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REGULATION GUIDE 2018- 2019 LITTLE KINGS Bluegills still most popular fish

INSIDE

• FREE Weekends • Building Fish Habitat • '17 Fish of the Year winners • 2017 Fishing Survey Results • 4 New Public Access Sites • State Record Fish

Indiana Department of Natural Resources ATTRACTIONS Covered Bridge Festival 765-569-5226 TOURS 765-597-2635 Discover 5 signed covered bridge routes. Raccoon Lake 765-344-1412 Rockville Lake Park 765-569-6541 Covered Bridge Art Gallery 765-569-9422 Bridgeton Mill 765-548-0106 Mansfield Roller Mill 765-344-0741 Turkey Run Canoes & Camping 765-597-2029 Sugar Valley Canoes 765-597-2364 Thirty-Six Saloon 765-569-9441 765-435-2810 Festivals & Events 765-569-5226

Fishing Feet From Your Door Locked Motorcycle Parking Horse Friendly Pet Friendly LODGING CABINS Turkey Run State Park Cabins 877-563-4371 INNS Wilkins Mill Guest House 765-597-2046 Turkey Run Inn 877-563-4371 Rockville Lake Park Cabins 765-569-6541 Raccoon Lakeside Lodge 765-344-1162 Turkey Run Cabins 765-597-2029 Antique, Primitive & Vintage Shops Old Jail Inn Parke County 217-808-1309 Peaceful Waters Cabins 765-592-6458 EconoLodge 765-569-3430 Hilltop Guesthouse 765-597-2046 Pat’s Pad 765-569-2605 MOTELS Bear Cub Cabins 765-344-1436 Parke Bridge Motel 765-569-3525 Raccoon Lake House Rentals 765-592-0393 Covered Bridge Motel 765-569-2833 Fallen Rock Parke 765-672-4301 Motel Forrest 765-569-5250 Sugar Valley Cabins 765-597-2355 BED & BREAKFASTS The Dragonfly Guesthouse 765-592-0393 Granny’s Farm B & B 765-597-2248 Gobbler’s Knob Cabins 812-236-4132 Owl Nest B & B 765-569-1803 Raccoon Lake Sunset Rentals 765-592-0393 Bubble Gum B & B 765-569-6630 The Cabins at Hobson Farms 765-376-7663 Cherrywood Farm B & B 765-548-0582 Mansfield Guest Inn 812-877-9831 CANOE CAMP Red Brick Inn 765-592-7818 Sugar Valley 765-597-2364 Knoll Inn 765-344-1162 LARGE GROUP FACILITY Canoeing on Sugar Creek Granny’s Farmhouse 765-597-2248 Covered Bridge Retreat 866-622-6746

TM STATE RECORD PARKE COUNTY COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL

STRIPED BASS caught May 25, 2010 at Raccoon Lake WEIGHING 39.08 LBS October 12-21, 2018 2018 FESTIVALS Bridgeton Quilt & Woodworking Show - June 9-10 Parke County Maple Syrup Fair TM Feb 24-25 and March 3-4 Covered Bridge Antique Power Club Tractor Drive - June 23 & 24 Bridgeton Art & Wine Fair - May 12 Fireworks - Montezuma - July 4 Zoom Town 5K Run - May 19 Raccoon Lake - July 7 Rosedale Strawberry Festival - June 1-3 Rockville Lake - July 7 Miami Indians All Nations Gathering - June 2-3

2018IndianaFishingRegulationGuide.indd 1 1/5/18 3:39 PM INDIANA Table of REGULATION GUIDE Contents Features

4 23 26-27 Bluegill Feature State Record Fish What Fish Is It? Small game fish continues to be the most Josh Pisowicz set one of two records Color illustrations are a handy tool to help ID popular fish for Hoosiers. for lake whitefish in 2017. common Indiana fish.

Departments

Back to Basics with Bluegills...... 4 Inland Trout Regulations...... 14 License Information...... 6 Crunching the Survey Numbers...... 16 Statewide Size & Bag Limits...... 8 Lake Michigan Regulations...... 18 Illegal Stocking/Aquarium Release, Public Enemy No. 1 for Bluegills...... 19 Hooks for Pole Fishing or Hand Lines...... 8 Ohio River Regulations...... 20 Gaffs, Grab Hooks & Landing Nets, Snares, Limb Lines Reptiles & Amphibians...... 21 Fish, Trot Lines...... 8 Anglers Fund Conservation/New Boat Ramps...... 22 Umbrella Rigs, Float Fishing, , Bow & Spear Fishing.... 9 Indiana State Record Fish List...... 23 Wanton Waste, Sale of Aquatic Life, Smelt, Illegal Species...... 9 2017 Fish of the Year Winners...... 24 Boating, Life Preservers, Sinkers, Illegal Devices, Sorting Fish...... 10 Fish Identification...... 26 Gifting Fish, Minnows & Crayfish...... 10 Eating Fish...... 28 Gizzard/Threadfin Shad, Walleye Size Limits...... 11 Biologists, Hatcheries, DNR Law Enforcement...... 30 Bass Regulations...... 12 Fish & Wildlife Areas, State Reservoirs & State Forests...... 31 Lake Sturgeon...... 13 Building Fish Habitat, Regulaciones de Pesca...... 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 , 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 Jackson Goins of Greenwood caught his first contained herein. bluegills from a Brown County pond last October. Photographed by – John Maxwell, Indiana DNR

2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 1 MESSAGES

Even though everyone has their prime times, fishing can be a nearly year-round way of life in Indiana. So it makes sense that it takes all 12 months to create the opportuni- ties you enjoy so much. Remember, much of what you catch didn’t get there solely by Mother Nature. A lot of people contribute to the abundant fishing opportuni- ties we Hoosiers enjoy. I’m referring to the dedicated individuals who make up the Fisheries Section of the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. Creating and main- taining sustainable places to fish is applied science. Of the 74 full-time fisheries employees, 62 have a bachelor’s degree and 23 of those have master’s degrees. Some Williamstown, MA | Birmingham, AL work on the water, others in one of our seven hatcheries, and still others at regional offices. Fifteen work at the Central Office in Indianapolis, where my office is. Their shared goal is to develop and improve fishing in Indiana. That sounds simple. But -mak ing it happen is not. Their hard work and research helps develop some of the rules in this guide. Their efforts also made for some of the incredible results you will see inside on the Record Fish and Fish of the About This Guide Year pages. But of course you do the catching. So celebrate your successes, post your photos and tell your stories. But please remember, just This high-quality guide is offered to you as you probably didn’t catch your fish by accident, it probably didn’t get there, at that size, by by the Indiana Department of Natural chance either. Both were part of carefully hatched plans. Resources through its unique partnership with J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC. The revenue generated through ad sales significantly lowers production costs and Cameron Clark generates savings. These savings translate Director, Indiana Department of Natural Resources into additional funds for other important agency programs. If you have any feedback or are inter- You can name many reasons why you love fishing. You may even wonder ested in advertising, please contact us at why anyone need ask. 413.884.1001 or at www.JFGriffin.com And you probably know how your license and equipment money not only benefits you and other anglers, but also anyone else who cares Graphic Design: about conservation and the outdoors, even if they’ve never gone fishing. Jon Gulley, Dane Fay, John Corey, The fees you pay also benefit people who have yet to discover an Evelyn Haddad, Chris Sobolowski appreciation of the outdoors. After all, everyone needs clean air and clean water, which are direct results of the habitat our funds, from your license fees, preserve. But do your friends, family and coworkers who don’t fish know about these things? If they don’t, please consider informing them, in a diplomatic way. We don’t have enough anglers to fund the conservation work that’s needed. So invite some- one to go fishing with you, even if they’ve never gone before. If they aren’t interested in fishing right then, give them a rain check. Ask them to consider buying a fishing license so they will be ready the next time, and help fund conservation at the same time. And tell them the benefits buying a license will bring, even if they never cast a line. Buying a license means Indiana gets federal funds that translate into $10 for every license sold. That means buying a $17 license brings Indiana’s aquatic habitat programs $27. That’s a heckuva rate of return. You can learn more by reading “Angler Dollars” on page 22. Pass on the heritage. Share your sport. Because we need more people contributing to conservation.

Mark Reiter Director, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife

This program receives federal aid for fish and/or wildlife restoration. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior This guide is also prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described available online at above, please write to the Office for Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI) Washington, D.C. 20240.

2 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE FISHING REGULATIONS GUIDE - GA 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

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TRIM TRIM BLEED BLEED TRIM TRIM TRIM BLEED BLEED SAFETY SAFETY

Client: Progressive Job No: 16D00890 Created by: Dalon Wolford Applications: InDesign CC, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC Job Description: Full Page, 4 Color Ad Document Name: Bass ad / Fishing Regulations Guide - GA and various other states Final Trim Size: 7-7/8˝ X 10-1/2˝ Final Bleed: 8-1/8˝ X 10-13/16˝ Safety: 7˝ X 10˝ Date Created: 11/7/16 BLUEGILLS

“A lot of people will catch 5-inch bluegills over and over,” Clark-Kolaks said. “There are Back to Basics two questions. One: Are there just too many bluegills? Or, two: Is it that everyone is just harvesting all the fish over 6 inches?” On public water managed by the DNR, with Bluegills answering this mystery requires investiga- tion by Division of Fish & Wildlife fisheries By Nick Werner, DNR staff biologists. “A lot of lakes have stockpiling,” Clark- Kolaks said. Reflect on the first fish you caught. Bluegills exist in every aquatic environment Stockpiling stunts growth as too many If you can’t remember it, scan your mind for in Indiana. Their range includes all 92 Indiana bluegills compete for limited food. The the earliest fishing memory. counties, and much of the United States. And answer to this problem is to manage a For lifelong Hoosier anglers, these impres- of Indiana’s 18 sunfish—a figure that includes to promote a balance between bluegills and sions are likely to appear remarkably similar. black bass and crappie—bluegills are the most . Bass eat small bluegills, help- A small pond. A dirt-filled coffee can. A prolific. A single female may contain 30,000 ing keep their numbers in check so that food red-and-white bobber just past the cattails. A eggs. A single nest can include 18,000 fry. resources aren’t strained. The result is fewer caring adult. And, at the end of it all, a bluegill. Because bluegills are so numerous, Indiana but bigger bluegills. People who are passionate about fishing does not have a daily bag limit or a size limit The biggest bluegill in Indiana, 3 pounds have a tendency to retreat to narrow inter- for bluegills. And while catch-and-release and 4 ounces, came from a Greene County est groups. But one thing that unites many has become common for larger game fish, pond in 1972. Hoosier anglers, from the muskie nuts in most decent-sized bluegills still end up in the The list on page 23 shows only four older North Webster to the crazies on the frying pan. current species records. Ohio River, is a soft spot for bluegills. They are Indiana’s most harvested fish. Of course, landing a record isn’t something “I love bluegills,” said Buzz Arney, a 4-H “They taste very good,” Clark-Kolaks said. bluegill anglers think about. If they wanted to sport-fishing instructor from Shelbyville. “I “You don’t have to worry about contaminants land big fish, they’d be chasing blue catfish or love to bluegill fish. I love to eat bluegills. I’ve because they grow fast and don’t bio-accumu- striped bass. fished in the Atlantic and Pacific, on Lake late contaminants. They are easy to filet and If you are one of those big game anglers, Superior and Lake Michigan. But I come back easy to handle.” consider returning to your roots. Give blue- to bluegills.” Bluegill fishing doesn’t require expensive gills a second look. The bluegill is the ultimate gateway species equipment either. If the thought of staring at a bobber sounds for beginners. Yet Arney is among many who Shoreline fishing can be as effective as using boring, grab a fly rod. have made fishing for them a lifelong pursuit. a boat, and a cane pole often works as well as Jim Wootton has known how to fly-fish The 2017 survey described on page 16 asked an expensive spincaster. Ice fishing is also a most his life. And he’s been a bluegill angler all anglers to identify their three favorite fish, in great way to catch ‘gills. his life. But it wasn’t until retiring from his job no particular order. The bluegill showed up in Bee moths and red worms are good for live as an English teacher in Evansville that he put 62 percent of responses, representing almost bait. Kids or adults who don’t like handling bait the two together. 300,000 licensed anglers. can also use plastic grub jigs, Clark- Kolaks said. He remembers the first time he caught a Why would one of the smallest game spe- “The biggest thing is what water depth you bluegill on a fly rod. He was in his old, 10-foot, cies have such a supersized influence? fish at during different times of year,” Clark- K-Mart johnboat on the public pond that has “They are ubiquitous,” said Sandy Clark- Kolaks said. “May-June you are going to be become his primary destination. Bee moths Kolaks, southern fisheries research biologist fishing off the beds in shallow water. Two to 3 hadn’t been working. On a whim, he cast his with the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. feet. As the summer moves on and they finish fly rod. Supply and demand explains some of the spawning and it gets hot, they move deeper.” “It was cold,” he said. “It was early March. appeal, but not in the conventional meaning While bluegills are almost everywhere, the I caught this really nice bluegill. So I threw it of the phrase. For bluegills, supply has helped fishing quality isn’t uniform. out again. I left with 18, all on a fly rod. I was create demand. The species isn’t immune to pressure, espe- dumbfounded. After that, it’s all I’ve used.” cially in ponds and smaller lakes. Wootton described bluegills as excel- On the contrary, the most common problem lent fighters, “ounce for ounce.” And he said is overabundance, often called stockpiling. bluegills provide more steady action than bass. Usually, you don’t wait long for strikes. Arney agreed. “With the proper equipment, catching bluegills is just as exciting as catching a 5-pound bass,” Arney said. “It’s all the per- spective you have.” Trying a new method or ultra-light equip- ment is one way to spice up bluegill fishing. The other way, maybe the best way, accord- ing to Arney, is to take a kid with you. Arney believes anglers have a responsibil- ity to “pay it forward.” Each generation must teach the next. Fishing accounts for some of Arney’s strongest friendships. He wants young Hoosiers to experience the same joy. You can be that caring adult in a child’s first fishing memory.

