Fishing near Fort Wayne, Indiana
Allen County, population 263,886 (2020 Census).
- 1 mileto nearest lake page
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for redear sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Casting from a Fort Wayne base
The 2020 Census found 263,886 people in Fort Wayne, a city of Allen County. Lakeside Park Pond is the nearest lake with a guide, roughly 1 mile to the east. Everett Lake is the big one close by, 44 acres (NHD outline area). The nearest recorded ramp is Guldlin Park on Saint Marys River, under a mile away.
The nearest DNR pier or shore site is Spy Run Creek (Franke Park) on Shoaff Lake, 1 mile away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Fort Wayne; miles are straight lines.
Lakes a drive from Fort Wayne
| Lake | Distance | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Park Pond | 1 mile east | pond | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | ||
| Swinney Park Pond | 1 mile southwest | pond | 0 | channel catfish | ||
| Shoaff Lake | 1 mile north | 15 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie | |
| Reservoir Park Pond | 2 miles south | reservoir | 0 | channel catfish, largemouth bass | ||
| Salomon Farm Park Pond | 6 miles north | pond | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | ||
| Everett Lake | 10 miles northwest | 44 acres (NHD outline area) | 42 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2010) | lake | 1 | 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 Creeks and rivers by Fort Wayne
- Spy Run Creek2 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, 1 USGS gauge
- Maumee River11 miles, 2 DNR access sites, 3 USGS gauges
- Saint Marys River14 miles, 1 DNR access site, 4 USGS gauges
- Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties)14 miles, 5 DNR access sites, 1 USGS gauge
USGS stations close to Fort Wayne
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Maumee River At Columbia St At Fort Wayne, In | 12.51 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:00 pm |
| St. Marys River At Main St. At Fort Wayne, In | 75 cfs, 7.87 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:15 pm |
| Spy Run Creek Near Park Drive At Fort Wayne, In | 4 cfs, 6.00 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:00 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.
Fort Wayne water on the map
- Guldlin Park on Saint Marys RiverSaint Marys River, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded, under a mile
- Maumee Dam Public Access SiteMaumee River, boat ramp, no fee recorded, 2 miles
- Johnny Appleseed boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties)Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties), boat ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 2 miles
- Shoaff Park Ramp on Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties)Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties), boat ramp, no fee recorded, 5 miles
- North River Road Trailhead and Boat Ramp on Maumee RiverMaumee River, boat ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded, 5 miles
- Mayhew Bridge boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties)Saint Joseph River (Allen and DeKalb Counties), concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded, 7 miles
- Everett Lake boat rampEverett Lake, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded, 10 miles
- Cedarville Reservoir boat rampCedarville Reservoir, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 12 miles
Pier rails within reach of Fort Wayne
- Spy Run Creek (Franke Park) on Shoaff Lakeurban fishing site, 1 mile
- Spy Run Creek Urban Fishing Siteshore access, 1 mile
- Northeast Lakeside Pond (Lakeside Park) on Lakeside Park Pondurban fishing site, 1 mile
- Lakeside Park Pondshore access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 1 mile
- Swinney Park Pondshore access, lights, no fee recorded, 1 mile
- Shoaff Lake shore accessfishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 1 mile
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.
Corps reservoir pools near Fort Wayne
- J. Edward Roush Lake745.87 ft pool, 23 miles, read 2026-11-05 19:45:00 UTC
One dated reading per reservoir; it is a snapshot, not a live level.
USACE Louisville District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge HUNI3, read November 5, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Shops and guides for Fort Wayne anglers
Live bait around Fort Wayne
- Ben's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Fort Wayne, under a mile
- North Side Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Fort Wayne, under a mile
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Fort Waynesporting goods store, Fort Wayne, 2 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Fort Wayne, 256-309 Coliseum Blvd.sporting goods store, Fort Wayne, 2 miles
- Lafayette Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Fort Wayne, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Fort Wayne, 1520 Apple Glen Blvd.sporting goods store, Fort Wayne, 3 miles
- Dockside Servicesmarina, Fort Wayne, 4 miles
- Pro Tackle Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Fort Wayne, 5 miles
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.
Club dates on water by Fort Wayne
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 11, 2027 | Anglers Choice Northeast Indiana at Cedarville Reservoir (11 Jul 2027) | Cedarville Reservoir | Anglers Choice Northeast Indiana |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in Allen County or within 20 miles, checked November 2026.
Record water near Fort Wayne
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Gar | 9 lb. 11 oz. | Rivir Lake | Noble County | 2024 |
| Muskellunge | 42 lb. 8 oz. | James Lake | Kosciusko County | 2002 |
| Common Carp | 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. Waters within 40 miles.
Bag rules for a day out of Fort Wayne
Plan on $23 for a resident annual license, or $60 if you live outside Indiana.
| 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.
Next stops from Fort Wayne
The next towns over from Fort Wayne
- New Haven7 miles
- Huntertown9 miles
- Leo-Cedarville11 miles
- Grabill12 miles
- Churubusco13 miles
The county guide for Fort Wayne
- Allen Countyseat: Fort Wayne
A Piscifun lineup sized for Fort Wayne
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Hardwood shorelines around Fort Wayne through a lens
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: brian kelly, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Fishing from Fort Wayne: questions
How many miles lie between Fort Wayne and a lake guide?
Lakeside Park Pond, 1 mile east.
Which boat ramp is nearest Fort Wayne?
Guldlin Park on Saint Marys River wins at under a mile.
Which DNR shore site is nearest Fort Wayne?
About 1 mile to Spy Run Creek (Franke Park) on Shoaff Lake.
Who sells waxworms and minnows by Fort Wayne?
Ben's Bait and Tackle is listed under a mile from town.
Which Indiana county includes Fort Wayne?
Allen County covers it.
Which license suits a Fort Wayne weekend?
Expect $60 for a year of Indiana fishing as a nonresident, or $15 for a single day.
Which mapped lake near Fort Wayne is biggest?
Everett Lake maps at 44 acres (NHD outline area) and lies 10 miles off.
What other town guides sit close to Fort Wayne?
New Haven (7 miles), Huntertown (9 miles) and Leo-Cedarville (11 miles) sit closest.
Which club event is next on lakes by Fort Wayne?
1 event on file; the next is Anglers Choice Northeast Indiana at Cedarville Reservoir (11 Jul 2027) on Cedarville Reservoir, July 11, 2027.
Which Indiana records came from water near Fort Wayne?
Spotted Gar, 9 lb. 11 oz., 2024, from Rivir Lake.