salmon | 28,210 | 7.52 |
| 2026 | Multiple | Steelhead | 95,943 | 7.26 |
| 2025 | September | Coho Salmon | 63,009 | 6.4 |
| 2025 | May | Chinook Salmon | 75,157 | 4.09 |
| 2025 | Multiple | Steelhead | 155,062 | 6.19 |
| 2024 | October | Coho Salmon | 46,776 | 7.43 |
| 2024 | April | Chinook Salmon | 102,688 | 3.74 |
| 2024 | Multiple | Steelhead | 120,644 | 6.73 |
| 2023 | October | Coho Salmon | 35,307 | 6.67 |
| 2023 | April | Chinook Salmon | 101,078 | 3.86 |
| 2023 | Multiple | Steelhead | 161,122 | 6.54 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
How many fish leave Trail Creek (LaPorte County) 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 Trail Creek (LaPorte County), the river versions of the bass and catfish rows replace the lake ones.
- 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. |
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.
Indiana record fish tied to Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
| Species | Weight as printed | Year | Water as listed | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | 38 lb. | 1980 | Trail Creek | La Porte |
| Steelhead Trout | 26 lb. 9.9 oz. | 1999 | Trail Creek | LaPorte |
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.
Nearby Indiana current around Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
Reynolds Creek is the nearest neighbour of Trail Creek (LaPorte County), roughly 9 miles off.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | this stream | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Reynolds Creek | 9 miles south | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| East Arm Little Calumet River | 10 miles southwest | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Coffee Creek (Porter County) | 13 miles southwest | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Little Kankakee River | 16 miles southeast | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Salt Creek (Porter County) | 19 miles southwest | 16 | 2 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A short haul from Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
More Indiana lakes within reach of Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- Pine Lake (LaPorte County)9 miles
- Fishtrap Lake9 miles
- Stone Lake (LaPorte County)9 miles
- Clear Lake (LaPorte County)10 miles
Stores stocking hooks and line around Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- Michigan City Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Trail Creek, 1 mile
- Trail Creek Marinamarina, Michigan City, 2 miles
- BPR Marine Servicesmarina, Michigan City, 2 miles
- B & E Marinemarina, Michigan City, 2 miles
- Michigan City Harbor (Washington Park Marina)marina, Michigan City, 2 miles
- Chiefsbaitbait and tackle shop, Michigan City, 3 miles
Indiana guides and charters on Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- Canadian Fly-In Fishingcharter, Michigan City, (219) 872-8849
- Cloud Nine Fishing Charterscharter, Michigan City, (219) 898-5090
- Fin Addict Charter Fishingcharter, (219) 331-5377
- Fire Drill Charterscharter, Michigan City, (219) 898-8111
Places to eat and sleep near Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- Michigan Cityunder a mile
- Trail Creek2 miles
- Long Beach2 miles
Further Hoosier streams by Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- Reynolds Creek9 miles
- East Arm Little Calumet River10 miles
- Coffee Creek (Porter County)13 miles
- Little Kankakee River16 miles
- Salt Creek (Porter County)19 miles
County pages that take in Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
- LaPorte County
A Piscifun lineup sized for Trail Creek (LaPorte County)
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Lakes and stream bends close to Trail Creek (LaPorte County), in pictures
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sorting out Trail Creek (LaPorte County) before the cooler gets packed
Which counties does Trail Creek (LaPorte County) cross?
Head for LaPorte County, and its mapped point is under a mile from Michigan City.
How many mapped Indiana miles does Trail Creek (LaPorte County) run?
The NHD map shows 6 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Which access sites serve Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
Try Winding Creek Cove boat ramp on Trail Creek (LaPorte County), one of 22 access sites.
Which fish does the DNR name in Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
DNR labels name salmon, trout, steelhead trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon and brown trout.
Which bass limit covers Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
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 Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
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.
Is there a flow gauge on Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
Trail Creek at Michigan City, IN reports it live.
Which Indiana bait counter is handiest to Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
Nearest in our list: Michigan City Bait Co, about 1 mile away,.
What designation does Trail Creek (LaPorte County) carry?
State lists name it: DNR put-and-take salmonid stream; DNR salmonid stream.
When do salmon enter Trail Creek (LaPorte County)?
Coho and Chinook salmon (stream): September through mid-November. Skamania (summer-run) steelhead (stream): Mid-July to mid-October; winter months January through March, depending on stream conditions; return from July (sometimes mid-June), spawn mid-February to March. Michigan (winter-run) steelhead (stream): Mid-November to mid-March; return from mid to late October with the bulk in February and March; spawn March to mid-April.
Is Trail Creek (LaPorte County) on the Indiana record list?
Chinook Salmon, 38 lb. (1980), appears on the DNR record list; angler names are not printed here.
Give Trail Creek (LaPorte County) a Saturday
Get the Indiana license on the DNR site before the float.