4 2018 Indiana Fishing Reg.

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WEST BOGGS CAMPGROUND Located in West Boggs Park

GLENDALE CAMPGROUND Located in Glendale State Fish & Wildlife Area TREAT YOURSELF TO DAVIESS OUTDOORS 812.254.5262 CountyINDIANA 5 LICENSE INFORMATION

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife is tasked Resident Non-Resident Resident¹ Non-Resident by state law to manage fisheries resources for LICENSES Apprentice Apprentice the benefit of all Hoosiers. Annual Fishing $17 $35 na na This booklet is a summary of fishing regula- tions that support that effort. It is designed One-Day Fishing (includes Trout/Salmon) $9 $9 na na as a service to anglers and is not intended to Seven-Day Fishing na $20 na na Senior Annual Fishing be a complete digest of all fishing regulations. $3 na na na Some rules may change after printing of this (includes Trout/Salmon)2 booklet, so be sure to check the DNR website Senior Fish for Life2 $17 na na na (wildlife.IN.gov/2347.htm) for updates. (includes Trout/Salmon) These regulations apply only to fish that Trout/Salmon Stamp Privilege $11 $11 na na originate from, or are taken from, the public Annual Hunting $17 $80 $17 $80 waters of Indiana. Fish from public waters that migrate into or from private waters are still Annual Hunting and Fishing $25 na $25 na covered by these regulations. These regula- Five-Day Hunting na $31 na $31 tions do not apply to fish in private waters that Disabled American Veterans Hunt/Fish $2.75 na na na did not originate from public waters. DAV 10-Year Hunt/Fish $27.50 na na na All 2018 annual licenses and stamp privileges are valid from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. 2018 license fees are subject to change by the Natural Resources Commission. Who Needs a For a list of current license fees, go to Fishing.IN.gov or call (317) 232-4200. 1 See resident description located at the left of this chart. Fishing License 2 Must be at least 64 years old and born after March 31, 1943. With a few exceptions (see License Exemp- na = not available tions), a valid fishing license issued by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is interactive map) or visit the DNR Customer • Residents of any licensed health care facility required to fish in public lakes, streams, rivers Service Center, Indiana Government Center in Indiana taking part in a supervised fish- or tributaries in Indiana or its boundary waters. South, 402 W. Washington St., Room W160, ing activity sponsored by the facility. The license must be signed in ink to be Indianapolis, IN 46204. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 valid, or the licensee must produce an elec- • Residents that have a developmental dis- p.m., Monday-Friday. tronic copy of the license while fishing. You ability as defined by IC 12-7-2-61. must carry it with you when fishing and pre- By Mail … • Fishing in a private pond that does not allow sent it to an Indiana Conservation Officer (or Send check, money order (payable to DNR) fish entry from or exit to public waters. any other authorized law enforcement official) or Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American However, an angler must have permission upon request. There are fines and penalties for Express (include number, expiration date) to: from the property owner to fish. fishing without a license. Licenses To qualify for resident fishing licenses, a DNR Customer Service Center • Residents of Indiana engaged in full-time person must have established a true fixed 402 W. Washington St., Room W160 military service while on approved military and permanent home and primary residence Indianapolis, IN, 46204 leave. However, the angler must carry leave in Indiana for 60 consecutive days prior to Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Include the fol- orders and a valid Indiana Driver’s License purchasing a license or permit, and not claim lowing information: or voter registration card. residency for fishing, hunting or trapping • Name, date of birth, Indiana Driver’s • Resident owners or lessees of Indiana farm- in another state or country. All others are License number and Social Security Num- land who farm that land, their spouses and non-residents. ber (required by IC 14-22-11-3) children living with them, while fishing on Indiana residents who are 64 years old and the farmland they own or lease. This exemp- born after March 31, 1943 are eligible to buy a • Complete address, city, state, ZIP code, and tion does not apply to land owned by a busi- Senior Annual or Senior Fish for Life License. phone number ness, corporation or partnership unless the The Senior Fish for Life License is valid for the • Height, weight, sex, color of hair and eyes shareholders, partners, members or owners rest of the holder's life and includes the trout/ are composed solely of an immediate fam- salmon stamp. To legally fish for or take trout • Specify the licenses you need and dates for ily and farm that land. Farmland means and salmon from public waters, you must also one-day or multi-day licenses agricultural land that is devoted to or best have a valid trout and salmon privilege and a By Phone … adaptable to the production of crops, fruits, valid fishing license (signed in ink) , or have Call (317) 232-4200. timber or raising livestock, or is assessed as with you an electronic copy of the license agricultural land for property tax purposes. while fishing. A fishing license may be revoked if the License Exemptions • Some non-resident landowners, while fish- license holder is convicted of violating fish and ing in public waters from the farmland they A fishing license and trout/salmon stamp are wildlife regulations. Any equipment used in own, according to the exemptions that their NOT required for: the violation of Indiana fish and wildlife laws state provides to Indiana residents. may be seized for evidence, and be confiscated • Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943. NOTE: Non-resident military personnel on upon conviction. Such residents should carry their driver’s active duty and stationed in Indiana may license or other identification to verify age purchase an Indiana resident license.) Indiana and residency. How to Buy a License disabled American veterans can get a DAV fish- • Residents and non-residents under age 18. ing and hunting license application form from Online … the County Service Officer where they live or • Residents who are legally blind. Go to: INHuntFish.com download the application form at wildlife. In Person … • Residents of a state-owned mental rehabili- IN.gov/2376.htm. Place the form in a stamped tation facility. self-addressed envelope and mail to the DNR Visit one of more than 525 retailers state- Customer Service Center: 402 W. Washington wide (see wildlife.IN.gov/5334.htm for an St., Room W160, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

6 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE

FISHING REGULATIONS

INDIANA’S STATEWIDE SIZE AND BAG LIMITS Hooks for Pole Fishing

Species Daily Bag Limit Minimum Size or Hand Lines You may not fish with more than three poles or 3 3 Bluegill None (exceptions: page 11) None hand lines at any one time. Each line may have Redear Sunfish3 253 None no more than three single or multi-pronged hooks, three artificial lures, or no more than 14 inches Black Bass (in lakes) 2 5 singly or in aggregate1 three of a combination of hooks and artificial (exceptions: page 12) lures. Black Bass 5 singly or in aggregate1 12 to 15 inch slot limit 4 A multi-prong hook, or two or more single- (in rivers and streams) 2 (no more than two over 15 inches) (exceptions: page 12) prong hooks used to hold a single bait is consid- ered one hook. 2 1 Black Bass (in Lake Michigan) 3 singly or in aggregate 14 inches Single- or multi-barbed hooks may be used Yellow Bass None None for hand or pole lines, float or , limb, drop or trot lines. Special hook size and barb White Bass, 12 singly or in aggregate1, no more None Hybrid Striped Bass than two fish may exceed 17 inches regulations apply to Lake Michigan and its tributaries. Refer to page 18 for hook informa- Striped Bass 2 None tion for these waters. Rock Bass 25 None Crappie 3 253 (exceptions: page 11) None7 Gaffs, Grab Hooks For Walleye: 14 inches south of and Landing Nets Walleye, SR 26, 16 inches north of SR 26 Walleye-Sauger Hybrid (Saug- 6 singly or in aggregate1 (exceptions on Pg. 11) Landing nets, gaff hooks or grab hooks may eye), Sauger For sauger and saugeye: No be used only to assist in the landing of legally size limit (exceptions on Pg. 11) caught fish. They may not be used as the Muskellunge method of catching fish. 1 singly 36 inches8 and Tiger Muskellunge Northern Pike 311 24 inches10, 12 Snares Yellow Perch None (15 only on Lake Michigan) None You may use no more than one snare to take Catfish: Channel, Blue, suckers, carp, gar, and bowfin. Snaring these None 13 inches 5,6 Flathead (in streams) fish may be done only between sunrise and sunset. Catfish: Channel, Blue, 109 (exceptions: page 11) None 5,6 Flathead (in lakes, reservoirs) Bullhead None None Limb Lines Lake Whitefish 12 None A limb line (or drop line) involves suspending a from a tree limb extending beyond Shovelnose Sturgeon None 25 inches the bank of a body of water. You may fish with 1 Singly or in aggregate means that the daily bag limit includes any combination of the species. no more than 10 limb lines or drop lines at any 2 Black bass includes largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. one time. Each line may have no more than 3 Daily bag limit for sunfish at J.C. Murphey Lake (Newton County) is 25 singly or in aggregate. one single- or multi-barbed hook attached to 4 No black bass between 12 and 15 inches may be harvested. it. Each line must have a readable tag showing 5 No more than one blue catfish and one flathead catfish that is 35 inches or longer. the name and address of the user, or the DNR- 6 No more than one channel catfish that is 28 inches or longer. issued Customer ID number. All lines must 7 9-inch minimum size at Dogwood Lake (Daviess County) and Hardy Lake (Scott County). be checked at least every 24 hours. It is illegal 8 44-inch minimum size at Backwater, Kiser and Webster lakes (Kosciusko County). to use a limb or drop line within 300 yards of 9 No bag limit for catfish at Turtle Creek Reservoir. a partial or full dam structure located on any 10 No more than 1 per day more than 30 inches long. stream, river, ditch, canal or reservoir. 11 No more than 6 per day from Hamilton Lake in Steuben County. 12 No minimum size limit for Northern pike at Hamilton Lake in Steuben County, with no more than 1 per day more than 30 inches long. Snagging Fish Snagging is the practice of dragging or jerking a hook (or hooks), baited or unbaited, through the water with the intention of hooking a fish Bag and Possession Limits Illegal Stocking, on contact. It is illegal to snag fish from public It is illegal to take more than the daily bag limit Aquarium Release waters in Indiana, including the Ohio River. of a wild fish in a calendar day. Trout and salmon that are foul-hooked — not It is illegal to take any live fish (native or non- The possession limit is two times the daily caught in the mouth — must be released to the native) and release it into any other public bag limit. water and not kept. waters without a stocking permit. DNR fisheries The possession limit does not apply to a wild biologists approve stocking of fish only after fish that is processed and stored at an individu- careful consideration of the potential impacts of al’s primary residence. Trot Lines new fish on the existing habitat and fish popula- It is illegal to carry, transport or ship outside A trot line (also called a set line or throw line) tion. The release of fish from an aquarium Indiana, in open season, in one day, a wild fish is a fishing line with smaller lines attached to it would be considered the stocking of fish, and a that the individual has taken in open season in that extends into the water from a fixed point, permit is required to do so. excess of the possession limit. such as a boat dock or tree. You may fish with no more than one trot line at any one time. The trot

8 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE line must have no more than 50 single- or multi- barbed hooks. Each drop line on a trot line may Bow Fishing have only one hook. Trot lines must bear a read- A bow and arrow or crossbow can be used Free Fishing Days able tag showing the name and address of the any time of day year-round to take Asian carp, Indiana residents can enjoy four free user, or the DNR-issued Customer ID number. bowfin, buffalo, common carp, gar, shad, and fishing days in 2018 without having to Trot lines must be checked at least once every suckers from streams, rivers and non-flowing buy a fishing license — April 21, May 19, 24 hours. It is illegal to use a trot line in Lake waters (including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs). and June 2 and 3. Michigan or within 300 yards of any partial or A fishing license is required to use a bow and This year, take a friend along and intro- full dam structure located on any stream, river, arrow or crossbow as fishing equipment. duce him or her to a new activity that ditch, canal or reservoir. could become a lifelong passion. (All other fishing rules and regulations Spear Fishing apply.) Umbrella Rigs A gig, fish spear, spear gun, or underwater spear You may use an umbrella (sometimes can be used any time of day year-round to take See dnr.IN.gov/fishfree for more referred to as an Alabama rig), but hooks Asian carp, bowfin, buffalo, common carp, information. or lures can be attached to only three arms. gar, shad, and suckers from non-flowing waters Any additional arms must be left empty or (including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs) and the can be fitted with a spinner blade or other following large streams: hookless attractor. • Kankakee River, upstream to the State Road license may be bought, sold, or bartered. You 55 bridge may keep fish that you catch for an aquarium Float Fishing • Maumee River, upstream to the Anthony if that fish meets legal size and bag limit Float or jug fishing is the use of any buoyed Boulevard bridge in Fort Wayne requirements. container (made of any material other than If you give your catch away, it’s a good idea • St. Joseph River, upstream from Twin Branch glass) that suspends a single fishing line and a to provide the recipient a note identifying the Dam in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties single- or multi-barbed hook. fish you gave them. This avoids confusion with As many as five floats may be used but only • Tippecanoe River, upstream to one-half mile exceeding the daily bag limit or possessing fish one hook may be attached to each float line. below its confluence with Big Creek in Car- without a fishing license. Each float must be marked with the user’s name roll County (Fish spears and fish gigs cannot and address, or the DNR-issued Customer ID be used in, on, or adjacent to Tippecanoe number. All lines must be in constant visual River from 1/2 mile below its juncture with Smelt Fishing contact of the person using them. Float fishing Big Creek in Carroll County upstream to the Smelt may be taken from Lake Michigan from is not allowed on lakes and reservoirs for public Oakdale Dam.) March 1 through May 30. Smelt may be taken safety reasons. only with a single seine or net. The seine or • , upstream to State Road 13 in net may not exceed 12 feet in length and 6 feet Wabash in depth, nor have a stretch mesh larger than Ice Fishing • White River, upstream from the Wabash 1½ inches. A dip net may not exceed 12 feet in When ice fishing, no more than three lines may River to the junction of East and West forks diameter. be used at any one time. Each line may contain • White River/East Fork, upstream to the dam no more than three hooks (single, double or at the south edge of Columbus treble) or three artificial lures. Endangered Fish Holes cut for ice fishing cannot be more than • White River/West Fork, upstream to the dam The following fish species are classified as 12 inches in diameter. below Harding Street in Indianapolis endangered in Indiana: bantam sunfish, Tip-ups must be identified with the name Hoosier cavefish (formerly Northern cavefish), and address of the user or the DNR-issued Cus- channel darter, gilt darter, greater redhorse, lake tomer ID number. Tip-ups must be in constant Fishing Below Dams sturgeon (see page 13), Northern brook lamprey, visual contact of the person using them. State law does not allow the taking of fish by pallid shiner, redside dace, and variegate darter. Ice shanties or portable ice-fishing shelters trot line, set line, throw line, net, trap, or seine It is illegal to take or possess these fish at any must have the owner’s name and address or the (except legal minnow seines or dip nets) within time. Most of these species are small and would DNR-issued Customer ID number in 3-inch 300 yards of a dam on an Indiana waterway not be caught while . block letters on the outside of the door. Between or boundary water (which includes the Ohio If captured during baitfish collection, imme- sunset and sunrise, any ice fishing shelter or River). diately return them unharmed to the water in portable shelter must have at least one red which they were found. reflector or a 3-inch by 3-inch reflector strip on each side of the structure. Wanton Waste Ice shanties and portable shelters must be The intentional waste and destruction of fish Species Illegal to Possess removed from public waters before ice-out. If is prohibited unless the fish is required by law The following fish and mussels are illegal to used before Jan. 1 and after Feb. 15, all struc- to be killed. Fish must not be mutilated and possess: Asiatic clam, bighead carp, black carp, tures must be removed daily. returned to the water unless the fish is law- silver carp, quagga mussel, round goby, rudd, fully used as bait. Fish parts, including entrails, ruffe, snakehead (of the family Channidae), must not be discarded into any state waters but stone moroko, tubenose goby, walking catfish Freshwater Mussels should be disposed of in a sanitary manner that (of the family Clariidae), Wels catfish, white It is illegal to collect or take live mussels or dead does not pollute the water or become detrimen- perch (not freshwater drum), zander, and zebra mussel shells from public waters. A ban on tal to public health or comfort. mussel. harvesting shells has been in effect since 1991 to If any of these species are taken into posses- protect against a rapid decrease in the abun- sion, they must be killed immediately by either dance and distribution of freshwater mussels. Sale of Aquatic Life removing their head, removing gills from at Please do not disturb living mussels. No fish, frogs, turtles, or other reptile or least one side of the fish, or gutted. Your coop- amphibian taken under a fishing or hunting eration is essential.

