- 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. | 9/27/2025 |
| Lake Michigan (boat) | With water temps still remaining 50, there has not been significant movement on the late fall/winter perch. It may be a later year for them to move to their wintering areas. The lake trout spawn is wrapping up, and they will be focused on feeding and be a little more spread out. Look for structure for jigging and casting. The Michigan City buoy broke free from its mooring and is temporarily stored in the Michigan City harbor - do not rely on it for accurate information. | 11/21/2025 |
| Lake Michigan (shore) | A few lake trout, steelhead, and whitefish are being caught. Whitefish using skein and single salmon eggs on the bottom, steelhead and lake trout by casting spoons and spinners. | 11/21/2025 |
| Lake Michigan Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) | A few fresh steelhead are coming up. We could use more rain to get a good push, as streams have been low and clear for the majority of the year. Skein and spawn are doing the best, but spinners and plugs worked through holes are catching a few fish too. As water temps drop, think about downsizing your baits and line weight. Please respect fellow anglers, private property, and please do not litter! For links to stream flow, see the links below the report tables. | 11/21/2025 |
| St. Joseph River (below Twin Branch Dam) | The river remains low and clear. A few steelhead are coming up, with more reports of chrome fish downstream in Michigan water. In the last 2 weeks, only 112 steelhead went through the South Bend Fish Ladder. We need some rain to get a push of steelhead upstream. Smallmouth bass are likely in their wintering areas now, in deeper pools and areas of lower current. They will be schooled up when you find them. Blade baits, jig/minnow, Ned Rigs, and other baitfish imitators can be very good this time of year. Walleye can be caught on jig/minnow and jerkbaits worked slowly below the dams. 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. | 11/14/2025 |
| Northwest Indiana Lakes | Lakes with pike have seen a few caught trolling or casting spinnerbaits and deep diving cranks on deep weed edges. Bass are still near green vegetation, and panfish on the deep weedlines and pockets in vegetation, along with out on deeper flats. Try tightlining live bait, or slip bobbers for panfish. | 11/3/2025 |
| Lincoln State Park | The lake has been drained and currently isn’t holding any fish to target. | 11/14/2025 |
| Vann Park Pond | There was a fish kill following a fire that happened nearby. As of 9/22/25, the pond is still roped off and there are still “no fishing” signs posted. To learn more about the emergency response click the following link: https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=17061. | 9/23/2025 |
| Brookville Lake | Walleye are being caught in 5-12 feet of water. A jig and crawler and trolling crankbaits or worm harnesses are all good options. | 9/27/2025 |
| Cagle's Mill Lake | Look for crappie around points and brush piles in 5-10 feet of water. Largemouth bass and white bass are being caught on shad colored baits. A few Walleye are being caught trolling crankbaits. | 9/27/2025 |
| Silver Lake (Kosciusko County) | A recent DNR survey showed lots of nice sized largemouth bass in 5-8 feet of water. | 9/27/2025 |
| Sylvan Lake | Anglers are catching largemouth bass on dropoffs using crankbaits and chatterbaits. | 10/7/2025 |
| Barbee Chain | Anglers are reporting an uptick in muskie success, with cooling water temperatures helping the bite. | 10/7/2025 |
| Shoaff Park (Ft. Wayne) | 300 rainbow trout were recently stocked. | 10/17/2025 |
| Spy Run Creek | 300 rainbow trout were recently stocked. | 10/17/2025 |
| Memorial Park (Huntington) | 200 rainbow trout were recently stocked. | 10/17/2025 |
| Huntingburg Lake | Water temps are cooling down with the recent cold front that came through and are currently in the mid 60's. The crappie bite has been good with many over 10 inches being reported. The bluegill and redear sunfish bite is also picking up and are also of good sizes with 8 inch bluegill and 9 inch redear being reported. For more detailed information reach out to the district 6 biologist, Andrew Bueltmann, at abueltmann@dnr.in.gov or 812-817-0263. | 10/23/2025 |
| Patoka Lake | Water temps are starting to dip into the high 60's with the recent cold front. Crappie seem to be moving up into shallower water most often being found tight to cover including the artificial structures that were placed by the habitat enhancement program. To view a map of those structure locations and to download waypoints, check out the IN DNR’s fish habitat webpage at: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/fishing/reservoir-habitat-enhancement-program/. The bass (largemouth and smallmouth) bite has been picking up too with more fish starting to be caught up in more shallow water. Bass have been reported being caught well on topwater early morning and late evening around structure in cuts and on main lake points. The hybrid striped bass have yet to push up shallow, but typically do so when water temps get down into the 50s. For more detailed information reach out to the district 6 biologist, Andrew Bueltmann, at abueltmann@dnr.IN.gov or 812-817-0263. | 10/23/2025 |
| Northeast Indiana Lakes | Glacial lakes in NE part of the state are giving up some good perch action. Try fishing minnows under a bobber along weed edges or flats. | 10/31/2025 |
| Central Indiana Reservoirs | Crappie bite has been good. Look for crappie in 10-20 feet of water around docks, rocky points and brush piles. Jigs and plastics or minnows are both good options. Catfish have also been biting well on cutbait. | 10/31/2025 |
| Adams Lake | DNR biologists recently completed a fall walleye survey on Adams Lake. Twenty two Walleyes were collected and ranged from 9.7 to 19.2 inches, with nearly 60% of the fish collected being of legal size. | 10/31/2025 |
| Pretty Lake | DNR biologists recently completed a fall walleye survey on Pretty Lake in LaGrange County. Thirty six Walleyes were collected and ranged from 10.7 to 25.7 inches in length. Only 17% of the fish collected were of legal size. | 10/31/2025 |
| Clear Lake (Steuben County) | Biologists with the DNR recently completed a fall Walleye survey at Clear Lake in Steuben County. Thirty-eight walleyes were collected and ranged from 8.0 – 21.1 inches in length. Only 3 Walleyes collected during the survey were of legal size. | 10/31/2025 |
| Tri-Lakes (Whitley County) | Bass, bluegill, and crappie are moving shallow and are near subtle drop-offs and vegetation in 4-6 feet of water | 11/5/2025 |
| Shafer Lake | Recent DNR surveys showed largemouth and smallmouth bass in 4-6 feet of water near docks and sandy points. Walleye are also starting to move shallow. Jerkbaits and drop shots should be good options for a mixed bag of fish | 11/3/2025 |
| Webster Lake | Muskie activity has picked up as the water cools down. Most follows and catches have been near green weedlines. | 11/18/2025 |
| Winona Lake | Anglers have been catching walleye in 5-8 feet of water around weeds, with medium diving crankbaits and jerkbaits. | 11/18/2025 |
| Kokomo Lake | Anglers reported catching good numbers and size of crappie. Be careful of low water levels. | 11/16/2025 |
| Lake Wawasee | Anglers have caught some bass in shallow water using chatterbaits and square bill crankbaits. | 11/16/2025 |