Fishing near Bloomington, Indiana
Monroe County, population 79,168 (2020 Census).
- 3 milesto nearest lake page
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for redear sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Bart Everson, CC BY 4.0
Bloomington for anglers, in short
Bloomington, a city in Monroe County, had 79,168 residents at the 2020 Census. Drive roughly 3 miles north and you reach Griffy Lake, the closest lake guide. Top of the list by area: Monroe Lake, at 10,750 acres. A 2 miles drive puts a trailer at Griffy Lake boat ramp.
Without a boat, head to Will Detmer Park, some 3 miles off.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Bloomington; miles are straight lines.
Paged lakes ranked by miles from Bloomington
| Lake | Distance | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griffy Lake | 3 miles north | 117 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish | |
| Detmer Park Pond | 3 miles west | pond | 0 | channel catfish, redear sunfish, bluegill | ||
| Monroe Lake | 8 miles southeast | 10,750 acres | reservoir | 9 | bluegill, redear sunfish, common carp | |
| Lake Lemon | 10 miles northeast | 1,454 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | catfish, largemouth bass, white bass | |
| Yellowwood Lake | 10 miles east | 123 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish | |
| Bluegill Pond (Monroe County) | 11 miles southeast | pond | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass |
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset via IndianaMap), not a DNR survey figure. Depths from DNR Status & Trends surveys with the survey year. 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.
For the redear sunfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Streams in reach of Bloomington
- Clear Creek (Monroe County)7 miles, 17.8 mi of mapped NHD line in Indiana
- Raccoon Creek (Monroe and Owen Counties)12 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- North Fork Salt Creek13 miles, 1 USGS gauge
Live streamflow by Bloomington
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek Near Harrodsburg, In | 6.62 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 10:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
NHD named flowlines, DNR river designations and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 5, 2026.
Where to launch near Bloomington, mapped
- Griffy Lake boat rampGriffy Lake, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req, Electric only, 2 miles
- Paynetown boat ramp on Monroe LakeMonroe Lake, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, 7 miles
- Moore's Creek boat ramp on Monroe LakeMonroe Lake, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, 7 miles
- Pinegrove boat ramp on Monroe LakeMonroe Lake, concrete ramp, restrooms, fee: Lake Permit Required, 8 miles
- Cutright boat ramp on Monroe LakeMonroe Lake, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, 9 miles
- Lake Lemon boat rampLake Lemon, concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, fee: Entry Fee, 9 miles
- Yellowwood Lake boat rampYellowwood Lake, boat ramp, fishing pier, restrooms, Electric only, 10 miles
- Allen's Creek boat ramp on Monroe LakeMonroe Lake, concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, 10 miles
Shore access a quick hop from Bloomington
- Will Detmer Parkfishing pier, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 3 miles
- Bluegill Pond shore access (north)shore access, restrooms, no fee recorded, 11 miles
- Monroe Lake Tailwaters shore access on Clear Creek (Monroe County)shore access, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 11 miles
- Holland Ridge Pond shore accessshore access, restrooms, no fee recorded, 11 miles
- Slippery Elm Shoot Pond South shore accessshore access, Electric only, 12 miles
- Slippery Elm Shoot Pond North shore accessshore access, Electric only, 12 miles
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.
Reservoir figures near Bloomington
- Monroe Lake537.58 ft pool, 8 miles, read 2026-11-05 19:25:00 UTC
- Cagles Mill Lake637.53 ft pool, 28 miles, read 2026-11-05 19:15:00 UTC
One reading per lake, dated, not a feed.
USACE Louisville District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge MONI3, read November 5, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Stocking up near Bloomington
The nearest tackle aisles to Bloomington
- Dick's Sporting Goods Bloomingtonsporting goods store, Bloomington, 2 miles
- Fish Indy Electronics & Guide Servicebait and tackle shop, Bloomington, 2 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Bloomingtonsporting goods store, Bloomington, 2 miles
- Handy Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bloomington, 5 miles
- Lake Monroe Boat Rentalmarina, Bloomington, 7 miles
- Fishun' Frannies Custom Baitsbait and tackle shop, Ellettsville, 8 miles
- Lake Monroe Marinamarina, Bloomington, 8 miles
- Fairfax Marine Sales & Service Incmarina, Bloomington, 8 miles
Licensed guides within reach of Bloomington
- Fishin' Sheddcharter, Bloomington, (812) 837-9474
Yellow Pages, chain store and DNR property listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); DNR licensed guide list and tourism bureau charter listings; read November 5, 2026.