2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 9 BASIC FISHING INFORMATION

Boating Lake Michigan Trout Gifting Fish All motorboats used in public waters must and Salmon A person cannot gift fish taken under a sport- be registered. For a copy of Indiana boat- fishing license to another person knowingly Trout or salmon with a missing adipose fin ing laws, write to DNR Division of Law or intentionally for the purpose of stocking a contain a small micro wire tag in the head of Enforcement, 402 W. Washington St., private lake for which customers pay for the the fish with information important to DNR Room W255D, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or go opportunity to fish. research. Please save the head from your to . boat-ed.com/indiana/handbook marked (adipose fin-clipped) trout and salmon On state-owned, leased or licensed lakes and call the Division of Fish & Wildlife at (219) smaller than 300 acres, only electric motors Holding Baskets, Live 874-6824 for instructions on drop-off locations. may be used. No more than two 12-volt bat- Only trout and salmon with a missing Boxes, Live Nets, Etc. teries can be used to power motors on adipose fin have micro tags. The adipose fin A fish-holding basket, live box, live net, or any these waters. is along the fish’s spine between the dorsal fin other structure in which fish or other aquatic and caudal (tail) fin. life are contained or held and left unattended Life Preservers must be plainly labeled with the name and address of the owner. This does not include A U.S. Guard approved wearable flotation Illegal Devices live wells or other devices that hang over the device (PFD) is required for each person on any It is illegal to use the following devices to take side of a boat or are located within the boat. boat. Boats 16 feet and longer, except for canoes fish from public waters: a weir, electric cur- or kayaks, must also have one USCG-approved rent, dynamite or other explosive, a firearm, throwable PFD on board. hands alone, or any substance that may Minnows, Crayfish Lake Michigan, the Ohio River, and Indiana- weaken or poison fish. Minnows and crayfish may be collected any Illinois boundary waters of the Wabash River time through the year if you have a valid sport have special regulations. Call the USCG at (219) fishing license. Minnows and crayfish collected 879-8371 for Lake Michigan, (502) 779-5400 for Sorting Fish from public waters cannot be sold. southern Indiana, or see for a uscgboating.org Anglers are responsible for maintaining fish “Minnow” is defined as a species of the min- copy of federal boating regulations. in a healthy condition if they wish to return now family Cyprinidae, except for exotic species fish to the water. Dead and dying fish already identified in 312 IAC 9-6-7 and endangered Sinkers kept cannot be released back into the water. species identified in 312 IAC 9-6-9, as well as At no time may anglers have more than a bag sucker, brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans), You may want to consider using lead-free fish- limit in their possession while engaged in a gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and alewife. Live ing sinkers if you are concerned about your day’s fishing. However, sorting of fish may gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and alewife may exposure to lead. Alternative sinkers are made be allowed within the bag limit if fish are in only be collected, used, possessed, and disposed of steel, bismuth, tungsten, and resin. Fish or healthy condition at the time of release. For of in accordance with 312 IAC 9-6-8. wildlife health may be affected if they ingest example, if you catch five largemouth bass You cannot transport more than 100 crayfish lead or zinc sinkers. (daily bag limit is five) and catch a bigger across the state line in a 24-hour period unless largemouth bass later that day, it is legal to you are commercially raising crayfish. You may Tagging and Marking release any of the other fish in good condition use artificial lighting to take crayfish. in order to keep the larger one. Fish must be If you plan to catch your own minnows or Anyone interested in marking or tagging fish in released into the water from which they were crayfish, the following rules apply. (See page 20 public water must get approval from the DNR taken and be able to swim away normally. All for special minnow and crayfish collecting Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) before mark- fish in possession must meet legal size limits. regulations on the Ohio River.) ing or tagging occurs. An application, available from DFW, must • Seines cannot be larger than 12 feet in length be processed 21 days before the scheduled start and 4 feet deep with mesh no larger than ½ date. Call (317) 232-4080 for more information. inch stretch. (Stretch is the distance between two opposite knots of a net mesh when the net is stretched tight.) • Minnow dip nets cannot exceed 3 feet square, without sides or walls, and may not have mesh larger than ½ inch stretch. How To Measure • Minnow traps cannot exceed 24 inches in length, with the opening of the trap no larger Your Fish than 2 inches in diameter. Traps for crayfish To determine the accurate length of also must comply with these requirements. a fish, measure a straight line from • Cast nets may be used, provided the net is no the tip of the jaw (mouth closed) to Total Length the tip of the compressed tail fin. larger than 20 feet in diameter and the mesh Measure with mouth closed and stretch is no larger than ¾ inch. tail compressed to determine total • A person cannot use a , seine or any length. other device to collect minnows extending Measure shovelnose sturgeon from from a dam downstream 500 yards on inland nose to fork in tail fin to determine waters, except on the Ohio River. length. Fork Length Do not release minnows into the water after Fork Length you finish fishing. Emptying bait buckets can contaminate a body of water with undesirable fish. In addition, bait and bait buckets exposed

10 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE to lake or stream water could get contaminated gizzard shad and threadfin shad at these bod- • Wall Lake (LaGrange County); minimum with zebra mussel larvae, fish pathogens, or ies of water. size 16 inches with a daily bag limit of two other aquatic invasive species. Anglers are Live gizzard shad or threadfin shad col- Walleye taken from public waters (lakes, encouraged to dispense of baitfish in the trash lected from the tailwaters of a lake or col- rivers and streams) south of State Road 26 after each outing and buy new bait for the next lected from other water bodies must be killed must be 14 inches or longer, except: outing. Fishing worms should be discarded in immediately upon capture and cannot be trash containers. possessed alive. • The Ohio River, where there is no mini- Wild fish may be used as live bait as long as mum size the fish was caught legally and meets any size, There is no minimum size requirement for catch, or possession limits established for that Hooks on EF White River saugeye on all state waters, except for Hunt- species. Goldfish may be used as live bait. Hook restrictions are in place from March 15 ingburg Lake (Dubois County) and Sullivan Carp cannot be used as live bait at any through April 20 on the East Fork White River Lake (Sullivan County), where saugeye must location. from Williams Dam to the Huron and Wil- be 14 inches in length or longer. Live alewives may be collected, possessed liams Road bridge in Lawrence County. Except for the Ohio River, sauger are added to and used on Lake Michigan only, and may During that time, you cannot fish with the aggregate bag limit for walleye and saugeye. not be transported away from Lake Michigan. more than one single hook per line or one Any unused alewives must be killed. You must artificial lure. Single hooks, including those immediately kill alewives collected from waters on artificial lures, shall not exceed one-half Special Regulation Waters other than Lake Michigan. (1/2) inch from point to shank. Double and On Fidler Pond in Elkhart County, Failing treble hooks on artificial lures shall not exceed Lake (also known as Gentian Lake) in Steuben three-eighths (3/8) inch from point to shank. Gizzard Shad, County, and Flat Fork Creek Park ponds A and B in Hamilton County, a person cannot take Threadfin Shad Walleye Size Limits more than: Gizzard shad and threadfin shad can be col- Walleye taken from all public waters (lakes, riv- • 5 channel catfish per day. lected and used as live bait on the following ers and streams) north of State Road 26 must be waters but may not be transported live away • 2 largemouth bass per day, and the large- 16 inches in length or longer, except for: from the location where collected: Brookville, mouth bass must be at least 18 inches long. Cecil M. Harden, Freeman, Hardy, Monroe, • Bass Lake (Starke County) and Wolf Lake • 15 of any combination of bluegill, redear Patoka, and Shafer lakes, and the Ohio River (Lake County); minimum size 14 inches sunfish, and crappie per day. mainstream (excluding all embayments). • Lake George (Steuben County); minimum Cast nets with a maximum mesh size of size 15 inches 2 inches stretch can be used to collect live

11 BASS REGULATIONS

STATEWIDE BLACK BASS* REGULATIONS • Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area, all lakes 20-inch minimum size limit and one fish Type of Water Daily Bag Limit Minimum Size daily bag limit: Lakes 5 singly or in aggregate 14 inches • Turtle Creek Reservoir (Sullivan County) 5 singly or in aggregate 12- to 15-inch slot size limits: Rivers/Streams 12 to 15 inch slot limit** (no more than 2 bass over 15 inches) At the following lakes, largemouth bass that Lake Michigan 3 singly or in aggregate 14 inches are from 12 to 15 inches in length may not be harvested. The daily bag limit applies to bass * Black bass is a term for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. Certain waters have special bag limits and minimum size limits that apply to black bass. See information on this page. under 12 inches and over 15 inches. ** No black bass between 12 and 15 inches may be harvested. • Buffalo Trace Lake (Harrison County) The possession limit is two times the daily bag limit. The possession limit does not apply to fish that are processed and stored at an individual’s primary residence. • Lake (Dubois County) • Montgomery City Park Lake (Daviess County) 16-inch minimum size limit: Special Lake Regulations 12- to 15-inch slot size limit (no more than • Cecil M. Harden Lake (Parke County) Special largemouth bass regulations are in effect two bass larger than 15 inches): for many Indiana waters. 18-inch minimum size limit and two fish • Big Long Lake (LaGrange County) The expected benefits of size limits are daily bag limit: No-minimum-size-limit waters: an increase in the number of bass caught • Ball Lake (Steuben County) (although many must be released); an increase • Brownstown Pit (Jackson County) in size of bass; and in some cases, improve- • Blue Grass, Loon Pit (Warrick County) • Burdette Park lakes (Vanderburgh County) ment in bluegill size and increased predation • Fidler Pond in Elkhart County, Failing Lake on abundant prey like gizzard shad. (also known as Gentian Lake) in Steuben • Chandler Town Lake (Warrick County) Regulations on bass fishing differ on the County, and Flat Fork Creek Park ponds A • Cypress Lake (Jackson County) Ohio River. See page 20. and B in Hamilton County Lake Limits (county) • Deming Park lakes (Vigo County) • J.C. Murphey Lake (Newton County) • Garvin Park Lake (Vanderburgh County) 15-inch minimum size limit: • Kunkel Lake (Wells County) • Glen Miller Pond (Wayne County) • Patoka Lake (Orange, Dubois and Crawford • Robinson Lake (Whitley and Kosciusko counties) • Hayswood Lake (Harrison County) counties) SOUTHERN SPORTSMAN H L I.

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Beautiful Martin County located in southern Indiana has some of the best views in Indiana. It is home to the East Fork of the White River, Martin State Book Your Lifetime Memory Now! Forest, and some lands giving visitors thousands of magnifi cent acres for fi shing, hunting, hiking, photography & camping! .. Martin County Chamber of Commerce • 812-295-4093 William Lyon 334-467-1830 Dave Lyon 334-412-3368 — Alabama’s Black Belt — 12 No-minimum-size-limit waters (cont.): • Henry County Memorial Park Lake (Henry County) Lake Sturgeon – Endangered Species • Hovey Lake at Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Lake Sturgeon Shovelnose Sturgeon Area (Posey County) Mouth: Upper lip without lobes, Mouth: Upper lip with four lobes, lower lip with two lobes. lower lip with four lobes. • Krannert Lake (Marion County) Snout: Cone-shaped, rounded. Snout: Shovel-shaped, flattened. • Lake Sullivan (Marion County) Tail: Rounded, thick caudal Tail: Long, thin caudal peduncle • Ruster Lake (Marion County) peduncle not fully scaled; smooth areas fully scaled with bony plates. between rows of bony plates. • Schnebelt Pond (Dearborn County) Size: Adults normally caught at 30–40 Size: Adults normally caught at 45–55 inches inches and 3–7 lbs., rarely larger. and 25–45 lbs.; can reach lengths greater Range: Wabash and White rivers and occa- Special Regulations than 6 feet and weights over 100 lbs. sionally in other large rivers. for Rivers & Streams Range: Lower Wabash and White rivers and 20-inch minimum size limit and one fish Lake Michigan, possibly in other large lakes daily bag limit: or rivers. • Sugar Creek (Montgomery, Parke, Boone, Clinton and Tipton counties) 12-inch minimum size limit (5 bass daily limit): • All rivers and streams in Posey, Vander- burgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Jefferson, Switzer- Lake sturgeon: may have small metal tag Shovelnose sturgeon. land, Ohio and Dearborn counties (with the with number on base of dorsal fin. exception of the Blue River, where the slot limit applies in Crawford, Harrison, and Washington counties).

