Chinook Salmon in Indiana
Guide rows, record weight and lakes holding Indiana chinook salmon.
- no statewide rowbag
- 38 lb.record
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Indiana chinook salmon, the essentials
The 18 statewide rows of the Indiana guide carry no line for chinook salmon. A lake-by-lake entry in the guide may still apply.
In 1980, Trail Creek gave up the state chinook salmon record of 38 lb. Little Calumet River, Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) and Salt Creek (Porter County) top a list of 4 Indiana pages where the DNR names it. DNR hatcheries put 2,129,677 into 3 waters from 2016 on, per the dashboard.
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Salmonidae (trouts and salmons).
For the chinook salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 chinook salmon in the 2026-2027 Indiana guide
| Where | Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigan and tributaries | Salmon and trout | 5 total salmon and trout; no more than 3 may be lake trout | 14 inches |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
chinook salmon on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River
| Water | Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigan | Salmon and trout | 5 total salmon and trout; no more than 3 may be lake trout | 14 inches |
Lake Michigan and Ohio River rows as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Record chinook salmon in the DNR program
| Weight as printed | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 lb. | Trail Creek | La Porte County | 1980 |
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.
Lakes and rivers with chinook salmon on the DNR list
- Little Calumet RiverLake County
- Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Elkhart County
- Salt Creek (Porter County)Porter County
- Trail Creek (LaPorte County)LaPorte County
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
Recent chinook salmon releases in Indiana
| Water as listed | Fish since 2016 |
|---|---|
| Trail Creek | 801,702 |
| Little Calumet River | 770,953 |
| Michigan, Lake | 557,022 |
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Kin of chinook salmon in Indiana water
- Atlantic Salmonno statewide row
- Brook Troutno statewide row
- Brown Troutno statewide row
- Coho Salmonno statewide row
- Lake Troutno statewide row
- Lake Whitefishno statewide row
- Pink Salmonno statewide row
- Rainbow Troutno statewide row
- Steelhead Troutno statewide row
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Indiana chinook salmon
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Glacial lakes, quarry pits and creek bends near Chinook Salmon, photographed
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Chris Happel, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
chinook salmon in Indiana, reader questions
What is the daily bag for chinook salmon in Indiana?
The guide prints no statewide bag for it; local entries can still apply.
Which Indiana water produced the top chinook salmon?
The program shows 38 lb. from Trail Creek, 1980.
What Indiana lake should I try for chinook salmon?
Try Little Calumet River, Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) and Salt Creek (Porter County), out of 4.
Are there special regulation waters for chinook salmon?
It has no named local entry; each water's general rules still hold.
Which Indiana waters got chinook salmon from the DNR?
Since 2016, 2,129,677 across 3 waters; latest row 2026.
What does the DNR require to fish for chinook salmon?
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.
Which scientific name does the DNR list use for chinook salmon?
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; family Salmonidae (trouts and salmons), on the DNR Fishes of Indiana list.
Are Indiana free days open to chinook salmon anglers?
The Indiana DNR set Free Fishing Days for May 10, June 6-7, and Sept. 26, 2026, for Indiana residents (no license or trout/salmon stamp needed; all other rules apply). Normal limits hold.
Go after Indiana chinook salmon
Click into a Hoosier lake or stream above for its launches and special lines.