Common Carp in Indiana
DNR limits, the state record and Indiana waters for common carp.
- no statewide rowbag
- 43 lb. 4 oz.record
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Indiana common carp at a glance
Indiana's statewide chart passes over common carp without a row. Where a lake or stream has its own guide entry, that entry still counts.
The Indiana Record Fish Program lists 43 lb. 4 oz. as the top common carp, from Pike Lake in 1989. Start with Monroe Lake, Patoka Lake and Brookville Lake; 61 Indiana water pages list it.
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), Cyprinidae (carps).
The state-record common carp
| Weight as printed | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 lb. 4 oz. | Pike Lake | Kosciusko County | 1989 |
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.
Hoosier waters naming common carp
- Monroe Lake10,750 acres, Monroe County
- Patoka Lake8,800 acres, Crawford County
- Brookville Lake4,364 acres (NHD outline area), Franklin County
- Salamonie Lake2,874 acres (NHD outline area), Wabash County
- Mississinewa Lake2,160 acres (NHD outline area), Wabash County
- Cecil M Harden Lake1,674 acres (NHD outline area), Parke County
- Cagles Mill Lake1,400 acres, Owen County
- Eagle Creek Reservoir1,128 acres (NHD outline area), Marion County
- Summit Lake (Henry County)819 acres (NHD outline area), Henry County
- Cedar Lake (Lake County)797 acres (NHD outline area), Lake County
- Waldron Lake429 acres (NHD outline area), Noble County
- Simonton Lake303 acres (NHD outline area), Elkhart County
- J. Edward Roush Lake298 acres (NHD outline area), Huntington County
- Lake George (Lake County)276 acres (NHD outline area), Lake County
- Pike Lake257 acres (NHD outline area), Kosciusko County
- John Hay Lake212 acres (NHD outline area), Washington County
- Versailles Lake178 acres (NHD outline area), Ripley County
- Huntingburg Lake164 acres (NHD outline area), Dubois County
- Middlefork Reservoir154 acres (NHD outline area), Wayne County
- Brush Creek Reservoir146 acres (NHD outline area), Jennings County
- Lake Shakamak54 acres (NHD outline area), Sullivan County
- Little Cedar Lake47 acres (NHD outline area), Whitley County
- Yellow Creek Lake15 acres (NHD outline area), Elkhart County
- Brownstown PitJackson County
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
Close relatives of Indiana common carp
- Bighead Carpno statewide row
- Grass Carpno statewide row
- Silver Carpno statewide row
Piscifun tackle for the next run to Indiana common carp
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What the banks by Common Carp look like
Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 2.0
Photo: bob, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Carmel Central, CC BY 2.0
Hoosier angler questions on common carp
What does the Indiana guide allow for common carp per day?
No statewide line exists for it; check that lake's rules.
How heavy is Indiana's common carp record?
Pike Lake produced it in 1989: 43 lb. 4 oz.
Which Indiana waters hold common carp?
Monroe Lake, Patoka Lake and Brookville Lake lead a list of 61 Indiana pages.
Which Indiana waters change the common carp rule?
None of the special waters mention it by name; general gear rules still apply.
Do Indiana hatcheries raise common carp?
The DNR stocking dashboard has no row for it.
Must a visitor buy a license for Indiana common carp?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
How does the DNR list common carp scientifically?
Cyprinus carpio; family Cyprinidae (carps), on the DNR Fishes of Indiana list.
Do Free Fishing Days cover common carp?
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). Limits still apply on those days.
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Pick one of those Indiana waters for its ramps.