Whitewater River Fishing
This river crosses Dearborn County and 4 other counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Pick for largemouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Brookville Lake: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Reading the Whitewater River before you wade in
The Whitewater River is an Indiana river that runs 87 miles of mapped NHD line in Dearborn County and 4 other counties. On state lists it is NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). Gas and ice are closest in Connersville, about 4 miles away.
You can put in at 1 ramp the DNR maps. Its flow and height come from 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.
The Whitewater River on DNR stream lists
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedCambridge City to Indiana/Ohio line Wayne (West Harrison, OH)
- Navigableon the Indiana navigable waterways list
Each line above for the Whitewater River is a state list entry, printed as listed.
Natural Resources Commission Outstanding Rivers list (2013), DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers, Indiana navigable waterways list; read November 5, 2026.
Gauge readings from the Whitewater River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Whitewater River Near Economy, In | 0 cfs, 3.11 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:45 pm |
| Whitewater River Near Alpine, In | 214 cfs, 6.11 ft gage height | Nov 6 11:00 pm |
| Whitewater River At Brookville, In | 1,160 cfs, 3.85 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 11:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Treat the live the Whitewater River numbers as provisional.
Stage readings along the Whitewater River
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater River at Brookville | 3.86 ft | 1.16 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Whitewater River near Economy | 3.14 ft | – | not defined | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 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.
What swims in the Whitewater River, per the DNR
DNR sources, not anglers, named these fish in the Whitewater River.
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.
Reaching the Whitewater River
| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connersville Canoe Site on Whitewater River | boat ramp | boat ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access South |
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.
Bag counts and inch rules on the Whitewater 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 |
River and stream rows apply to the Whitewater River for bass and catfish; other species follow the statewide table.
- 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.
For the largemouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 DNR record weights pulled from the Whitewater River
| Species | Weight as printed | Year | Water as listed | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mooneye | 9 oz. | 2025 | Whitewater River | Dearborn |
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.
Five streams close to the Whitewater River
The closest stream page to the Whitewater River is East Fork Whitewater River, about 11 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater River | this stream | 87 | 3 | 1 |
| East Fork Whitewater River | 11 miles northeast | 39 | 3 | 0 |
| Little Flatrock River | 17 miles west | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Flatrock River | 21 miles west | 91 | 4 | 3 |
| Little Blue River (Henry and Rush Counties) | 23 miles west | 41 | 1 | 0 |
| Big Blue River | 28 miles west | 76 | 2 | 4 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A Hoosier back-road drive from Whitewater River
Other lakes a county or two from Whitewater River
- Smalley's Lake2 miles
- Brookville Lake9 miles
- Whitewater Lake9 miles
- Manlove Lake10 miles
Grab bait on the way into Whitewater River
- Quakertown Marina Incmarina, Liberty, 8 miles
- Kent's Harbor Marinamarina, Liberty, 10 miles
- King's Wholesale Baitbait and tackle shop, Liberty, 12 miles
- Lake Santee Marinamarina, Greensburg, 17 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Richmondsporting goods store, Richmond, 22 miles
- McDonald's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Knightstown, 24 miles
Guided Indiana trips on Whitewater River
- Bourbon Country Outfitter LLCfishing guide, (859) 967-6047
- Two Forks Guide Service, LLCfishing guide, (317) 223-6590
Indiana towns close to Whitewater River
- Connersville4 miles
- Liberty12 miles
- Brookville14 miles
Other Indiana rivers near the Whitewater River
- East Fork Whitewater River11 miles
- Little Flatrock River17 miles
- Flatrock River21 miles
- Little Blue River (Henry and Rush Counties)23 miles
- Big Blue River28 miles
The counties Whitewater River passes through
- Dearborn County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Randolph County
- Wayne County
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Whitewater River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish to know on sight at Whitewater River
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Sorting out the Whitewater River before the cooler gets packed
Through which Indiana country does the Whitewater River wind?
Its counties are Dearborn County and 4 other counties, and its mapped point is about 4 miles from Connersville.
What is the mapped length of the Whitewater River?
The NHD map shows 87 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Can I put a boat in the Whitewater River?
The DNR maps a single access site on it: Connersville Canoe Site on Whitewater River.
What might bite for a Hoosier angler in the Whitewater River?
Look for mooneye.
Is there a slot limit on the Whitewater 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 The Ohio River county rule (12 inches, 5 a day) applies.
Which Indiana license papers cover the Whitewater River?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
How high is the Whitewater River running?
The live panel shows Whitewater River Near Economy, IN.
Which listed shop can outfit a Hoosier trip to the Whitewater River?
Stop at Quakertown Marina Inc, about 8 miles away,.
Is the Whitewater River on a special state list?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Which Indiana record entry names the Whitewater River?
Mooneye, 9 oz. (2025), appears on the DNR record list; angler names are not printed here.
Load the canoe for the Whitewater River
Check the stream rows before you keep a bass.