Indiana Fishing Guide 1 Messages
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INDIANA REGULATION GUIDE 2019-2020 LARGEMOUTH BASS See page 4 INSIDE • FREE Fishing Weekends • Salmonid Program • '18 Fish of the Year winners • Answers to FAQs • Largemouth Bass by the Numbers • State Record Fish Indiana Department of Natural Resources INDIANA Table of REGULATION GUIDE Contents Features 4 23 26-27 Largemouth Bass State Record Fish What Fish Is It? By the Numbers Dustin Meeter set the record for Color illustrations are a handy tool to help ID lake whitefish in 2018. common Indiana fish. Departments Largemouth Bass by the Numbers ������������������������������������������������� 4 Special Regulations for Rivers and Streams ������������������������������� 13 License Information ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Inland Trout Regulations ������������������������������������������������������������� 14 Statewide Size & Bag Limits ���������������������������������������������������������� 8 Lake Michigan Regulations ��������������������������������������������������������� 18 Illegal Stocking/Aquarium Release, Salmonid Program ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 Hooks for Pole Fishing or Hand Lines ������������������������������������������� 8 Ohio River Regulations ����������������������������������������������������������������20 Gaffs, Grab Hooks & Landing Nets, Snares, Limb Lines Reptiles & Amphibians �����������������������������������������������������������������21 Snagging Fish, Trot Lines ��������������������������������������������������������������� 8 Anglers Fund Conservation/New Boat Ramps ���������������������������22 Umbrella Rigs, Float Fishing, Ice Fishing, Bow & Spear Fishing ��� 9 Indiana State Record Fish List ����������������������������������������������������� 23 Wanton Waste, Sale of Aquatic Life, Smelt, Illegal Species ��������� 9 2018 Fish of the Year Winners �����������������������������������������������������24 Boating, Life Preservers, Sinkers, Illegal Devices, Sorting Fish ����� 10 Fish Identification ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 26 Gifting Fish, Minnows & Crayfish����������������������������������������������� 10 Fish Consumption ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 28 Gizzard Shad & Threadfin Shad, Walleye Size Limits ����������������11 Fisheries Biologists, Hatcheries, DNR Law Enforcement ����������30 Bass Regulations ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Fish & Wildlife Areas, State Reservoirs & State Forests �������������31 Lake Sturgeon ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 Answers to FAQs ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32 Governor: The Indiana Fishing Regulation Guide is a Eric Holcomb publication of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. It is a summary of Indiana fishing DNR Director: regulations. It is designed as a service to anglers Cameron Clark and is not intended to be a complete digest of all Fish & Wildlife Director: fishing regulations. Most regulations are subject Mark Reiter to change by administrative rule. For questions on the regulations, call (317) 232-4200. To seek Division of Fish & Wildlife permission to reproduce any part of this booklet, Indiana Department of Natural Resources call (317) 233-3853. 402 W. Washington St. RM 273 Paid advertisements in this guide do not imply Indianapolis, IN 46204 endorsement by the DNR or the State of Indiana for the businesses or products advertised. The On the Cover: DNR is not responsible for any advertising claims A bass angler on Stone Arch Lake at Atterbury contained herein. Fish & Wildlife Area. Photographed by – John Maxwell, Indiana DNR 2019-2020 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 1 MESSAGES You may not connect “state forest” with fishing. But you should. Greene-Sullivan State Forest in southwest Indiana, offers more than 120 lakes among its 8,900 acres. Spanning its namesake counties, Greene-Sullivan is earning a reputation as “the fishing forest.” Whether you are ice fishing, pan fishing or seeking a bigger chal- lenge, Greene-Sullivan offers tons of space to explore and test your skills. Formed from past strip mining, its lakes range from a half-acre to 220-acre Bass Lake. Most are more than 20 feet deep. Some are more than 75 feet deep. Bass Lake is an obvious choice for big fish at Greene-Sullivan, but try 59-acre Duck Lake, too. Both are annually stocked with muskie, and some have grown to more Williamstown, MA | Birmingham, AL than 40 inches. Spring rainbow trout are stocked every year at 25-acre Airline Pit, and channel cats are stocked