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INLAND TROUT SIZES AND LIMITS

Species Daily Bag Limit Minimum Size

Brook Trout 5 singly or in aggregate for all trout. Rainbow Trout 7 inches* No more than 1 may Brown Trout be brown trout.

*18-inch minimum size limit for brown trout at Oliver, Olin and Martin lakes in LaGrange Co., and Brookville Lake tailwater in Franklin Co.

Indiana anglers have two options when it comes to trout fishing — inland waters and Lake Michigan. The following information covers regulations for inland trout fishing. Lake Michigan trout and salmon regulations are on page 18. Lakes: No closed season for taking trout from inland lakes except March 15 to April 1 at Greene-Sullivan State Forest. Streams: The opening day of trout season for inland streams, other than Lake Michigan tributaries, is the last Saturday in April and runs through Dec. 31. The starting time is 6 a.m. local time. For a list of trout stockings, see wildlife.IN.gov/5457.htm Catch-and-release applies to all trout streams from Jan. 1 through April 14. See page 18 for special tributary restrictions and closure information for Lake Michigan streams. A closed season for selected trout streams (see below) runs from April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) while DNR staff complete the annual trout stockings. • Pigeon River and Pigeon Creek in LaGrange County from the Steu- ben 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 (tribu- taries 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, approxi- mately one 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 SWIFT. SILENT. SECURE. • Spy Run Creek within Franke Park in Allen County Power-Pole is the original shallow water • Mississinewa River within the boundaries of the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area anchor that delivers swift, silent and secure positioning at the push of a button. Now • Big Blue River within the boundaries of Wilbur Wright Fish & Wild- life Area in Henry County featuring heavy-duty hydraulic hose, new C-Monster 2.0 hydraulic pump and remote Three streams in Elkhart County (totaling 2.8 miles) are designated as year-round “catch-and-release only” and “artificial lures or flies only” controls. For more information or to find a trout fishing areas. Only artificial lures and artificial flies can be used dealer near you, go to power-pole.com. in the following catch-and-release waters in Elkhart County: • 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 Brown Trout Minimum Size Limit Waters: An 18-inch minimum size limit exists at Oliver, Olin, and Martin lakes in LaGrange County, and the Brookville Lake tailwater in Franklin County.

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considered valid. All licensed anglers had an Only “impacts of aquatic invasive species” equal chance of being chosen, even if they had ranked higher. Habitat enhancement was only one way of being contacted. also ranked a high priority for the fisheries The response rate was 30 percent, which is program in general. considered high in the research world. If you “If we can’t sustain good habitat (includ- participated, thank you for your time. Your ing water quality), we’re going to struggle to input will help us greatly. provide quality fishing opportunities, and the This year some more-specific questions findings show that anglers seem to understand were asked. Among these were county most that,” Burlingame said. “That’s encouraging.” often fished, top three water sources you’d Burlingame said he was surprised by how like stocked (in addition to what species), and high ranked among which and research anglers’ research priorities. Fifty-one percent efforts were most beneficial. We also asked and 48% of our anglers rated the management if anglers owned property on certain water of commercial fishing and the impacts of it as Anglers have no qualms about telling the DNR bodies. This helped us determine how their a 9 or 10 (out of 10, with 10 being most impor- what they think, and that’s as it should be. opinions might differ, particularly on aquatic tant). Research on commercial fishing was But some years the feedback is collected in a vegetation, from those who did not own ranked more important than understanding more formal way than in others. That happened waterfront property. the impacts of regulation changes, monitor- in 2017. The reason was that, starting in 1977, In terms of findings, Matt Burlingame, ing trends in fisheries communities, predator the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife has con- DNR fisheries biometrician, said overall find- stockings and interactions with prey, and ducted an angler survey about every 10 years, ings were similar to those from 2005. three other activities. and the calendar said it was time for another. “One thing that stood out is how much In terms of species fished for most, look If you didn’t get surveyed, that may have value our anglers place on habitat,” he said. at the boy's catch on this guidebook’s cover. been by design. No, we didn’t intentionally Anglers rated the management of aquatic Bluegill ranked first again, just as in 1994 and exclude you, personally, but research methods habitat projects as one of their highest priori- 2005. Largemouth bass ranked first in 1984. show that if a scientifically random sample ties and identified “improvement of aquatic Complete survey results are at wildlife. of a certain size is obtained, the results are habitat” as one of the top research priorities. IN.gov/files/fw-2017anglersurvey.pdf.

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17 LAKE MICHIGAN REGULATIONS

• No fishing is allowed within 100 feet of the LAKE MICHIGAN AND TRIBUTARIES SIZES AND LIMITS entrances and exits of the fish ladders.

Species Daily Bag Limit Minimum Size • No fishing is allowed by boat or other watercraft in the St. Joseph River below the Atlantic Salmon South Bend dam for a distance of 200 feet, Chinook Salmon and from the Mishawaka Central Park Dam downstream to the Main Street Bridge, Coho Salmon 14 inches Mishawaka. 5 total salmon and trout Lake Michigan, Pink Salmon No more than 3 may be lake trout streams, and Brown Trout St. Joseph River Tributary Closures No fishing is allowed within 100 feet upstream Lake Trout of the Trail Creek sea lamprey barrier or Steelhead Trout downstream to the Pottawatomie Country Club Golf Course property line located adja- Yellow Perch 15 on Lake Michigan only None cent to Springland Avenue in Michigan City. Lake Whitefish 12 (statewide) None Fishing is not allowed within 100 feet above or below the Praxair Dam on the East Branch of the Little Calumet River.

Lake Michigan and its tributaries in Indiana provide a number of fishing opportunities Tributary Restrictions for salmon, trout, perch, whitefish and other You may not possess a fish spear, gig, gaff, Fishing Reports species. equipment, crossbow, grab hook, Any trout or salmon taken from the Lake spear gun, club, snag hook or underwater and More Michigan tributaries defined in this section spear in or adjacent to the Galena River Fishing reports, public access sites must be hooked in the mouth. Foul-hooked (LaPorte County), Trail Creek (LaPorte and much more can be found at fish must be returned to the water. County), the East Branch of the Little Calu- wildlife.IN.gov/3591.htm. met River (LaPorte and Porter counties), Salt Additional regulations include: Creek (Porter County), the West Branch of the • The bag limit for yellow perch is 15 while Little Calumet River (Lake and Porter coun- fishing Indiana waters (even if you have a ties), Burns Ditch (Lake and Porter counties), fishing license from a neighboring state). Deep River downstream from the dam at Camp 133 (Lake County), or the tributaries to • You can take bowfin, buffalo, carp, gar, these waters. shad, and sucker from Lake Michigan with a bow and arrow. • You cannot use a trot line (power line), set Hook Restrictions line or throw line to take fish from Lake You may not fish with more than one single Michigan. hook per line or one artificial lure in the waters including Lake Michigan tributaries, and the • See page 12 for Lake Michigan bass St. Joseph River and its tributary streams from regulations. the Twin Branch Dam downstream to the Michigan state line (St. Joseph County). Single hooks, including those on artificial lures, cannot exceed ½ inch from point to shank. Double and treble hooks are allowed only on artificial lures and shall not exceed 3/8 inch from point to shank. Prevent transport of aquatic invasive species. Clean all recreational equipment. St. Joseph River www.ProtectYourWaters.net We Provide Hunting Special regulations apply to fishing the • INSPECT and REMOVE aquatic plants, Opportunities to St. Joseph River and its tributaries from Twin animals, and mud from boat, motor, trailer, Law Enforcement Agents Branch Dam in Mishawaka downstream to and equipment. Injured in the Line of Duty. the Michigan state line. These include: • DRAIN water from boat, motor, bilge, • Minimum size limit for trout and salmon is livewell, and bait containers away from To Volunteer Or Donate, Please Visit Our Website 14 inches. landing. • DISPOSE of unwanted live bait, fish parts, HuntingorHeroe.org • No fishing is allowed at any time in the East and worms in the trash. Race Waterway in South Bend. No fishing is • SPRAY/RINSE boat and equipment with allowed within 100 feet of the entrance and high-pressure or hot water, OR exit of the East Race. • DRY everything for at least five days before going into another body of water. Making Hunting & Fishing Dreams Come True • No fishing is allowed at any time from the • NEVER release organisms from one for YoungsTers, 21 & unDer, with fish ladders located on the South Bend or waterbody into another. LiFe-THreaTening iLLnesses Mishawaka Central Park dams. Toll Free: 866-345-4455 www.HuntofaLifetime.org 18 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE GIZZARD SHAD Public Enemy No. 1 for Bluegills

Preventing unintentional shad stocking is easy but sometimes requires a reminder. “Anglers should never dump their bait bucket in the water,” Carnahan said. “Leftover bait needs to go in the trash.” Preventing intentional stockings is tougher. It requires help from ethical fishermen and an understanding that it’s counterproduc- tive from those who may be tempted. And it’s illegal, carrying a penalty of a Class C misdemeanor. Still, introduced populations of shad have been found at ’s three Bluegill are the No. 1 pursued fish in Indiana. intentionally or unintentionally, and by bait lakes (Sullivan County), Beaver Dam (Dubois That’s why the fish and one of its newest fans buckets being dumped. Making sure those County), West Boggs (Daviess County), Patoka grace the cover of this guide, and why it’s the things don’t happen is the responsibility of all (Dubois County), Worster (St. Joseph County), cover feature story. of those who enjoy fishing. and Indian (Perry County) lakes. Public enemy No. 1 for bluegill fishing is Some people intentionally transfer live shad Correcting the problem is expensive and gizzard shad. Shad compete for the same to other waters thinking it will fatten that time-consuming. Either the lake’s entire fishery food as the state’s favorite fish. In waters that lake’s largemouth bass. That may happen in as well as those of its incoming streams need to include both species, this tussle inevitably the short term but it’s fool’s gold. Once shad be renovated or the lake needs to be drained to results in smaller bluegill. The biggest bluegill take over, the survival of bass fry will stagnate a completely dry bottom, and every fish must be in a shad-dominated lake is usually no more because the competition for food and space is a killed with a fish toxicant. After that happens, than 7 inches. Most won’t see 6 inches. game they can’t win. And neither can bluegill. the lake must be re-stocked with a popular sport Shad grow and reproduce faster than “The negative impacts of the reduced large- fish, like bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bluegill. Even though shad are native to nearly mouth bass population size and poor bluegill bass, black crappie and channel catfish. all of Indiana, there are many lakes where growth far outweigh the positives of a gizzard The most recent fisheries renovation by DNR shad don’t dominate. But it doesn’t take much shad population,” said Dan Carnahan, south fisheries biologists occurred at West Boggs to tip that balance in favor of shad, which are region fisheries supervisor. Lake in 2014. commonly 7 to 14 inches long and can reach Shad are legal live bait only in the follow- Don’t allow another such project to become lengths of 20 inches. That’s too big to eat for ing shad-positive waters: Patoka, Monroe, necessary. If you use live bait, don’t dump most predatory fish, such as largemouth bass Brookville, Cecil M. Harden (Raccoon), Free- your leftovers in the water. If you see someone and crappie. man, Hardy and Shafer lakes, and in the Ohio transferring shad, call the DNR Law Enforce- Sometimes shad enter lakes from other River, but they have to have been collected from ment Tip Line at 1-800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367). water bodies through flooding. That’s tough to the water body in which they are used. It is If you suspect a shad problem where you are control. The main way they get from one body illegal transport live shad on the road. The only fishing, call your district biologist, as listed in of water to another is by stocking—either legal way to transport shad is to kill them first. this guide on page 30.

