Trout Fishing in Indiana
Inland trout rules, the stream opener, artificial-only streams and the 2026 DNR trout plan.
For stocked waterPiscifun Torrent Lite spinning comboCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Lake Michigan: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 2.0
Indiana inland trout bag, size and seasons
Daily bag: 5, any combination of brook, rainbow, or brown trout; no more than one may be brown trout. Minimum size: 7 inches (no minimum size for trout caught from lakes, except 18-inch brown trout waters).
There is no closed season for taking trout from inland lakes. The opening day of trout season for inland streams is 6 a.m. local time on the last Saturday in April. The season runs through Dec. 31. Catch-and-release applies to all trout streams from Jan. 1 through April 14.
To legally fish for or take trout and salmon from public waters, you must have a valid trout/salmon stamp and a valid fishing license.
Inland trout rules as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Indiana trout streams closed before the opener
These streams include: Pigeon River and Pigeon Creek in LaGrange County from the Steuben County line to CR 410 E (Troxel’s Bridge). This does not include the impoundment known as Mongo Mill Pond. Harding Run, Curtis Creek, Bloody Run, and Graveyard Run (tributaries of Pigeon River) in LaGrange County Turkey Creek north of CR 100 S in LaGrange County Rainbow Pit located on Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area, approximately 1 mile east of Ontario in LaGrange County Little Elkhart River and Rowe-Eden Ditch in LaGrange County Solomon Creek and Cobus Creek in Elkhart County Little Kankakee River in LaPorte County from CR 800 E upstream to Division Road Spy Run Creek within Franke Park in Allen County Mississinewa River within the boundaries of the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area Big Blue River within the boundaries of Wilbur Wright Fish & Wildlife Area in Henry County
Stream list as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Three Elkhart County catch-and-release trout streams
The following three streams in Elkhart County (totaling 2.8 miles) are designated as year-round “catch-and-release only” and “artificial lures or flies only” trout fishing areas: Little Elkhart River from CR 43 downstream to CR 16, except for waters along Riverbend Park from CR 16 upstream to the pedestrian footbridge Solomon Creek from CR 33 downstream to the Elkhart River Cobus Creek from Old U.S. 20 downstream to the St. Joseph River
Text as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
The DNR 2026 trout stocking plan, planned targets
The DNR publishes its trout plan as planned numbers per water and season; the DNR notes that actual numbers may vary, so these are targets, not fish stocked.
| Season | Water as printed | Location | Planned | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Airline Pit | 1,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Midland Lake | 1,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Wyland Lake | 350 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Martin Lake | 800 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Oliver Lake | 4,200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Oliver Lake | 3,245 | Brown Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Rainbow Pit | 350 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Fancher Lake | 650 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Spring Mill Lake | 750 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Delaware Lake | 600 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Sand Lake | 350 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Green Lake | 200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Lake Gage | 2,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Pinhook Park | 400 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Fairfield Pit NE | 650 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Maple Ave. Park Lake | 1,150 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Cedar Lake | 1,200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Spring lakes (mid-March to mid-April) | Morsches Park (Columbia City) | 200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Cedar Creek | 300 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Spy Run – Franke Park | 400 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Cobus Creek | 250 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Cobus Creek | 750 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Little Elkhart River | 3,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Little Elkhart River | 3,750 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Rowe-Eden Ditch | 150 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Rowe-Eden Ditch | 150 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Solomon Creek | 1,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Solomon Creek | 950 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Mill Creek | 400 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Wildcat Creek | 300 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Little Elkhart River | 1,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Little Elkhart River | 400 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Pigeon River | 6,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Pigeon River | 500 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Rowe-Eden Ditch | 650 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Rowe-Eden Ditch | 150 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Turkey Creek | 600 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Little Kankakee River | 600 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Little Kankakee River | 250 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Slocum Ditch | 400 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Crooked Creek | 600 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Mississinewa River | 400 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Juday Creek | 100 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Potato Creek | 800 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Potato Creek | 150 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Fawn River | 600 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Pigeon River | 3,000 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, north | Pigeon River | 1,250 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, south | Brookville Tailwater | 1,500 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, south | Brookville Tailwater | 2,600 | Brown Trout | |
| Opening day streams, south | Big Blue River | 1,125 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Opening day streams, south | Harden Reservoir Tailwater | 750 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Second weekend after opening day | Pigeon River | CR 175 North | 250 | Rainbow Trout |
| Second weekend after opening day | Pigeon River | CR 1100 West | 250 | Rainbow Trout |
| Second weekend after opening day | Turkey Creek | CR 150 North | 200 | Rainbow Trout |
| Second weekend after opening day | Little Elkhart River | Bonneyville Mill | 200 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Pigeon River | CR 175 North | 250 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Pigeon River | CR 1100 West | 250 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Turkey Creek | CR 150 North | 200 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Little Elkhart River | Bonneyville Mill | 250 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Little Kankakee River | SR 4 | 75 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Little Kankakee River | CR 100 S | 75 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Little Kankakee River | CR 500 E | 75 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Slocum Ditch | Hunt Park, Wanatah | 200 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Potato Creek | Within State Park | 200 | Rainbow Trout |
| Memorial Day weekend | Potato Creek | No. Liberty Town Park | 200 | Rainbow Trout |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Shoaff Park Pond, Fort Wayne | 300 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Spy Run Creek, Franke Park | 200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Boones Pond | 550 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Oak Lake, Clark State Forest | 405 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Smalley's Pond | 500 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Brookville Tailwater | 1,000 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Johnson Lake, Madison | 300 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Memorial Park Pond, Huntington | 200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Fancher Lake | 250 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Little Kankakee River | 250 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Lawrence Lake | 1,380 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Myers Lake | 1,920 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Sand Lake | 400 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Harbor Lake | 250 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Pinhook Lake, South Bend | 200 | Rainbow Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Pinhook Lake, South Bend | 200 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Potato Creek | 150 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Fairfield Pit NE | 350 | Brown Trout | |
| Fall (mid-to-late October) | Garvin Park Lake, Evansville | 550 | Rainbow Trout |
Indiana DNR 2026 trout stocking plan (updated March 20, 2026; planned targets, DNR notes actual numbers may vary), read November 5, 2026.
