- The State of Indiana's Volunteer Angler Surveys
Here is your chance to directly help in fisheries management. The information you provide is essential in understanding this valuable species and helps the Department of Natural Resources monitor harvest and catch data.
Division of Fish & Wildlife staff collect reports as time permits. During winter months, angler effort is lower, and fewer fishing reports are received, so the reports may be updated less frequently than during other seasons. Additionally, with changing weather conditions and delays between receiving past reports and the public reading them online, ice reports may be unreliable
| Waterbody | Fishing report | Date |
|---|---|---|
| JC Murphey (Willow Slough) | As part of the lake renovation, fish were stocked into the lake in the fall of 2023 with more stocking occurring in 2024. Water levels are still being held below full pool to encourage vegetation growth and enhance lake productivity. Lots of small bass and panfish are available to catch, but few will be keeper size this year. More information can be found in the link below. | 4/23/2025 |
| Northwest Indiana Lakes | Look for bass and panfish near dark bottoms and cover on warm sunny afternoons. Emerging pads and brush are especially good this time of year. Crappies have been biting on minnows near dock pilings and brush. Warm weather has got the fishing heating up | 4/23/2025 |
| Lake Michigan (boat) | Coho fishing remains excellent, and good numbers of kings are being caught in 30-60 feet of water. Try mixing in some spoons and flasher/flies into your spread - coho will still hit them, and it increases your shot at a nice spring king. Coho are still hitting thin fish/body baits, and the water is warming a bit, meaning the dodger/fly bite should really turn on soon. | 4/23/2025 |
| Lake Michigan (shore) | Trout and salmon action is all but done until the summer skamania run. Smallmouth bass are biting on ned rigs and swimbaits in protected breakwall areas. | 4/23/2025 |
| Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) | Some fresh fish are still coming up, but a lot of fish have spawned already. The run is winding down. Please respect fellow anglers, private property, and please do not litter! For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables | 4/23/2025 |
| St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam) | Other staff committments have delayed reading the fish ladder images - however there are fish being caught on gravel and below Twin Branch Dam. Look for fish near gravel or below dams. Smallmouth and walleye bite is picking up on jigs/minnows, jerkbaits, and soft plastics. Monitor the flow at the closest USGS gauge in Niles, MI using the links below the report table. Note that the funding partner has discontinued temperature at the end of the year - if you feel strongly about the value of temperature on the St. Joe River, use the link on the USGS site to contact them and request reinstatement. Check the St. Joe River Dashboard for updated fish passage numbers later this week | 4/23/2025 |
| Northeast Indiana Lakes | Look for bass and panfish near dark bottoms and cover on warm sunny afternoons. | 4/10/2025 |
| Monroe Lake | High water is impacting the lake. Many areas are closed or inaccessible at the state recreation area. | 4/8/2025 |
| Webster Lake | The bass fishing has been really good, along with panfish in the shallows. Musky broodstock collection is done for the year | 4/10/2025 |
| Airline Pit | DNR hatcheries stocked 1,000 Rainbow Trout ranging from 8 to 11.3 inches. | 4/3/2025 |
| Midland Pit | DNR hatcheries stocked 1,000 Rainbow Trout ranging from 7.8 to 11.3 inches. | 4/3/2025 |
| Spring Mill State Park Lake | DNR hatcheries stocked 1,000 Rainbow Trout ranging from 8 to 11.3 inches. | 4/3/2025 |
| Maple Avenue Lake | DNR hatcheries stocked 731 Rainbow Trout ranging from 8 to 11.3 inches. | 4/3/2025 |
| Brookville Lake | The Walleye spawn is near the end and the White Bass run is getting started. Access may be limited due to flooding. | 4/16/2025 |
| South/Central Indiana | Due to heavy rain and flooding, many state properties with fishing access are not accessible or have restrictions on boating. Call head to state properties before going fishing | 4/10/2025 |
| Cagle's Mill Lake | Current water levels are 35 feet above summer pool. Access is limited. Crappie are being caught around flooded timber. White Bass run is starting up. | 4/16/2025 |
| Lake Of the Woods | Bass fishing has been excellent, and panfish are being caught near shallow vegetation on warmer days | 4/17/2025 |