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19 OHIO RIVER REGULATIONS

Paddlefish may not be taken from any por- OHIO RIVER DAILY BAG AND SIZE LIMITS tion of Indiana waters of the Ohio River on a sport fishing license. It is also illegal to take Species Daily Bag Limit Minimum Size paddlefish from any other waters of Indiana Largemouth Bass on a sport fishing license. 12 inches Smallmouth Bass 6* All other fish, except those classified as No size limit on spotted bass threatened or endangered, may be taken with Spotted Bass the same sport fishing methods described Hybrid Bass above, as well as with the following methods: Striped Bass No more than four fish may be 15 30* inches or longer • Long or compound bow with an arrow White Bass having one or more barbs and an attached Yellow Bass line. Catfish cannot be taken with bow and Rock Bass 15 None arrow during nighttime hours (½ hour after Blue Catfish None** 13 inches sunset until ½ hour before sunrise). Channel Catfish None*** 13 inches • from Feb. 1 to May 10 with any Flathead Catfish None** 13 inches pronged or barbed instrument attached Crappie 30 None to the end of a rigid object. You cannot take a fish by gigging from either a boat or Muskellunge 2* 30 inches platform. Tiger Muskellunge Walleye Sauger 10* None Where to Fish on the Ohio Hybrid Walleye (Sauger) Much of the best fishing on the Ohio River is concentrated near dams; however, a person Shovelnose Sturgeon None 25 inches shall not take fish within 200 yards below any *Singly or in aggregate means that the daily bag limit includes any combination of the species. dam on the Ohio River except by fishing pole ** No more than one may be 35 inches or longer. or hand line. *** No more than one may be 28 inches or longer. Access fees may be charged at some sites. • J.T. Myers Dam (Uniontown Dam), 15 miles southwest of Mount Vernon in Posey While fishing for sport fish, you may use County, accessible at Hovey Lake FWA Sport Fishing on the Ohio only poles or hand lines, float-fishing meth- • Newburgh Dam—in the town of Newburgh These regulations are the result of a coopera- ods, set lines with one single- or multi-barbed off State Road 66 tive effort by Indiana and five other Ohio River hooks, or up to two trot lines with no more states. In many cases, these rules differ sig- than 50 single- or multi-barbed hooks per • Cannelton Dam—follow Taylor Street nificantly from other laws and regulations in line. These lines must be spaced at least 18 south from State Road 66 in Cannelton Indiana. These rules and regulations apply only inches apart. Trot lines must be check at least • McAlpine Dam—located at Clarksville to the main stem of the Ohio River and do not once every 24 hours. Each set line and trot include any tributaries or embayments, where line must have affixed at least one legible tag • Falls of the Ohio State Park—accessible general Indiana fishing regulations apply. marked with the name and address of the user boat ramp located at George Rogers Clark An agreement between Indiana and Ken- or the individual’s customer identification Homesite in Clarksville (Access at New tucky allows that each state will recognize number (issued by the DNR). Albany off of Water Street in Jaycee River- the fishing license issued by the other state Trot lines can be attached only to a tree front Park) on the main stem of the Ohio River, exclud- limb, a tree trunk, a bank pole or the bank • Markland Dam—near Markland in Swit- ing embayments and tributaries. This means itself. Each drop line on a trot line can bear zerland County. Accessible at DamVue you can fish the Ohio River bank to bank only one single or multi-barbed hook. River Camp or Vevay boat ramp with a license issued by either state. To fish Snagging is prohibited as a sport fishing embayments or tributaries, you must obtain a method on the Ohio River. Minnows and Crayfish license from that state. An angler must abide Ohio River sport fish include largemouth You may take minnows or crayfish from the by the regulations of the state by which they bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, yellow Ohio River by the following methods only: are licensed except that when fishing from the bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead -cat • A minnow trap not to exceed 3 feet long bank they shall follow the regulations of the fish, black crappie, white crappie, tiger mus- and 18 inches in diameter nor having a state in which they are fishing. kellunge, northern pike, trout, and paddlefish. throat opening greater than 2 inches in diameter Wabash • A dip net no more than 3 feet in diameter River • A minnow seine no more than 30 feet long and 6 feet deep nor having mesh size larger Ohio than ¼ inch bar mesh River • A cast net not to exceed 20 feet in diameter nor having mesh size larger than ¾ inch stretch • Legal sportfishing methods listed on this J.T. Myers Dam Newburgh Cannelton McAlpine Markland page (Uniontown Dam) Dam Dam Dam Dam

20 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS SEASONS AND LIMITS

Possession Species Season Daily Bag Limit Restrictions Limit

Game turtles Eastern Snapping Turtle July 1, 2017 to Turtle traps may be used but may not have an opening below the Smooth Softshell Turtle 4** 8** March 31, 2018 water surface. Spiny Softshell Turtle Game frogs Frogs may be taken with gig or spear with a head not more than 3 Bull Frog inches in width and a single row of tines; long bow and arrow; club; June 15, 2017 to hands alone; or pole or hand line with not more than one hook or 25* 50* April 30, 2018 artificial lure attached. Firearms for frog hunting are restricted to Green Frog .22-caliber loaded with bird shot only , or an air rifle that fires a lead pellet (.177 diameter minimum) at least 500 feet per second.

* Singly or in aggregate, which means the catch limit includes any combination of the species. ** 12-inch minimum carapace length

All reptiles and amphibians native to Indiana the turtle's neck to a central point on the back may take game frog and turtle species from a are regulated species. edge directly above the turtle's tail. DNR property where fishing and hunting is Species of frogs, lizards, salamanders, A license is required to take a reptile or authorized. snakes, toads, or turtles on the state- or amphibian from the wild (see table above). Other species of reptiles and amphibians federal-endangered species list may not be Indiana residents older than 17 must pos- may not be taken from any DNR property (see taken at any time. Eastern box turtles cannot sess a valid fishing or hunting license while wildlife.IN.gov/3328.htm). be collected from the wild at any time. collecting species of reptiles or amphibians The daily bag limit is 25 for game frog Eastern snapping turtles, smooth softshell from the wild. species and four for game turtle species. The turtles, and spiny softshell turtles can be All nonresident adults and nonresident possession limit is twice the daily bag limit. taken only between July 1 and March 31 of youth must possess a nonresident annual fish- Reptiles and amphibians collected from the the following year and must have a carapace ing or hunting license while collecting reptiles wild in Indiana may not be sold. (shell) length of at least 12 inches. or amphibians from the wild. Only legally collected amphibians or Carapace length is the straight-line meas- License holders must obey season dates and reptiles held for fewer than 30 days may be ure along the top surface of the shell from the bag limits, and use legal methods. An indi- released at their original capture site if they central point of the front edge directly behind vidual with a valid fishing or hunting license have never been housed with another animal.

Rare Salamanders Be on the lookout for these salamanders! If caught, please cut the line, release unharmed, and contact (812) 334-1137.

Hellbenders • A giant aquatic salamander that can • Feed mainly on crayfish, not fish reach 2 ½ feet in length • They are NOT venomous Round prominent • Found in the tributaries of the • Their slime is not poisonous toes Wabash and Ohio Rivers in South- • They have no negative effects on ern Indiana Wrinkles on side fish populations • Prefer cool, rocky, swiftly flowing • Endangered in Indiana No external gills streams Flat and rounded head • Their presence indicates good water quality Pointed snout Small pointy toes. Mudpuppies • A large aquatic salamander that • Feed on crayfish, larval insects, and can reach 16 inches in length small fish External gills. • Found throughout Indiana • They are NOT venomous Sometimes Stripe from these will nose through • Live in lakes, ponds, rivers, and • Their slime is not poisonous appear eye to gills streams bright red. • They have no negative effects on • Their presence indicates good fish populations water quality Photo courtesy of Greg Lipps • Special concern in Indiana

2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 21 WELCOME

Angler Dollars FUND CONSERVATION

Fishing and hunting have a long history in more than $300 million, including nearly $18 Indiana, and Hoosiers have contributed to million in 2017 alone. conservation since the first fishing license was The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife relies Where to Fish sold in the early 1900s. on the revenue generated from these dedi- Looking for a place to fish? With future generations in mind, regu- cated funding programs. The DNR can get you there with Where lated fishing and hunting was established to License sales and WSFR funds currently to Fish, an online interactive map that protect fish and wildlife species from being contribute about 87 percent of the Division’s provides a wealth of information on hun- overharvested. funding. In total, roughly 96 percent of all dreds of public access sites in Indiana. Ever since, proceeds generated from funding for the Division is from sources exclu- The toolbar features a number of func- licenses, including habitat and fish stamps, sive for fish and wildlife resources. tions that allow you to search for loca- have gone directly into managing those spe- The majority of funds are generated from tions by water body, county or DNR cies and their habitats, furthering conserva- fishing and hunting activities, but the conser- property; find driving directions; and tion and recreation. The success of conserving vation programs benefit everyone. Whether print your findings. our natural resources would not have been it’s launching a canoe at a public access site, possible without this user-pay, user-benefit viewing sandhill cranes, or the public benefits Clicking on a specific site provides addi- model, which remains in effect today. gained from fish and habitat surveys to improve tional information about motor restric- In addition to licenses, an excise tax on fish- the quality of aquatic habitats, these are all sup- tions, ADA accessibility, shoreline fishing ing equipment, boat engines, motorboat fuel, ported by the license and WSFR funds. opportunities, applicable fees, what spe- cies of fish are common, fishing reports, and hunting equipment is collected for the Recreation related to fish and wildlife and the site’s latitude and longitude Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) (including wildlife watching) is a $1.7 billion (great for GPS users!). program, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service industry in Indiana that benefits businesses administers WSFR funds that are dedicated and contributes to the quality of life that Check it out. solely to the conservation of fish and wildlife. Hoosiers desire. The WSFR program began in 1937 and has Support from anglers and hunters is critical Wildlife.IN.gov/3591.htm distributed more than $19 billion across the to sustaining healthy fish and wildlife popula- nation for the conservation of fish and wildlife tions and to providing recreational opportu- species and their habitats, and associated rec- nities for current and future generations of reational opportunities. Indiana has received Hoosiers.

Four New Public Access Sites Added

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) The Patoka River site was a partnership provides more than 400 public boat ramps with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The on lakes and rivers, giving Hoosiers access to Thousand Islands Lake site is part of an addi- hundreds of miles of streams and thousands tion to Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area. of acres of water. The DFW also relocated the Center Lake DFW continues to improve water access for public access site in Warsaw in Kosciusko anglers and boaters throughout the state each County. The ramp was moved to the east side year. In 2017, the DFW built four new sites and of the lake to allow for a larger parking area. relocated another. The public access program began in 1953. The four new sites are in Owen County, Three-quarters of the funding for public access near Gosport, on the White River; in Daviess comes through the federal sportfish restoration County, near French Lick, on the Patoka program, which is derived from excise taxes on Lake tailwater on the Patoka River; in Fayette motorboat fuel and fishing equipment. DFW’s County, near Connersville, a canoe launch remaining portion is funded through revenue area on the Whitewater River; and in Greene from fishing and hunting licenses. County, near Linton, serving Thousand While the program continues to improve, Islands Lake. free public access remains unavailable or “Gosport was a great addition to the public inadequate at many state-owned waters. DFW access program,” public access supervisor is always looking to expand access by acquir- Bill Seegers said. “It helps fulfill our goal of ing sites. DFW can acquire sites by buying access every 10 navigable river miles on the property at fair market value from willing White River.” sellers, leasing property from organizations The Connersville canoe ramp is the first and local government agencies, and accepting public access site in Fayette County and suitable donations. the first on Whitewater River. It was com- If you have information on a potential pleted with a lot of help from the City of public access site, contact Bill Seegers at Connersville. (812) 526-2051.