every other year at 80-acre Wampler Lake and 42-acre Reservoir 26. The next couple of years will bring even more opportunities to Greene-Sullivan. Three recla- mation projects have created new lakes out of old highwall pits. Yellowwood Lake, in Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County, is another standout. Its 131 acres of clear water offer bluegill, redear sunfish and largemouth bass in a quiet, natural setting About This Guide surrounded by wooded hills and the many other attractions and accommodations in the area. Fishing opportunity also knocks at nearly every other State Forest, from the small ponds at Owen-Putnam to 294-acre Deam Lake in Clark County. This high-quality guide is offered to you I invite you to wet your line at one of our State Forests. by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources through its unique partnership with J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC. The revenue generated through ad sales Cameron Clark significantly lowers production costs and Director, Indiana Department of Natural Resources generates savings. These savings translate into additional funds for other important agency programs. Indiana’s reservoirs have done a lot more than hold back floodwaters over If you have any feedback or are inter- their roughly 40-some-year history. They’ve consistently provided some ested in advertising, please contact us at of our best fishing. 413.884.1001 or at www.JFGriffin.com But their age poses a challenge. Just as those of us who’ve been around for a while, waterbodies change over the years. For reservoirs, the shore- Graphic Design: lines have matured to resemble natural lakeshores. But underwater, the Jon Gulley, Dane Fay, John Corey, structure that’s helped make them great for fishing has rotted away. Evelyn Haddad, Chris Sobolowski Thanks to volunteers like you, we’re restoring that habitat. Previous work at Sullivan Lake, Cecil M. Harden Reservoir (better known as Rac- coon Lake), and Monroe Lake are great examples. Volunteers from the Indiana Bass Federation (IBF), Bass Unlimited and other anglers joined forces. Local businesses donated pallets and cinderblocks. We’ll add more structure this year. This partnership will continue to work toward expanding habitat enhancement and doing experimental largemouth bass stockings of 8- to 10-inch fish at Raccoon and Monroe through 2021. We’ll evaluate success as we go. We want and need to do more. To help fund the bass stockings, IBF secured a FishAmerica Foundation grant. Money helps, but we could use more hands. Watch for a habitat enhancement project coming to a reservoir near you. Together, just like at Sullivan, Raccoon and Monroe, we can maintain and improve our reservoir fisheries so they will continue to provide successful angling adventures for us, no matter their age. Nor ours. Future plans are at wildlife.IN.gov/7665.htm. Thanks for the help. Best of luck on the water, whether you’re fishing or helping. Mark Reiter Director, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife The Indiana DNR receives federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimina- This guide is also tion the basis of race, color, nation origin, age, disability (or sex in education programs). If you available online at believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you need more information, please write to: Chief, Public Civil Rights; Office of Civil Rights; U.S. Dept. of the Interior; 1849 C Street NW; Washington, DC 20240. 2 2019-2020 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE FISHING REGULATIONS GUIDE - VA TRIM: . 8˝ X 10-1/2˝ (AND VARIOUS OTHER STATES) BLEED: . 8-1/4˝ X 10-3/4˝ SAFETY: . 7˝ X 10˝ TRIM TRIM SAFETY TRIM BLEED BLEED SAFETY BLEED BLEED TRIM TRIM SAFETY SAFETY There’s a reason they say, Curse like a sailor. That’s why we offer basic plans starting at $100 a year with options that won’t depreciate your watercraft and accessories*. Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affi liates. Annual premium for a basic liability policy not available all states. Prices vary based on how you buy. *Available with comprehensive and collision coverage. and collision with comprehensive *Available buy. you on how based vary Prices all states. available not policy liability a basic for Annual premium liates. & affi Co. Ins. Casualty Progressive 1.800.PROGRESSIVE | PROGRESSIVE.COM SAFETY SAFETY TRIM TRIM BLEED BLEED TRIM TRIM TRIM BLEED BLEED SAFETY SAFETY Client: Progressive Job No: 18D30258.KL Created by: Dalon Wolford Applications: InDesign CC, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC Job Description: Full Page, 4 Color Ad Document Name: Keep