Fishing near Indianapolis, Indiana
Marion County, population 887,642 (2020 Census).
- 3 milesto nearest lake page
- 4ramps nearby
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Indianapolis for anglers, in short
Indianapolis, a city in Marion County, had 887,642 residents at the 2020 Census. Drive roughly 3 miles northwest and you reach Riverside Park Pond, the closest lake guide. A 3 miles drive puts a trailer at White River-Riverside Park.
Without a boat, head to White River Wapahani Trail New York Street shore access, some 2 miles off.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Indianapolis; miles are straight lines.
Paged lakes ranked by miles from Indianapolis
| Lake | Distance | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Park Pond | 3 miles northwest | pond | 0 | catfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish | ||
| Pogue's Run Art and Nature Park Pond | 3 miles northeast | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass | ||
| Krannert Lake | 7 miles west | lake | 0 | channel catfish, catfish, bluegill | ||
| Dubarry Park Pond South | 8 miles northeast | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish | ||
| Dubarry Park Pond North | 8 miles northeast | pond | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish | ||
| Delaware Lake | 10 miles northeast | lake | 0 | channel catfish, trout, rainbow trout |
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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- Eagle Creek (Boone and Hamilton Counties)12 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, 1 DNR access site, 6 USGS gauges
Live streamflow by Indianapolis
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Pogues Run At Vermont Street At Indianapolis, In | 1 cfs, 1.39 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:45 pm |
| Fall Creek At 16th Street At Indianapolis, In | 76 cfs, 6.59 ft gage height | Nov 6 10:15 pm |
| White River At Michigan Street At Indianapolis, In | 361 cfs, 7.00 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:30 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 Indianapolis, mapped
- White River-Riverside ParkWhite River, concrete ramp, no fee recorded, 3 miles
- White River-Broad Ripple boat rampWhite River, concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 6 miles
- Fall Creek Parkway boat rampFall Creek (Delaware and Hamilton Counties), concrete ramp, no fee recorded, 8 miles
- Eagle Creek Reservoir boat rampEagle Creek Reservoir, concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, fee: Entry Fee, <10hp, 9 miles
Shore access a quick hop from Indianapolis
- White River Wapahani Trail New York Street shore accessshore access, lights, no fee recorded, 2 miles
- White River Wapahani Trail Raymond Street shore accessshore access, no fee recorded, 3 miles
- Riverside Park Pond (Riverside Park)urban fishing site, 3 miles
- Pogue's Run Art and Nature Parkshore access, no fee recorded, 3 miles
- Krannert Lake (Krannert Park)urban fishing site, 7 miles
- Krannert Lake Urban Fishing Sitefishing pier, restrooms, lights, 7 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.
Stocking up near Indianapolis
The nearest tackle aisles to Indianapolis
- Westside Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Indianapolis, 2 miles
- Riverside Marina Restaurantmarina, Indianapolis, 3 miles
- The Bait Barnbait and tackle shop, Indianapolis, 5 miles
- Naptown Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Indianapolis, 7 miles
- Reeder Trausch Marine Indymarina, Indianapolis, 7 miles
- Eagle Creek Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Indianapolis, 9 miles
- Flymasters of Indianapolisbait and tackle shop, Indianapolis, 10 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Indianapolissporting goods store, Indianapolis, 10 miles
Licensed guides within reach of Indianapolis
- Indiana Fishing Adventuresfishing guide, Indianapolis, (317) 577-5636
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.
The record book around Indianapolis
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Bass | 3 lb. | Sugar Creek (Hancock and Henry Counties) | Hancock County | 1969 |
| Yellow Bass | 2 lb. 15 oz. | Morse Reservoir | Hamilton County | 2000 |
| 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 |
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 Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis
Other Hoosier bases by Indianapolis
- Warren Park5 miles
- Beech Grove5 miles
- Speedway6 miles
- Meridian Hills8 miles
- Southport8 miles
Which county holds Indianapolis
- Marion Countyseat: Indianapolis
Piscifun gear a Hoosier angler might bring to Indianapolis
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Telling Indianapolis fish apart from a photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
What visitors to Indianapolis ask about fishing
Which lake guide is nearest Indianapolis?
Riverside Park Pond, 3 miles northwest.
Which recorded ramp is the quickest run from Indianapolis?
About 3 miles to White River-Riverside Park.
Where can Indianapolis anglers fish with no boat at all?
White River Wapahani Trail New York Street shore access is nearest, 2 miles away.
Which tackle seller is listed closest to Indianapolis?
Westside Bait and Tackle is listed 2 miles from town.
Which county page covers Indianapolis?
It lies in Marion County.
What does a non-Hoosier pay to fish near Indianapolis?
The DNR nonresident annual license costs $60, or $15 for a single day.
Which lake near Indianapolis has the most area?
Riverside Park Pond, 3 miles away.
Which other towns are a quick drive from Indianapolis?
Nearby towns are Warren Park (5 miles), Beech Grove (5 miles) and Speedway (6 miles).
Did a state record fish come from near Indianapolis?
Rock Bass, 3 lb., 1969, from Sugar Creek.
Choose your water near Indianapolis
Lake pages list ramps, depths and special rules.