22 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE RECORD FISH PROGRAM Four INDIANA FISH RECORDS Species Weight Water, County Angler Year Atlantic Salmon 14 lb., 4 oz. Lake Michigan (Lake) Gene Tarrant 1979 Records Set Bighead Carp 53 lb., 8 oz. White River (Pike) Duane Stafford 2000 Blue Catfish 104 lb. Ohio River Bruce Midkiff 1999 Occasionally, the big-fish bite is on. Bluegill 3 lb., 4 oz. Pond (Greene) Harold L. Catey 1972 In the first two months of 2017, it was on for Bowfin (Dogfish) 16.52 lb. Mutton Creek (Jackson) Paul Huber 2009 lake whitefish, big time. Brook Trout 3 lb., 15 1/2 oz. Lake Gage (Steuben) Sonny Bashore 1973 Two records were set for the species by Brown Trout 29.3 lb. Lake Michigan (Lake) Glen Duesing 2006 anglers fishing Lake Michigan. First, Josh Pisowicz broke the record set Buffalo 53.9 lb. Oak Hill Pond (Gibson) Kenneth Houchin 2002 by Dan Rostecki the year before. On Feb. Bullhead 4.9 lb. Potato Creek SP (St. Joseph) Darren Robertson 1994 19, Posowicz was targeting whitefish on the Burbot 7 lb., 11 oz. Lake Michigan Larry Milicki 1990 Michigan City pier when he caught a 5-pound, Channel Catfish 37 lb., 8 oz. Lake (Vanderburgh) Randy E. Jones 1980 9-ounce specimen. Pisowicz promptly submit- Chinook Salmon 38 lb. Trail Creek (LaPorte) Rich Baker 1980 ted the required record-fish application to Cisco 3 lb., 12 oz. Big Cedar Lake (Whitley) Phillip Wisniewski 1980 DNR officials. The next day, his fish was certi- fied as breaking the record by 1 ounce. Coho Salmon 20 lb., 12 oz. Lake Michigan (LaPorte) John Beutner 1972 On Feb. 28, Alexander Ciesielski submit- Common Carp 43 lb., 4 oz. Pike Lake (Kosciusko) Russell Long 1989 ted a record-fish application for a 5-pound, Crappie 4 lb., 11 oz. Private Lake (Jennings) Willis Halcomb 1994 13-ounce whitefish he had caught near Por- Flathead Catfish 79 lb. 8 oz. White River (Lawrence) Glen T. Simpson 1966 tage Lakefront Park—on Jan. 21. Flier 3 1/2 oz. Stream (Jackson) Harold H. Otte 1983 Ciesielski was not targeting whitefish, but Freshwater Drum 30 lb. White River (Martin) Garland Fellers 1963 said he knew as soon as he landed this one that he had a record contender. Goldeye 2.3 lb. Wabash River (Vermillion) Brock Marietta 2008 DNR officials certified Ciesielski’s record on Grass Carp 65.2 lb. Private Pond (Morgan) David Hughes 2002 March 3. Green Sunfish 1 lb., 10 oz. Pit (Fountain) Terry Keller 1987 The state established a category for lake Hybrid Striped Bass 22 lb., 2 oz. Tippecanoe River (Carroll) David G. Coffman 2005 whitefish in 2012. Ciesielski’s fish marked the Hybrid Walleye 8 lb., 8 oz. Scottsburg Reservoir (Scott) Doug Young 1999 fifth record Indiana lake whitefish. Lake Trout 37.55 lb. Lake Michigan Tyler Kreighbaum 2016 Whitefish have long been targets of com- 5 lb., 13 oz. Lake Michigan (Portage) Alexander Ciesielski 2017 mercial fishing operations in northern Lake Lake Whitefish Michigan due to demand for their flaky white 5 lb., 9 oz. Lake Michigan (LaPorte) Joshua Pisowicz 2017 flesh. Recently, sport anglers started targeting Largemouth Bass 14 lb., 12 oz. Lake (Harrison) Jenifer Schultz 1991 them in southern Lake Michigan. Longnose Gar 22.32 lb. White River/East Fork (Pike) Mark Brittain 2008 Whitefish are a great resource for Hoo- Muskellunge 42 lb., 8 oz. James Lake (Kosciusko) Darrin Conley 2002 siers because they are abundant, delicious Northern Pike 30 lb., 2 oz. Clear Lake (Steuben) Jack Barnes 1992 and accessible to shore anglers, according to Pink Salmon 2 lb., 12 1/2 oz. Lake Michigan (Lake) Richard J. Lisac 1985 DNR Lake Michigan fisheries biologist Brian Breidert. Rainbow Trout 18 lb., 8 oz. Clear Lake (Steuben) Bill Bigger 1988 “And they can be caught using simple Redear Sunfish 3 lb., 10 oz. Lake (Brown) R. Peckman 1974 techniques, such as bottom fishing with a 1- to Rock Bass 3 lb. Sugar Creek (Hancock) David Thomas 1969 2-ounce weight, a 12- to 24-inch leader, and Sauger 6 lb., 1 oz Tippecanoe River (Carroll) Mark Bigger 1983 a small hook baited with waxworms, salmon Shortnose Gar 1.58 lb. Wabash River (Wabash) Lindsey Fleshood 2010 eggs or bits of night crawler,” Breidert said. Shovelnose Sturgeon 14 lb., 8 oz. Wabash River (Fountain) Mike Latoz 1999 Whitefish can be caught from most of Indi- White River/West Fork Silver Carp 15 lb, 8 oz. Daniel Keller 2003 ana’s shore access on Lake Michigan. (Greene) Typically, the best fishing occurs between November and April, when near-shore water Skipjack Herring 0.55 lbs Wabash River (Huntington) Joseph Bickel 2017 temperatures are below 50 degrees. Smallmouth Bass 7 lb., 4 oz. Twin Lake (LaGrange) Dana Yoder 1992 Another new species category was added to Spotted Bass 5 lb., 5 oz. (Vigo) Larry Hinesley Jr. 2006 the record book last year. That happened after Spotted Gar 6.78 lb. Gravel Pit (Vermillion) Nick Waugh 2017 Joseph Bickel entered a 0.55-pound, 13-inch Steelhead Trout 26.62 lb. Trail Creek (LaPorte) Evan Nicholson 1999 skipjack herring he caught on July 23 from the Striped Bass 39.08 lb. Cecil M. Harden Lake (Parke) Jonathan VanHook 2010 Wabash River in Huntington County. Sucker 12 lb., 3.3 oz White River (Bartholomew) John Britton 1991 The final record-breaker for 2017 was caught on Aug. 3, by Nick Waugh. He pulled Tiger Muskellunge 24 lb. Wolf Lake (Lake) Michael Senics 1995 in a 6.78-pound spotted gar from a gravel pit Tiger Trout 3 lb. Lake Michigan (Lake) Mike Ratter 1978 in Vermillion County. 14 lb., 4 oz. Kakakee River (Lake) Leon Richart 1974 Walleye For more information about Indiana’s 14 lb., 4 oz. Tippecanoe River (Pulaski) Donald Tedford 1977 Record Fish program, which started in 1963 Warmouth 1.4 lb. North Dugger Pit (Sullivan) Jack Tolbert 2002 and is based on weight, go to wildlife.IN.gov/ White Bass 4 lb., 3 oz. Lake Freeman (Carroll) James Wagner 1965 3577.htm. White Catfish 9.72 lb. Pond (Wabash) Melissa Grimes 1985 Yellow Bass 2 lb., 15 oz. Morse Reservoir (Hamilton) Jim Raymer 2000 Yellow Perch 2 lb., 8 oz. Gravel Pit (Vigo) Roy W. Burkel Jr. 1981

2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 23 2017 FISH OF THE YEAR Six Big Fish from Tippecanoe River

2017 FISH OF THE YEAR CONTEST WINNERS Coho salmon, Tom Berg

Family Common Name Length Water (County) Angler Of the 82 fish entered, 34 awards were given to Largemouth Bass 27.0 0 Private Pond (Morgan) Jared Swint 26 anglers for Fish of the Year in 2017. Several anglers won multiple categories. Black Bass Smallmouth Bass 23.00 Tippecanoe River (Pulaski) Mark Holbrook For the second year in a row, Mark Hol- Spotted Bass 16.50 White Lick Creek (Morgan) Josh Chrenko brook won for bowfin and walleye, and he added Northern pike (tie) and smallmouth Crappie 14.50 Private Lake (Knox) Ethen Francis bass to his list of wins—all caught from the Flier 6.38 Intermittent Creek (Vanderburgh) Isaac Morris Tippecanoe River in Pulaski County. Isaac Morris also won four awards for fish Green Sunfish 10.50 Planut's Lake (Clay) Jeff Thompson caught in southwestern Indiana: flier, grass carp, redfin pickerel and redspotted sunfish. Sunfish Longear Sunfish 8.50 Old Lake (Whitley) Mark Buckmaster Michael Cripple won for bighead and silver Redear Sunfish 12.25 Midland Lake (Greene) Kevin Hamrick carp that he landed from the West Fork of the White River in Marion County. Redspotted Sunfish 4.38 South Fork Patoka Isaac Morris Hao Wu landed the winning hybrid striped bass and white bass from the Tippecanoe Rock Bass 12.50 Lake Maxinkuckee (Marshall) Jeff Armstrong River in Carroll County. 15.50 Private Pond (Johnson) Gregory Zentz It was a competitive year for three species Bullhead categories in particular. 15.50 Lake Maxinkuckee (Marshall) Stuart West Thirteen entries were submitted for walleye Catfish Channel Catfish 26.00 Woodbridge Estates (Vanderburgh) Cody Pate ranging between 22.0 and 31.0 inches. Simi- larly, the largemouth bass category had eight Flathead Catfish 52.00 Ohio River (Clark) Edwin Brochin entries ranging from 21.0 to 27.0 inches, while seven entries were recorded for smallmouth Sauger 22.00 Tippecanoe River (White) Brad Sedam bass ranging from 18.5 to 23.0 inches. Perch Walleye 31.00 Tippecanoe River (Pulaski) Mark Holbrook Josh Chrenko won with a 16.5-inch spotted bass—the largest entered into the program Yellow Perch 13.50 Lake of the Woods (Marshall) Richard Wood since 2008 and just the 11th spotted bass recorded in the program since 1966. Cisco 15.38 Little Crooked Lake (Whitley) Robert Ecenbarger Joseph Bickel won with an 11.5-inch skip- Trout Coho Salmon 26.50 Salt Creek (Porter) Tom Berg jack herring, just the second recorded in the history of the program. Steelhead Trout 35.50 Lake Michigan (LaPorte) Joey Kogut Entering the annual Fish of the Year contest is easy, and the rules are simple to follow. Visit Hybrid Striped Bass 31.50 Tippecanoe River (Carroll) Hao Wu wildlife.IN.gov/3577.htm for more information. True Bass Striped Bass 37.50 Hardy Lake (Scott) Kody Neece If you think you’ve caught a winner, there are three easy ways (online, mail, email) to enter White Bass 21.50 Tippecanoe River (Carroll) Hao Wu after you measure the fish and have at least one Muskellunge 47.0 0 Lake Webster (Kosciusko) Mike Sawa person who is not a relative witness the measure- ment and include his/her contact information. 41.00 Tippecanoe River (Pulaski) Mark Holbrook Pike Northern Pike • Online, enter the required information 41.00 Pine Lake (LaPorte) Alan Buvelot using the online entry form (wildlife. IN.gov/9453.htm) and submit a photo of Redfin Pickerel 7.50 Bayou Creek (Vanderburgh) Isaac Morris the fish and a copy of your fishing license (if Bighead Carp 34.25 WF White River (Marion) Michael Cripple required) to [email protected]. • By mail, print and complete an entry form Common Carp 37.0 0 Lake Michigan (LaPorte) Nik Nowak Minnow (wildlife.IN.gov/3577.htm) and include a Grass Carp 32.00 South Fork Patoka (Gibson) Isaac Morris photo of the fish and a copy of your fishing license (if required) to Record Fish Program, Silver Carp 30.50 WF White River (Marion) Michael Cripple Division of Fish and Wildlife, 402 W. Wash- Bowfin (Dogfish) 28.00 Tippecanoe River (Pulaski) Mark Holbrook ington St., Room 273, Indianapolis, IN 46204 • By email, submit electronic version of Other Freshwater Drum 29.00 WF White River (Hamilton) Shawn Mickelson the entry form and attach a photo of the Skipjack Herring 11.50 Wabash River (Huntington) Joseph Bickel fish and a copy of your fishing license (if required) to [email protected].

24 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE BIG FISH PHOTOS

Spotted bass, Josh Chrenko

Freshwater drum, Shawn Mickelson

Walleye, Mark Holbrook

Hybrid striped bass, Hao Wu

Redear sunfish, Kevin Hamrick Where EVERY season is shing season!

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UNION COUNTY Tennessee 2005 Charlestown - New Albany Rd. USE THEM. Jeffersonville, IN ComeHereComeHome.com Mon-Fri 8am-6pm • Sat 8am-3pm WearIt.IN.gov 812-282-4636 • 877-801-5621 865.992.2811 www.a2omarine.com 25 INDIANA FISH IDENTIFICATION Unless noted, all illustrations by Rick Hill, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Sunfish

Bluegill Redear Black Crappie White Crappie 5 to 9 vertical bars on sides, Opercle flap (ear) is tipped with 7 to 8 dorsal spines, random 6 dorsal spines, black side black opercle flat (ear) with no red or orange margin. blotches on sides. markings form vertical bars margin, dark spot at rear of rather than random spots. dorsal fin.

Black Bass True Bass

Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Hybrid Striped White Bass Upper jaw extends beyond Upper jaw does not extend Two tooth patches on back of Single tooth patch on back of back of eye. beyond back of eye. tongue are joined, first stripe below tongue, first stripe below lateral lateral line complete to tail, stripes line not complete to tail. above lateral line usually broken.

Spotted Bass Striped Bass Red eye, horizontal lines of dark spots Tooth patches on back of tongue in two parallel on lower sides, upper jaw does not patches, first stripe below lateral line complete extend beyond back of eye. to tail, stripes above lateral line are unbroken.

Catfish

Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish 30 to 35 anal fin rays, anal fin 24 to 29 rays in rounded anal fin, 14 to 17 anal fin rays, caudal fin slightly margin is straight, caudal fin is caudal fin is deeply forked, dark rounded or slightly notched. deeply forked. spots on sides when young.

Perch Salmon

Sauger Walleye Chinook Salmon or King Salmon Coho Salmon 3 or 4 saddle shaped blotches No spots on dorsal fin, dusky Teeth are set in dark gums, black spots Teeth are set in light color on back and sides, spotted spot at rear of spiny dorsal fin, on back and both lobes of square caudal gums, black spots on upper dorsal fin. lower tip of tail and anal fin are fin, 15 to 17 anal fin rays. lobe of slightly forked caudal white. fin, 12 to 15 anal fin rays.

26 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE Illustrations of coho salmon, northern pike courtesy of © Tim Knepp/ USFWS Illustrations of chinook salmon and lake trout by © Virgil Beck, courtesy of Wisconsin DNR Trout

Brown Trout Rainbow Trout or Steelhead Lake Trout White mouth, teeth and gums; caudal fin White mouth, teeth and gums; small White mouth, teeth and margin square with no spots on upper or lower black spots on back, sides, caudal and gums; caudal fin deeply lobe; stream dwelling browns possess some dorsal fins, caudal fin margin is square; 9 forked, body color light to orange/red spots on sides; resident brown to 12 anal fin rays. dark gray with light spots. trout in Lake Michigan possess black X-shaped markings on sides.

Northern Pike & Muskellunge

Northern Pike Muskellunge Elongated body and head with tooth-filled Elongated body and head with tooth-filled mouth shaped like a duck bill; white belly mouth shaped like a duck bill; coloration with green to yellow sides featuring rows of varies but typically dark vertical bar mark- lighter horizontal spots or streaks. Coloration ings on green or brown background. can vary depending on habitat — light green from lake to dark green from river.

