Wildcat Creek Fishing
This creek crosses Carroll County and 4 other counties; NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
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Reading Wildcat Creek before you wade in
Wildcat Creek is an Indiana creek that runs 83 miles of mapped NHD line in Carroll County and 4 other counties. On state lists it is NRC Outstanding River (2013 list). Gas and ice are closest in Russiaville, about 6 miles away.
You can put in at 2 ramps the DNR maps. Its flow and height come 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.
Wildcat Creek on DNR stream lists
- DesignationNRC Outstanding River (2013 list)
- Reach as listedS.R. 29 to confluence with Wabash River
Each line above for Wildcat Creek 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 Wildcat Creek
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek Near Jerome, In | 28 cfs, 1.74 ft gage height | Nov 7 11:15 pm |
| Wildcat Creek At Kokomo, In | 22 cfs, 3.09 ft gage height | Nov 8 12:00 am |
| Wildcat Creek At Owasco, In | 66 cfs, 1.98 ft gage height | Nov 8 12:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Treat the live Wildcat Creek numbers as provisional.
Stage readings along Wildcat Creek
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek (IN) near Jerome | 1.75 ft | 0.0291 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:15:00 UTC |
| Wildcat Creek (IN) near Lafayette | 2.87 ft | 0.139 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC |
| Wildcat Creek (IN) at Kokomo | 3.22 ft | 0.0293 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 20:00:00 UTC |
| Wildcat Creek (IN) at Owasco | 1.96 ft | 0.0631 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 19:15:00 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 Wildcat Creek, per the DNR
DNR sources, not anglers, named these fish in Wildcat Creek.
- DNR fish survey report 2014 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2014 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2014 (PDF)
- DNR fish survey report 2014 (PDF)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterworks Park on Wildcat Creek | boat ramp | concrete ramp, no fee recorded | Kokomo Parks & Recreation |
| Wildcat Creek Access | boat ramp | boat ramp, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North |
| Wildcat Creek at Fairfield Park | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Tippecanoe County Parks |
| Tippecanoe County Park on Wildcat Creek | shore access | restrooms, no fee recorded | Tippecanoe Co. Parks |
| Burlington shore access on Wildcat Creek | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Wildcat Guardians |
| Adam's Mill shore access on Wildcat Creek | shore access | no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Wildcat Guardians |
| Dayton PAS – Wildcat Creek shore access | access site | no fee recorded | State of Indiana – Dept. of Transportation |
| Mis-So-La carry-down access on Wildcat Creek | carry-down access | no fee recorded | NICHES Land Trust |
| Peter's Mill carry-down access on Wildcat Creek | carry-down access | no fee recorded | NICHES Land Trust |
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.
Fish the DNR released into Wildcat Creek
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April | Rainbow Trout | 302 | 9.88 |
| 2025 | April | Brown Trout | 200 | 9.7 |
| 2016 | October | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 12.5 |
| 1979 | October | Channel Catfish | 100 | |
| 1977 | November | Largemouth Bass | 368 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Rainbow and brown trout planned for Wildcat Creek
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned number | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening day streams, north | Wildcat Creek | 300 | Rainbow Trout |
The plan gives Wildcat Creek goals, not counts of fish.
Indiana DNR 2026 trout stocking plan (updated March 20, 2026; planned targets, DNR notes actual numbers may vary), read November 5, 2026.
Bag counts and inch rules on Wildcat 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 |
River and stream rows apply to Wildcat Creek for bass and catfish; other species follow the statewide table.
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.
Five streams close to Wildcat Creek
The closest stream page to Wildcat Creek is Middle Fork Wildcat Creek, about 12 miles away.
| Stream | Distance | Mapped NHD miles in IN | USGS gauges | DNR ramps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek | this stream | 83 | 4 | 2 |
| Middle Fork Wildcat Creek | 12 miles west | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| South Fork Wildcat Creek | 17 miles southwest | 44 | 1 | 0 |
| Sugar Creek (Boone and Clinton Counties) | 37 miles southwest | 88 | 2 | 1 |
| Eagle Creek (Boone and Hamilton Counties) | 38 miles south | 36 | 6 | 1 |
| Little Pine Creek (Tippecanoe and Warren Counties) | 39 miles west | 15 | 0 | 0 |
USGS NHD and gauges, Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites; read November 5, 2026.
A Hoosier back-road drive from Wildcat Creek
Other lakes a county or two from Wildcat Creek
- Eller Pond9 miles
- Kokomo Reservoir16 miles
- Lake Cicott22 miles
- Prophetstown Fishing Pond24 miles
Grab bait on the way into Wildcat Creek
- Bryant's Outdoor Storebait and tackle shop, Kokomo, 10 miles
- Treasures In the Woods live bait, tackle and deer processingbait and tackle shop, Delphi, 19 miles
- Chucks Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Logansport, 19 miles
- Eel River Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Logansport, 22 miles
- Riverside Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Marion
- Aqua Marine of Anderson Incmarina, Anderson
Guided Indiana trips on Wildcat Creek
- Sugar Creek Anglersfishing guide, (765) 401-6034
Indiana towns close to Wildcat Creek
- Russiaville6 miles
- Flora10 miles
- Galveston11 miles
Other Indiana rivers near Wildcat Creek
The counties Wildcat Creek passes through
- Carroll County
- Grant County
- Howard County
- Madison County
- Tippecanoe County
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Wildcat Creek
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish to know on sight at Wildcat Creek

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Photo: rjp, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Wildcat Creek: questions Hoosier anglers bring up
Through which Indiana country does Wildcat Creek wind?
Its counties are Carroll County and 4 other counties, and its mapped point is about 6 miles from Russiaville.
What is the mapped length of Wildcat Creek?
The NHD map shows 83 miles of line in Indiana; that is a mapping figure, not a DNR survey.
Can I put a boat in Wildcat Creek?
The DNR maps 9 access sites; Waterworks Park on Wildcat Creek is one.
What might bite for a Hoosier angler in Wildcat Creek?
Look for bluegill, catfish, redear sunfish, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout and channel catfish.
Is there a slot limit on Wildcat 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
Which Indiana license papers cover Wildcat Creek?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
How high is Wildcat Creek running?
The live panel shows Wildcat Creek Near Jerome, IN.
Which listed shop can outfit a Hoosier trip to Wildcat Creek?
Stop at Bryant's Outdoor Store, about 10 miles away,.
Is Wildcat Creek on a special state list?
State lists name it: NRC Outstanding River (2013 list).
Load the canoe for Wildcat Creek
Check the stream rows before you keep a bass.