Weigh-ins on lakes by Bloomington
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2027 | Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Lake Monroe (April 2027) | Monroe Lake | Major League Fishing |
| June 19, 2027 | Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Lake Monroe (June 2027) | Monroe Lake | Major League Fishing |
| Sept. 20, 2026 | IBF Trail 2026 #6 Monroe | Monroe Lake | Indiana Bass Federation |
| May 2, 2026 | IBF 2026 Zone 2 Regional Championship | Monroe Lake | Indiana Bass Federation |
| April 19, 2026 | IBF Trail 2026 #1 Monroe | Monroe Lake | Indiana Bass Federation |
| Sept. 28, 2025 | IBF Trail 2025 #6 Monroe | Monroe Lake | Indiana Bass Federation |
| May 4, 2025 | IBF Trail 2025 #2 Monroe | Monroe Lake | Indiana Bass Federation |
| date not printed | Phoenix BFL Hoosier Division Lake Monroe 2026 | Monroe Lake | Major League Fishing |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in Monroe County or within 20 miles, checked November 2026.
The record book around Bloomington
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 8 lb. 3.6 oz. | Monroe Lake | Monroe County | 2024 |
| Bighead Carp | 53 lb. 8 oz. | White River | Pike County | 2000 |
| Flathead Catfish | 79 lb. 8 oz. | White River | Lawrence County | 1966 |
| Freshwater Drum | 30 lb. | White River | Martin County | 1963 |
| Sucker | 12 lb. 3.3 oz. | White River | Bartholemew County | 1991 |
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. Waters within 40 miles.
Fish a Bloomington angler may keep
The DNR fee table sets the yearly license at $23 for Indiana residents and $60 for everyone else.
| Species | Daily limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Redear Sunfish | 25 | no size limit |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in lakes) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| 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 |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in Lake Michigan) | 3, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Yellow Bass | Unlimited | 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 |
| Striped Bass | 2 | no size limit |
| Rock Bass | 25 | no size limit |
| Crappie | 25 | no size limit |
| 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 |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 1 muskellunge or 1 tiger muskellunge | 36 inches |
| Northern Pike | 3 | 24 inches; no more than one 30 inches or longer |
| Yellow Perch | Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan) | no size limit |
| 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 |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in lakes) | 10 | None; 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 |
| Bullhead | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Unlimited | 25 inches (fork length) |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026. Lake and river pages print any special regulation entry. Indiana DNR license fees (license year April 1 to March 31), read November 5, 2026.
Beyond Bloomington
Other Hoosier bases by Bloomington
- Ellettsville7 miles
- Smithville-Sanders7 miles
- Nashville16 miles
- Spencer16 miles
- Martinsville18 miles
Which county holds Bloomington
- Monroe Countyseat: Bloomington
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Bloomington
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling Bloomington fish apart from a photo
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
What visitors to Bloomington ask about fishing
Which lake guide is nearest Bloomington?
Griffy Lake, 3 miles north.
Which recorded ramp is the quickest run from Bloomington?
About 2 miles to Griffy Lake boat ramp.
Where can Bloomington anglers fish with no boat at all?
Will Detmer Park is nearest, 3 miles away.
Which tackle seller is listed closest to Bloomington?
Dick's Sporting Goods Bloomington is listed 2 miles from town.
Which county page covers Bloomington?
It lies in Monroe County.
What does a non-Hoosier pay to fish near Bloomington?
The DNR nonresident annual license costs $60, or $15 for a single day.
Which lake near Bloomington has the most area?
Monroe Lake maps at 10,750 acres and lies 8 miles off.
Which other towns are a quick drive from Bloomington?
Nearby towns are Ellettsville (7 miles), Smithville-Sanders (7 miles) and Nashville (16 miles).
Do bass clubs weigh in close to Bloomington?
8 events on file; the next is Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Lake Monroe (April 2027) on Monroe Lake, April 24, 2027.
Did a state record fish come from near Bloomington?
Smallmouth Bass, 8 lb. 3.6 oz., 2024, from Monroe Lake.
Choose your water near Bloomington
Lake pages list ramps, depths and special rules.