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The consumption advisory is based on a Eating fish from rivers and streams is model that people are consuming 8 oz. of fish generally a much higher concern. Most on 225 days each year over 70 years. A deter- water bodies carrying do-not-eat consump- mination can then be made from concentra- tion advisories for all species are streams. The tions of contaminants in fish tested as to how fish consumption advisory has an extensive frequently they can be safely eaten (note the list of rivers and streams that have species fish consumption advisory groups). with group 4 and 5 consumption advisories; The consumption recommendation groups however, many streams contain species with range from 1 to 5 with 1 being unlimited low levels of contaminants. Several of the consumption and 5 being do not eat. Most major fished rivers that have some group 4 and anglers do not eat wild-caught fish nearly this 5 species are listed. Many of these rivers and frequently. As a result, if they are aware of the streams contain some very good catch-and- contaminant levels that likely are in the fish release fisheries. they catch, they should have little concern Consult the Indiana Fish Consumption about eating them. Advisory for much more detailed information The primary concern is the sensitive pop- at https://secure.in.gov/isdh/23650.htm. ulation. This population comprises women For more information on the fish consump- of childbearing years, nursing and pregnant tion advisory or answers to questions con- mothers, and children age 17 and younger. cerning the advisory, contact: The reason for extra concern is evidence of Indiana State Department of Health developmental problems in babies and young Division of Environmental Public Health children from contaminants at levels lower Crappie can make a tasty— 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N855 and healthy—meal. than what can be safely eaten by male adults Indianapolis, IN 46204 and women who cannot become pregnant. (317) 233-9264 The advisory reflects this concern. However, it is also important for this popu- Is it Safe to Eat Your Fish? lation to obtain the nutrients from eating the Guidelines to Reduce Eating recreationally caught fish from Indiana right fish during this time period. Combining waters can be healthy and tasty when you have consumption of wild-caught fish with fre- Your Risk the proper information. The following section quently eaten commercial sources of fish con- • Assume that any fish you catch is a group 2 should alleviate most anglers’ concerns about taining contaminants could pose a health risk. if the site in which you caught it is not listed eating wild-caught fish. Making the best choices in both sources of or the site where you are fishing is not listed fish can help women and children obtain the It’s all about a person’s exposure to con- in the advisory. taminants over time. The two contaminants benefits from fish while avoiding the health that drive the fish consumption advisory risks. Note the commercial fish consumption • Eat smaller, less fatty fish like panfish (blue- are mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls table for the at-risk group and for people that gill, perch and crappie). (PCBs). Both contaminants are generally frequently consume commercial fish. • Remove fat near the skin of the fish before persistent in the environment at low enough Eating fish from lakes and reservoirs is cooking and broil, bake, or grill fish so the levels they do not pose a health risk from Contaminant generally less of a concern. fat drips away. direct contact with the water. However, both levels are generally very low in lakes and reser- contaminants accumulate in fish tissue. The voirs (note major group 1 and 2 fishing waters • Unless noted otherwise, consider all carp contaminants accumulate in human tissue table). Also note the table containing all of the from rivers and streams to fall under these like they do in fish and can build to levels that sampled lakes and reservoirs in Indiana that groups: Group 3, 15-20 in.; Group 4, 20-25 could pose a health threat. had species of fish in groups 4 and 5. in.; Group 5, over 25 in.

WILD FISH CONSUMPTION COMMERCIAL FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY ADVISORY GROUPS Sensitive Population Species General Population Sensitive Advisory* General Group Population Population Fresh or canned salmon; shellfish Advisory* like , clams, crab, scallops and oysters; tilapia; herring; canned "light" Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited consumption 1 meal per week 1 tuna; sardines; pollock; cod; farm-raised consumption consumption catfish; ; farm-raised rainbow trout; haddock; squid; whitefish 2 1 meal per week 1 meal per week Canned albacore "white" tuna (6 oz.), 3 1 meal per month 1 meal per month freshwater perch, grouper, halibut, 1 meal per week 1 meal per month mahi-mahi and lobster 1 meal every 4 Do not eat 2 months Shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mack- eral, orange roughy, Spanish mackeral, 1 meal per month Do not eat marlin, Chilean sea bass, walleye (Great 5 Do not eat Do not eat Lakes, Canada), fresh and frozen tuna

*Women of childbearing years, pregnant and nursing moth- *Women of childbearing years, nursing mothers, and children age 17 and younger. Contact the ISDH for more detailed ers, and children age 17 and younger. information on the commercial fish consumption advisory.

28 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE STATE LAKES WITH GROUP 4 & 5 SPECIES MAJOR RIVERS WITH GROUP 4 & 5 SPECIES GENERAL POPULATION ADVISORY GENERAL POPULATION ADVISORY (sensitive population should not consume) (sensitive population should not consume) Size Size Lake County Species Group River County Species Group (inches) (inches) Center Lake Kosciusko Black Bullhead 14+ 4 Little Hamilton/ Calumet Porter Channel Catfish All 4 Geist Reservoir Channel Catfish 27+ 4 Marion River Henderson Lake Noble Bluegill 6+ 4 Walleye < 21 4 Maumee Channel Catfish 19+ 4 Allen Walleye 21+ 5 River Hovey Lake Posey Smallmouth Buffalo 19+ 4 Rock Bass 8+ 4 White Bass 12+ 4 Ohio River All counties Channel Catfish 18+ 4 J. Edward Roush Lake Huntington Channel Catfish 28+ 4 St. Joseph Black Crappie 11+ 4 Lake Freeman White River Carpsucker 17+ 4 Allen Lake James Steuben Northern Pike 36+ 4 River Rock Bass 9+ 4 Black Crappie 8+ 4 St. Marys Channel Catfish 15+ 4 Channel Catfish all 5 Allen River Largemouth Bass 15+ 4 Common carp all 5 Wabash Striped Bass 12+ 4 Freshwater Drum 16+ 4 Knox/Sullivan/Vigo River Wiper 12+ 4 Lake/ Lake Trout 27+ 5 Lake Michigan LaPorte/ Largemouth Bass 7+ 4 Randolph Channel Catfish 16+ 4 Porter Northern Pike 14+ 4 West Fork Marion Channel Catfish 20+ 4 Silver Redhorse < 25 4 White River (downstream of Silver Redhorse 25+ 5 Broad Ripple dam) Flathead Catfish 15+ 4 /Morgan Walleye 21+ 4 White Sucker 23+ 4 *Consult the fish consumption advisory for a complete listing. White River Carpsucker 17+ 4 Marquette Lagoon/ Lake Bluegill 7+ 4 east & middle basins STATEWIDE SAFE EATING GUIDELINES Palestine Lake Kosciusko Largemouth Bass 15+ 4 Recommendations when a waterbody has not been sampled for a particular Pike Lake Kosciusko Largemouth Bass 13+ 4 species. Fish at or below the size listed should be safe for consumption once Sylvan Lake Noble Common carp 28+ 4 per week. The Sensitive Population includes women of childbearing years, Common carp 26+ 4 pregnant and nursing mothers, and children age 17 and younger. Winona Lake Kosciusko White Bass 16+ 4 Sensitive Fish Species General Population Wolf Lake Lake Largemouth Bass 17+ 4 Population

Largemouth Bass < 13" All

Rock Bass < 8 All

Smallmouth Bass < 12" All ALL STATE WATERS CARRYING Spotted Bass < 10" All White, Striped, Hy- DO-NOT-EAT ADVISORIES FOR ALL SPECIES < 18" < 33" brid Striped Bass Water County Buffalo < 19" All Clear Creek Monroe Elliot Ditch Tippecanoe Channel Catfish < 23" All Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal Lake Flathead Catfish < 18" All Howard — from U.S. 31 to Kokomo Creek Wildcat Creek Crappie All All Little Mississinewa River Randolph Little Sugar Creek/Walnut Fork Montgomery Freshwater Drum < 14" All Marquette Lagoon/west basin Lake Pleasant Run Creek Lawrence Northern Pike < 20" < 41" Salt Creek downstream of Clear Creek Lawrence/Monroe Redhorse < 22" All Wea Creek Tippecanoe Howard/Carroll— down- Sunfish All All stream from the Waterworks Wildcat Creek Dam in Kokomo to the Sauger < 12" All Tippecanoe County line Walleye < 19" < 25"

2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 29 INDIANA CONTACT LISTS

LA PORTE A C F District Fisheries Biologists LAGRANGE STEUBEN LAKE PORTER G ST. JOSEPH 1. District 1 4. District 4 Lake Michigan Office ELKHART2 NOBLE DEKALB Tom Bacula Corey DeBoom Brian Breidert STARKE MARSHALL KOSCIUSKO

Kankakee FWA Cikana State Fish Hatchery Lake Michigan Investigation JASPER WHITLEY ALLEN 4320 W. Toto Road 2650 SR 44 100 W. Water St. NEWTON PULASKI FULTON North Judson, IN 46366 Martinsville, IN 46151 Michigan City, IN 46360 1 3 (574) 896-3673 (765) 342-5527 (219) 874-6824 WHITE CASS MIAMI WABASH HUNTING- WELLS ADAMS TON 2. District 2 5. District 5 Big Rivers BENTON CARROLL Fisheries Program Larry Koza Dave Kittaka HOWARD GRANT BLACK- JAY Fawn River State Bloomington Field Office Craig Jansen WARREN TIPPECANOE FORD Fish Hatchery 5596 E. SR 46 Sugar Ridge FWA CLINTON TIPTON 6889 N. SR 327 Bloomington, IN 47401 2310 E. SR 364 MADISON DELAWARE RANDOLPH V FOUNTAIN MONTGOMERY BOONE HAMILTON Orland, IN 46776 (812) 287-8300 Winslow, IN 47598 E R M (260) 829-6241 (812) 789-2724 I HENRY WAYNE 6. District 6 L L 4 3. District 3 Rebecca Munter Nongame I PARKE PUTNAM HENDRICKS MARION HANCOCK O Jed Pearson Sugar Ridge FWA Fisheries Program N RUSH FAYETTE UNION MORGAN NERO 2310 E. SR 364 Brant Fisher JOHNSON SHELBY CLAYVIGO 1353 S. Governors Drive Winslow, IN 47598 Atterbury FWA B FRANKLIN OWEN Columbia City, IN 46725 (812) 789-2724 7970 S. Rowe St. MONROE BROWN BARTHOLOMEW DECATUR RIPLEY DEARBORN (260) 244-6805 Edinburgh, IN 46124 SULLIVAN GREENE (812) 526-5816 JENNINGS JACKSON 5 OHIO SWITZERLAND KNOX DAVIESS MARTIN LAWRENCE D JEFFERSON SCOTT State Fish Hatcheries E ORANGE WASHINGTON A. Bodine State D. Driftwood State G. Mixsawbah State CLARK GIBSON PIKE DUBOIS Fish Hatchery Fish Hatchery Fish Hatchery 6 FLOYD 13200 Jefferson Blvd. 4931 S. CR 250W 5500 S. CR 675E CRAWFORD POSEY VANDER- WARRICK SPENCER PERRY HARRISON Mishawaka, IN 46545 Vallonia, IN 47281 Walkerton, IN 46574 BURGH (574) 255-4199 (812) 358- 4110 (219) 369-9591 B. Cikana State E. East Fork State Fish Hatchery Fish Hatchery 2650 SR 44 5813 E. CR 825S Martinsville, IN 46151 Montgomery, IN 47558 (765) 342-5527 (812) 644-7717 C. Curtis Creek Trout F. Fawn River State Rearing Station Fish Hatchery LA PORTE ST. JOSEPH ELKHART LAGRANGE STEUBEN 4250 E. CR 410N 6889 N. SR 327 LAKE PORTER Howe, IN 46746 Orland, IN 46776 NOBLE DEKALB (260) 562-3855 (260) 829-6241 STARKE MARSHALL 10 1KOSCIUSKO 2 NEWTON JASPER PULASKI FULTON WHITLEY ALLEN DNR Law Enforcement Districts WHITE CASS MIAMI WABASH HUNTING- WELLS ADAMS Contact DNR Law Enforcement Central Dispatch (24 hours) to report violations or if you TON BENTON need assistance from an Indiana Conservation Officer. Call 1-800-TIP-IDNR to report any CARROLL GRANT poaching activities. TIPPECANOE HOWARD BLACK- JAY FORD WARREN Central Dispatch 4. District 4 Headquarters 8. District 8 Headquarters CLINTON TIPTON MADISON DELAWARE 4850 S. SR 446 3734 Mounds Road 1504 Schlamn Lake 3 V FOUNTAIN MONTGOMERY BOONE HAMILTON RANDOLPH Bloomington, IN 47401 Anderson, IN 46017 RoadP.O. Box 330 E R 4 (812) 837-9536 (765) 649-1062 Henryville, IN 47126 M I HENRY WAYNE (812) 639-4148 L L PARKE PUTNAM HENDRICKS MARION HANCOCK I O N 5. District 5 Headquarters RUSH UNION JOHNSON FAYETTE 1. District 1 Headquarters 1317 W. Lieber Road 9. District 9 Headquarters VIGO CLAY MORGAN SHELBY 9822 N. Turkey Suite 2 1387 E. U.S. 50 FRANKLIN Creek Road Cloverdale, IN 46120 Versailles, IN 47042 OWEN 6 5 MONROE BROWN BARTHOLOMEW DECATUR9 Syracuse, IN 46567 (765) 795-3534 (812) 689-4370 DEARBORN (574) 457-8092 SULLIVAN GREENE JENNINGS RIPLEY 6. District 6 Headquarters 10. District 10 Headquarters LAWRENCE JACKSON OHIO SWITZERLAND 2. District 2 Headquarters 11 Durbin St. 100 W. Water St. KNOX DAVIESS MARTIN JEFFERSON 1353 S. Governors Drive Camp Atterbury Michigan City, IN 46360 WASHINGTON SCOTT Columbia City, IN 46725 Edinburgh, IN 46124 (219) 879-5710 ORANGE CLARK (260) 244-3720 (812) 526-4101 8 DUBOIS GIBSON 7PIKE CRAWFORD FLOYD HARRISON 3. District 3 Headquarters 7. District 7 Headquarters POSEY VANDER- WARRICK SPENCER PERRY 4112 E. SR 225 2310 E. SR 364 BURGH West Lafayette, IN 47906 Winslow, IN 47598 (765) 567-7859 (812) 789-9538

