Fishing near Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart County, population 53,923 (2020 Census).
- 2 milesto nearest lake page
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for redear sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
The water around Elkhart
At the last Census the city of Elkhart in Elkhart County counted 53,923 residents. Some 2 miles west lies Mt Tea State Forest Lake, nearer than any other lake guide. Of the nearby lakes, Simonton Lake is broadest at 303 acres (NHD outline area). Boats go in at Sherman St. Bridge boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), about 1 mile away.
Bank anglers can try American Park on Elkhart River, under a mile away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Elkhart; miles are straight lines.
Lake guides closest to Elkhart
| Lake | Distance | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Tea State Forest Lake | 2 miles west | lake | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | ||
| Simonton Lake | 4 miles north | 303 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, common carp | |
| Heaton Lake | 4 miles northeast | 91 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 0 | tiger muskellunge, channel catfish, northern pike | |
| Indiana Lake | 8 miles northeast | 40 acres (NHD outline area) | 69 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2014) | lake | 0 | |
| Goshen Dam Pond | 11 miles southeast | 126 acres (NHD outline area) | pond | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | |
| Fidler Pond | 11 miles southeast | pond | 0 | bluegill, 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.
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- Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)4 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, Lake Michigan tributary, 14 DNR access sites, 2 USGS gauges
- Cobus Creek5 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- Eller Ditch8 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- Baugo Creek8 miles, 21.3 mi of mapped NHD line in Indiana
- Willow Creek (St. Joseph County)9 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Judy Creek11 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, 1 USGS gauge
USGS gauges near Elkhart
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph River At Elkhart, In | 1,780 cfs, 18.68 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:30 pm |
| Elkhart River At Goshen, In | 17 cfs, 2.40 ft gage height | Nov 6 8:15 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.
The Elkhart access map
- Sherman St. Bridge boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded, 1 mile
- Studebaker Park on Elkhart RiverElkhart River, concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 1 mile
- McNaughton Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 2 miles
- Edgewater Park on Elkhart RiverElkhart River, boat ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, lights, no fee recorded, 2 miles
- Simonton Lake boat rampSimonton Lake, concrete ramp, no fee recorded, 4 miles
- St. Joe River – Six Span Bridge boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, no fee recorded, 4 miles
- Ox Bow Park Canoe Launch on Elkhart RiverElkhart River, boat ramp, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee, 5 miles
- Baugo Bay boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), gravel ramp, no fee recorded, 6 miles
Bank and pier spots out of Elkhart
- American Park on Elkhart Rivershore access, no fee recorded, under a mile
- High Dive Park on Elkhart Rivershore access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, under a mile
- Island Park (Elkhart) on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)shore access, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, under a mile
- Martin's Landing on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)shore access, ADA access, no fee recorded, under a mile
- Beardsley Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)fishing pier, ADA access, no fee recorded, under a mile
- Hayden Park Pond on Mt Tea State Forest Lakefishing pier, ADA access, no fee recorded, 2 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.
Gear and guides by Elkhart
Where Elkhart anglers buy minnows
- Midway Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Osceola, 5 miles
- Wyland's Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 8 miles
- Starboard Choice Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 11 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 12 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 12 miles
- Stacy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, South Bend, 12 miles
- Tackle Shackbait and tackle shop, Middlebury, 13 miles
- Premier Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Syracuse
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.
Big Hoosier fish landed near Elkhart
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 42 lb. 8 oz. | James Lake | Kosciusko County | 2002 |
| Common Carp | 43 lb. 4 oz. | Pike Lake | Kosciusko County | 1989 |
| Spotted Gar | 9 lb. 11 oz. | Rivir Lake | Noble County | 2024 |
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.
Limits on a trip out of Elkhart
A twelve-month Indiana license is $23 at resident rates and $60 at nonresident rates.
| 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.
Moving on from Elkhart
Town guides near Elkhart
- Simonton Lake4 miles
- Dunlap4 miles
- Osceola6 miles
- Bristol7 miles
- Granger9 miles
The county around Elkhart
- Elkhart Countyseat: Goshen
Piscifun picks for a day out on Elkhart
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Picture ID for the fish swimming at Elkhart
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ray Dumas, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions on water around Elkhart
Which lake guide here sits closest to Elkhart?
Mt Tea State Forest Lake, 2 miles west.
Where do Elkhart anglers launch a trailered boat?
It is Sherman St. Bridge boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), some 1 mile off.
Which DNR shore site is the short drive from Elkhart?
American Park on Elkhart River, a drive of under a mile.
Where do Elkhart anglers get nightcrawlers?
Midway Bait & Tackle is listed 5 miles from town.
What Indiana county holds Elkhart?
It is in Elkhart County.
What does an annual license cost for a Elkhart visitor?
A visitor from another state pays $60 for the nonresident annual, or $15 for a single day.
Which large lake is a drive from Elkhart?
Simonton Lake maps at 303 acres (NHD outline area) and lies 4 miles off.
Which town guide is nearest to Elkhart?
Going by miles, Simonton Lake (4 miles), Dunlap (4 miles) and Osceola (6 miles) come first.
Has nearby water given Elkhart a state record?
Muskellunge, 42 lb. 8 oz., 2002, from James Lake.
Plan a Hoosier fishing trip from Elkhart
River guides carry access sites plus USGS gauges.