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Fly Fishing in Indiana

25 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Indiana, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Big Walnut Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish)
A secluded, scenic waterway near Putnam County known for its high water quality and healthy population of aggressive smallmouth.
Blue River (Southern Indiana) (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Gar)
Crystal clear karst topography water that stays cool and offers incredible sight-fishing for smallmouth and channel cats.
Brookville Lake Tailwater (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Indiana's most reliable year-round trout fishery, fed by cold bottom-release water from the Brookville dam.
Clear Lake (Bluegill, Largemouth Bass)
A deep, clear glacial lake in Steuben County that offers great opportunities for fly fishing for trophy bluegill.
Cobus Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
A small, cold-water creek near Elkhart that offers a technical trout fishing experience in a county park setting.
East Fork White River (Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp, Flathead Catfish)
A large river with expansive gravel bars and deep runs, perfect for targeting trophy-sized smallmouth bass and carp.
Eel River (North) (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
A very remote-feeling river with many log jams that hold quality smallmouth bass and large rock bass.
Fawn River (Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass)
A slow-moving, winding river through diverse wetlands, perfect for targeting large northern pike on streamers.
Flatrock River (Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish)
An underrated gem in south-central Indiana with limestone ledges and fast-moving water ideal for swinging flies.
Kankakee River (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)
A large, sandy-bottomed river known for its massive Northern Pike and aggressive smallmouth bass along the banks.
Little Elkhart River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
A cold-water tributary in Northern Indiana that supports naturally reproducing brown trout and offers a technical spring creek feel.
Mississinewa River (Tailwater) (Hybrid Striped Bass, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass)
The area below the dam offers excellent wade fishing for walleye and hybrid striped bass on heavy streamers.
Patoka River (Bowfin, Gar, Largemouth Bass)
The slow-moving waters within the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge offer prime bowfin and gar fly fishing.
Pigeon River (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass)
A scenic, slow-flowing river within a Fish and Wildlife Area that is heavily stocked with rainbow trout in the spring.
Potato Creek State Park (Worster Lake) (Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Excellent for float tube fly fishing, offering heavy lily pads and submerged structures that hold massive largemouth bass.
Salamonie River (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
A scenic river with rocky riffles and slow pools that is often overlooked for smallmouth and panfish.
Salt Creek (Largemouth Bass, Crappie)
A long, winding creek below Monroe Lake that holds large crappie and bass in its timber-heavy reaches.
Sand Creek (Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass)
A southern Indiana tributary with deep holes and limestone bottoms that provide excellent wading for bluegill and bass.
St. Joseph River (Mishawaka) (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Smallmouth Bass)
Famous for its world-class runs of Steelhead and Chinook Salmon migrating from Lake Michigan.
Sugar Creek (Crawlfordville) (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Flathead Catfish)
Widely considered the premier smallmouth bass stream in the state, featuring scenic sandstone bluffs and productive rocky riffles.
Tippecanoe River (Below Oakdale) (Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Walleye)
One of the most biologically diverse rivers in the US, known for high numbers of smallmouth and huge white bass runs.
Trail Creek (Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout)
A small coastal tributary of Lake Michigan where anglers can target massive salmon and trout in very tight quarters.
White River (West Fork - Indianapolis) (Smallmouth Bass, Carp, Channel Catfish)
Surprising urban fly fishing with heavy hatches and a massive smallmouth bass population right through the city.
Wildcat Creek (North Fork) (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
A State Scenic River that provides excellent wading opportunities through gravel bars and deep pools for smallmouth bass.
Yellow Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
A designated trout stream in Elkhart County that receives regular stockings and offers tight-quarter brushy fishing.

Fly Fishing in Indiana

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