Exceptions:
- Oliver Lake (LaGrange County): Minimum size = 18-inches total length
- Olin Lake (LaGrange County): Minimum size = 18-inches total length
- Martin Lake (LaGrange County): Minimum size = 18-inches total length
- Brookville Lake tailwater in Franklin County: Minimum size = 18-inches total length
Lakes: There is no closed season for taking trout from inland lakes.
Streams: The opening day of trout season for inland streams, other than Lake Michigan tributaries, is the last Saturday in April. The season runs through Dec. 31. The start time is 6 a.m. local time. For a list of trout stockings, see fishing.IN.gov
Catch-and-release applies to all trout streams from Jan. 1 through April 14. See page 20 for special tributary restrictions and closure information for Lake Michigan streams.
A closed season for selected trout streams runs from April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) while DNR staff complete the annual trout stockings. These streams include:
- Pigeon River and Pigeon Creek in LaGrange County from the Steuben 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 (tributaries 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, approximately 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
- Spy Run Creek within Franke Park in Allen County
- Mississinewa River within the boundaries of the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area
- Big Blue River within the boundaries of Wilbur Wright Fish & Wildlife Area in Henry County
The following three streams in Elkhart County (totaling 2.8 miles) are designated as year-round "catch-and-release only" and "artificial lures or flies only" trout fishing areas:
- • 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
Lake Michigan: trout and salmon regulations are available online.
Trout or salmon with a missing adipose fin contain a small microwire tag in the head of the fish with information important to DNR research. Please save the head from your adipose fin-clipped trout and salmon and call 219-874-6824 for instructions.
It is illegal to snag fish from public waters in Indiana, including the Ohio River. Trout and salmon that are foul-hooked (not caught in the mouth) cannot be kept. They must be released back into the body of water from which they were foul-hooked.