Indiana put-and-take and salmonid streams
| Stream | DNR designation | County |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Hancock County |
| Cobus Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Elkhart County |
| Coffee Creek (Porter County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Crooked Creek (LaPorte and Porter Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Eagle Creek (Boone and Hamilton Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Boone County |
| East Arm Little Calumet River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| East Fork Whitewater River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Franklin County |
| Eller Ditch | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | St. Joseph County |
| Fawn River (LaGrange County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaGrange County |
| Fawn River (LaGrange and Steuben Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaGrange County |
| Juday Ditch | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Elkhart County |
| Judy Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | St. Joseph County |
| Little Calumet River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Lake County |
| Little Elkhart River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Elkhart County |
| Little Kankakee River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Mill Creek (Fulton County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Fulton County |
| Mississinewa River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Delaware County |
| Pigeon Creek (LaGrange and Steuben Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaGrange County |
| Pigeon River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaGrange County |
| Potato Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | St. Joseph County |
| Raccoon Creek (Monroe and Owen Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Monroe County |
| Reynolds Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Rowe-Eden Ditch | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Elkhart County |
| Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Elkhart County |
| Salt Creek (Porter County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Slocum Ditch (LaPorte and Porter Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Solomon Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Elkhart County |
| Spy Run Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | Allen County |
| Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Turkey Creek (LaGrange and Steuben Counties) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream | LaGrange County |
| Willow Creek (St. Joseph County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | St. Joseph County |
| Beauty Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Bosserman Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Bowman Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | St. Joseph County |
| Damon Run | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| East Branch Trail Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Galena River | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Otter Creek (LaPorte County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | LaPorte County |
| Pepper Creek | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Peterson Ditch (Porter County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Robbins Ditch (Porter County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Samuelson Ditch | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
| Squirrel Creek (Porter County) | DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream | Porter County |
DNR put-and-take and salmonid stream layers on gisdata.in.gov, read November 5, 2026.
Steelhead, salmon and lake trout off the Indiana shore
Lake Michigan and its tributaries follow their own bag: five salmon and trout combined, no more than three lake trout, 14 inches. Trail Creek, Salt Creek, the East Arm of the Little Calumet and the St. Joseph River carry the runs.
Hoosier water pictured beside Trout Fishing in Indiana
Photo: Christine Wittenmeier, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0 1.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0 1.0
Indiana trout questions
What is the daily trout bag on Indiana lakes and streams?
Five in any combination of brook, rainbow and brown trout from inland water, no more than one of them a brown trout.
Is there a size limit on Indiana trout?
7 inches in streams; lakes have no minimum except the 18-inch brown trout rule at Oliver, Olin and Martin lakes and the Brookville tailwater.
When does Indiana trout stream season open?
6 a.m. local time on the last Saturday in April, running through December 31.
Can I fish trout streams in winter?
Catch-and-release only on all trout streams from January 1 through April 14, and some listed streams are closed before the opener.
Is there a closed season on trout lakes?
No. Inland lakes have no closed season for trout.
Is a trout/salmon stamp required for Indiana trout?
Yes, the $11 trout/salmon stamp plus a license to fish for or take trout; under-18 anglers and the one-day license are covered.
How many trout does the DNR plan to stock in 2026?
65,950 planned across 85 plan rows (44,205 rainbow trout, 21,745 brown trout), as targets that may vary.
Which Indiana trout streams are artificial-only?
The Little Elkhart River, Solomon Creek and Cobus Creek sections in Elkhart County, catch-and-release year-round.