30 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE LA PORTE A C F LAGRANGE STEUBEN Fish & Wildlife Areas 16 LAKE PORTER G ST. JOSEPH LA PORTE ST. JOSEPH ELKHART STEUBEN ELKHART2 LAGRANGE 1. Atterbury FWA 10. Hovey Lake FWA 17. Splinter Ridge FWA LAKE PORTER NOBLE DEKALB STARKE MARSHALL KOSCIUSKO 7970 S. Rowe St. 15800 Raben Road South Contact Crosley FWA 14 NOBLE DEKALB STARKE MARSHALL 19 JASPER WHITLEY ALLEN PO Box 3000 Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 18. Sugar Ridge FWA 13 KOSCIUSKO NEWTON PULASKI FULTON Edinburgh, IN 46124 (812) 838-2927 2310 E. SR 364 15 12 (812) 526-2051 NEWTON 23 FULTON WHITLEY ALLEN 1 3 11. J. E. Roush FWA Winslow, IN 47598 JASPER PULASKI WHITE CASS MIAMI WABASH HUNTING- WELLS ADAMS 2. Blue Grass FWA 517 N. Warren Road (812) 789-2724 22 HUNTING- TON TON Contact Sugar Ridge FWA Huntington, IN 46750 WHITE CASS MIAMI WABASH WELLS ADAMS BENTON CARROLL 19. Tri-County FWA 11 (260) 468-2165 BENTON HOWARD GRANT BLACK- JAY 3. Chinook FWA 8432 N. CR 850E CARROLL FORD WARREN TIPPECANOE Contact Deer Creek FWA 12. Jasper-Pulaski FWA Syracuse, IN 46567 GRANT CLINTON TIPTON HOWARD BLACK- JAY TIPPECANOE FORD MADISON DELAWARE RANDOLPH 4. Crosley FWA 5822 N Fish & Wildlife Ln (574) 834-4461 WARREN Medaryville, IN 47957 CLINTON TIPTON V FOUNTAIN MONTGOMERY BOONE HAMILTON 2010 S. SR 3 20. Wabashiki FWA E MADISON DELAWARE RANDOLPH R (219) 843-4841 M North Vernon, IN 47265 Contact Deer Creek FWA FOUNTAIN I HENRY WAYNE V MONTGOMERY BOONE HAMILTON L (812) 346-5596 13. Kankakee FWA E L 4 21. Wilbur Wright FWA R HENRY I PARKE PUTNAM HENDRICKS MARION HANCOCK M O 4320 W. Toto Road I 21 WAYNE N RUSH FAYETTE UNION 5. Deer Creek FWA Contact J.E. Roush FWA L North Judson, IN 46366 L PUTNAM HENDRICKS MARION HANCOCK MORGAN 2001 W. CR 600 I PARKE JOHNSON SHELBY 22. Willow Slough FWA O CLAYVIGO (574) 896-3522 B FRANKLIN Greencastle, IN 46135 N RUSH FAYETTE UNION 1803 S. CR 700W 5 OWEN (765) 653-0453 14. Kingsbury FWA VIGO MORGAN JOHNSON SHELBY MONROE BROWN BARTHOLOMEW DECATUR Morocco, IN 47963 CLAY 20 FRANKLIN RIPLEY DEARBORN 5344 S. Hupp Road DECATUR SULLIVAN GREENE 6. Fairbanks Landing FWA (219) 285-2704 3 1 JENNINGS Contact Deer Creek FWA LaPorte, IN 46350 OWEN BROWN BARTHOLOMEW JACKSON 23. Winamac FWA 5 OHIO (219) 393-3612 6 9 MONROE RIPLEY DEARBORN SWITZERLAND 7. Glendale FWA 1493 W. CR 500N JENNINGS KNOX DAVIESS MARTIN LAWRENCE D JEFFERSON 15. LaSalle FWA SULLIVAN 8 GREENE 6001 E. CR 600S Winamac, IN 46996 JACKSON SCOTT LAWRENCE 4 OHIO ORANGE WASHINGTON 4752 W. CR 1050N E Montgomery, IN 47558 (574) 946-4422 SWITZERLAND Lake Village, IN 46349 KNOX DAVIESS MARTIN JEFFERSON CLARK (812) 644-7711 17 SCOTT GIBSON PIKE DUBOIS (219) 992-3019 WASHINGTON 6 FLOYD 8. Goose Pond FWA CRAWFORD 7 ORANGE 16. Pigeon River FWA CLARK 13540 W. 400 S. PIKE POSEY VANDER- WARRICK SPENCER PERRY HARRISON 8310 E. CR 300N GIBSON DUBOIS BURGH Linton, IN 47441 18 CRAWFORD (812) 512-9185 Box 71 FLOYD Mongo, IN 46771 9. Hillenbrand FWA POSEY VANDER- 2 WARRICK SPENCER PERRY HARRISON (260) 367-2164 BURGH Contact Goose Pond FWA 10

7. Martin SF State Reservoirs & Forests 14040 Williams Road LA PORTE ST. JOSEPH ELKHART LAGRANGE STEUBEN A. Brookville Lake H. Salamonie Lake Shoals, IN 47581 LAKE PORTER (812) 247-3491 NOBLE DEKALB 14108 SR 101 9214 W. Lost Bridge W PO Box 100 Andrews, IN 46702 8. Morgan-Monroe SF STARKE MARSHALL Brookville, IN 47012 (260) 468-2125 6220 Forest Road 10 1KOSCIUSKO 2 ALLEN (765) 647-2657 NEWTON JASPER PULASKI FULTON WHITLEY 1. Clark SF Martinsville, IN 46151 B. Cagles Mill Lake P.O. Box 119 (765) 342-4026 WHITE CASS MIAMI WABASH HUNTING- WELLS ADAMS 1317 W. Lieber Road #2 Service Road 9. Owen-Putnam SF TON Suite 1 2153 Fish Creek Road BENTON Henryville, IN 47126 CARROLL Cloverdale, IN 46120 GRANT (812) 294-4306 Spencer, IN 47460 TIPPECANOE HOWARD BLACK- JAY (765) 795-4576 (812) 829-2462 FORD 2. Deam Lake SRA WARREN CLINTON TIPTON MADISON DELAWARE C. Cecil M. Harden Lake 1217 Deam Lake Road 10. Pike SF 3 1588 S. Raccoon Parkway Borden, IN 47106 5994 E. SR 364 V FOUNTAIN MONTGOMERY BOONE HAMILTON RANDOLPH Rockville, IN 47872 (812) 246-5421 Winslow, IN 47598 E R 4 (765) 344-1412 (812) 367-1524 M I HENRY WAYNE 3. Ferdinand SF L D. Hardy Lake L PARKE PUTNAM HENDRICKS MARION HANCOCK 6583 E. SR 264 11. Salamonie River SF I O 5620 Hardy Lake Road N Ferdinand, IN 47532 5400 E. Salamonie Forest Rd. RUSH UNION JOHNSON FAYETTE Scottsburg, IN 47170 (812) 367-1524 Lagro, IN 46941 VIGO CLAY MORGAN SHELBY (812) 794-3800 (260) 782-0430 FRANKLIN 4. Greene-Sullivan SF E. Mississinewa Lake OWEN 6 2551 S. SR 159 12. Selmier SF 5 MONROE BROWN BARTHOLOMEW DECATUR9 4673 S. 625E 905 E. CR 350N DEARBORN Dugger, IN 47848 SULLIVAN GREENE Peru, IN, 46970 North Vernon, IN 47265 RIPLEY (812) 648-2810 JENNINGS (765) 473-6528 (812) 346-2286 LAWRENCE JACKSON OHIO 5. Harrison-Crawford SF SWITZERLAND KNOX DAVIESS MARTIN JEFFERSON F. Monroe Lake 7240 Old Forest Rd SW 13. Starve Hollow SRA WASHINGTON SCOTT 4850 S. SR 446 Corydon, IN 47112 4345 S. 275 W., Box 291 ORANGE Bloomington, IN 47401 (812) 738-7694 Vallonia, IN 47281-9741 CLARK (812) 837-9546 8 6. Jackson-Washington SF (812) 358-3464 DUBOIS GIBSON 7PIKE CRAWFORD FLOYD G. Patoka Lake 1278 E. SR 250 14. Yellowwood SF HARRISON 3084 N. Dillard Road Brownstown, IN 47220 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd. POSEY VANDER- WARRICK SPENCER PERRY BURGH Birdseye, IN 47513 (812) 358-2160 Nashville, IN 47448 (812) 685-2464 (812) 988-7945

2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE 31 NEWS & NOTES

Providing Reservoir Regulaciones de Pesca El DNR División de peces y vida silves- tre (DFW) ha publicado un folleto de reglamento de pesca de seis páginas Fish with Places to Live en español llamado "Regulaciones de Pesca, Indiana 2018." On a blustery November day, about 50 men The changing conditions make it tough for La idea fue estimulada por la investi- and women gathered on the shore of Cecil aquatic vegetation to grow. gación por el recreo y pesca Fundación M. Harden Lake (aka Raccoon Lake) for what In winter, the barren area between summer (RBFF) que mostraron los Latinos a nivel looked like a furniture-building workshop. pool and winter pool is a moonscape. nacional disfrutan de actividades al aire Stacks of short poplar boards awaited the “You can see there’s no structure and no libre, pero participan en pesca en tasas participants, each of whom carried a cordless habitat in that zone,” said DNR fisheries biolo- más bajas. El DNR espera para ayudar a power drill. gist Sandy Clark-Kolaks. “And it’s like that all los hispanohablantes a superar barreras, They were building homes for fish, waist- the way to the bottom of the lake.” tales como la falta de información y high wooden cribs that resembled miniature, Clark-Kolaks is the research biologist for the experiencia, con esta versión resumida unfinished log cabins. The volunteer workday public water from Crawfordsville to Muncie de la guía de pesca de 2018, en español. was part of a relatively new initiative in the and south to the Ohio River. She also manages Existen sitios web como Vamos a Pescar, DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife called the RAHEP. por RBFF, dan a Latino información Reservoir Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Pro- Stocking more fish won’t solve the reservoir general de los pescadores de pesca gram (RAHEP). problem either. deportiva, pero no ofrece regulaciones “A lot of our lakes were built in the ‘40s, ‘50s, Newlin compared stocking in existing estado-específicas, según Mark Reiter, and ‘60s,” volunteer Wil Newlin said. “The conditions to releasing deer into a Walmart Director de DFW. natural habitat that was there is gone now.” parking lot. "Queremos que todos tengan acceso a Over time, logs, stumps, roots and stand- “You have to have habitat,” he said. las regulaciones que puedan entender ing timber left in reservoirs after construction Newlin, who lives in Terre Haute, is presi- fácilmente", dijo Reiter. disintegrate. This leaves younger, smaller fish dent of Bass Unlimited (BU), an organization Regulaciones de Pesca se puede with fewer places to hide from predator fish. he founded with his wife, Carol, in 2013. BU encontrar en la caza del estado de www. As survival rates decline, so do populations. has expanded into Texas and become one of fishing.IN.gov. And the fishing suffers. the primary partners for Indiana’s RAHEP. At some reservoirs, aquatic plants can offset The other primary partner is the Indiana Bass Regulaciones también se traducirá en some loss of habitat. But not at 2,000-acre Federation. Together, the two groups provide un formato similar para las temporadas Raccoon. Built in 1960, the lake is managed by most of the labor for habitat construction. 2017-18. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control Humans have a long history of manag- floodwater. Each fall, the corps drops the water ing terrestrial landscapes to provide better level 22 feet to make room for spring rainfall. wildlife habitat and improve hunting, from burning prairies to rebuilding lost wetlands and leaving fencerows brushy. The idea that Volunteer John Fritz of Coal City said he has we would need to intervene on behalf of com- fished Raccoon roughly 40 times a year for the mon fish such as bluegills and bass is relatively past 25 years. new, Newlin said. “It needs all the help it can get,” he said. “The “We often just assume everything is great fishing has always been decent. But it’s getting underwater,” he said. tougher.” RAHEP began in 2015. Wooden cribs are While most labor is provided by volunteers, just one of the habitat types it employs. The materials are expected to cost about $17,000. program also uses structures called Georgia The project is funded through fishing-license cubes made from PVC pipes and corrugated sales and revenue from excise taxes on fishing tubes, as well as rock piles, brush piles, wooden and boating equipment through the federal stakes, and plastic units called Mossback Sport Fish Restoration Program. structures, which are named after the com- Raccoon is RAHEP’s second project pany that makes them. Sometimes, workers lake. The first was Sullivan Lake, a 451-acre also cut shoreline trees and allow them to drop impoundment in western Indiana built for into the water. flood control and recreation in 1967. In 2016, “Diversity of habitat type is key,” Clark- RAHEP worked with volunteers to sink 125 Kolaks said. habitat structures into the water. Newlin said REELFOOT LAKE The cribs at Raccoon will be anchored with the structures are already making a difference. cinderblocks donated by Cash’s Concrete. His organization videotaped fish life around At Raccoon, the cribs are expected to last the structures and found congregations of 10 to 15 years. At a lake where they will be largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, saugeye and 2018 SPECIAL submerged constantly, they will last longer, gizzard shad. FISHING PACKAGE T except March 16-May25 maybe 30 years. In 2017, RAHEP also made improvements at 2 Days & 2 Nights of Fishing The workday volunteers built more than 160 Hominy Ridge Lake in Salamonie River State , plus tax cribs. Over winter, property staff planned on Forest. The program plans to tackle Monroe MARCH 16-MAY 25 placing the cribs around the lake in the 22-foot Lake in 2018, Sylvan Lake in 2019, and Patoka FISHING PACKAGE 2-DAY 2-NIGHT +TAX fluctuation contour. DNR’s plan for Raccoon Lake in 2020. 3-DAY 3-NIGHT +TAX also calls for at least 22 felled shoreline trees, Once projects are finished, a map of the 4-DAY 4-NIGHT +TAX ORTAN RORT six brush piles, one stake bed complex and structure locations will be available to the R RON RON IN seven rock-pile complexes. public at wildlife.IN.gov/7665.htm. Includes: Lodging, Boat, Motor, Gas, Bait and Ice. [email protected] 32 2018-2019 INDIANA FISHING GUIDE OVER 55,000 ACRES of public land for hunting OVER 36,000 ACRES of water for fishing OVER 7,500 Fishing at Mississinewa Lake campsites/cabins available Brookville Lake │Cagles Mill Lake │Cecil M. Harden Lake Mississinewa Lake │Hardy Lake │ Monroe Lake Patoka Lake │ Salamonie Lake For information on hunter education classes, youth hunting events, trapping courses and other outdoor skills programs, visit interpretiveservices.IN.gov.

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