Top fish species at Rider Ditch

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Check which species have trophy potential in Rider Ditch

Rider Ditch fishing reports

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Spotted gar

length · weight

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Smallmouth bass

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Freshwater drum

length · weight

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General info

Rider Ditch is a canal located in Jackson County, Indiana, United States. It is most popular for fishing Spotted gar, Smallmouth bass, and Freshwater drum.

Location

38°46′57.3″N 85°53′29.2″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Rider Ditch, IN

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Indiana can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Spotted gar

Spotted gar

Regulation boundaryIndiana State Waters
Additional information
No bag limit. No size limit. No closed season.A bow and arrow or crossbow can be used year-round at any time of day to take Asian carp, bowfin, buffalo fish, common carp, gar, shad, and suckers from streams, rivers, and non-flowing waters (including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs). A fishing license is required to use a bow and arrow or crossbow as fishing equipment. Bowfin, buffalo fish, carp, gar, shad, and sucker from Lake Michigan can be taken with a bow and arrow. A gig, fish spear, speargun, or underwater spear can be used year-round at any time of day to take Asian carp, bowfin, buffalo fish, common carp, gar, shad, and suckers from non-flowing waters (including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs) and the following large rivers: Kankakee River, upstream to the SR 55 bridge Maumee River, upstream to the Anthony Boulevard bridge in Fort Wayne St. Joseph River, upstream from Twin Branch Dam in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties Tippecanoe River, upstream to one-half mile below its confluence with Big Creek
in Carroll County. Fish spears and fish
gigs cannot be used in, on, or adjacent to Tippecanoe River from a half-mile below its juncture with Big Creek in Carroll County upstream to the Oakdale Dam. Wabash River, upstream to SR 13 in Wabash White River, upstream from the Wabash River to the junction of East and West forks White River/East Fork, upstream to the dam at the south edge of Columbus White River/West Fork, upstream to the dam below Harding Street in Indianapolis 
Edibility
Poor
Synonyms
Lepisosteus oculatus
Season open: year-round
Smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Regulation boundaryIndiana State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size14" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
These regulations are for smallmouth bass in lakes. Smallmouth bass regulations for rivers and streams are as follows: size limit = no black bass 12 to 15-inches total length may be kept, and no more than 2 black bass over 15-inches total length may be kept;daily bag limit = 5 black bass (any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass) Smallmouth bass regulations for Lake Michigan are as follows: minimum size = 14-inches total length;daily bag limit = 3 black bass (any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass) Special Regulations for Lakes:Lake Limits by County 15-inch minimum size limit: Patoka Lake (Orange, Dubois, and Crawford counties) 16-inch minimum size limit: Cecil M. Harden Lake (Parke County) 18-inch minimum size limit and two fish daily bag limit: Ball Lake (Steuben County) Blue Grass, Loon Pit (Warrick County) Fidler Pond (Elkhart County) Failing Lake, also known as Gentian Lake (Steuben County) Flat Fork Creek Park ponds A and B (Hamilton County) Kunkel Lake (Wells County) Robinson Lake (Whitley and Kosciusko counties) All lakes at Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area (Kosciukso, Noble, and Elkhart counties)Bixler Lake, Henderson Lake, Little Long Lake, and Round Lake (Noble County)20-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily bag limit: Turtle Creek Reservoir (Sullivan County) 12- to 15-inch slot size limits (At the following lakes, smallmouth bass that are from 12 to 15 inches in length may not be harvested. The daily bag limit applies to bass under 12 inches and over 15 inches): • Buffalo Trace Lake (Harrison County)• Ferdinand State Forest Lake (Dubois County)• Montgomery City Park Lake (Daviess County)12- to 15-inch slot size limit (no more than two bass larger than 15 inches): Big Long Lake (LaGrange County) No minimum size limit waters: Brownstown Pit (Jackson County)Burdette Park lakes (Vanderburgh County)Chandler Town Lake (Warrick County)Cypress Lake (Jackson County)Deming Park lakes (Vigo County) Garvin Park Lake (Vanderburgh County)Glen Miller Pond (Wayne County)Hayswood Lake (Harrison County)Henry County Memorial Park Lake (Henry County)Hovey Lake at Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area (Posey County)Krannert Lake (Marion County)Lake Sullivan (Marion County)Ruster Lake (Marion County)Schnebelt Pond (Dearborn County)  Special Regulations for Rivers & Streams Ohio Riverdaily bag limit = 6 black bass (any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass)minimum size = 12-inches total length20-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily bag limit: Sugar Creek (Montgomery, Parke, Boone, Clinton, and Tipton counties)12-inch minimum size limit (5 bass daily limit): All rivers and streams in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn counties (with the exception of the Blue River, where the slot limit applies in Crawford, Harrison, and Washington counties). 
Synonyms
Micropterus dolomieui
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Local laws and licenses

Indiana fishing license

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Cities nearby

Crothersville

2.9 miles away

Little York

5.8 miles away

Scottsburg

8.9 miles away

Seymour

11.4 miles away

Canton

13.4 miles away

Paris Crossing

13.5 miles away

Medora

15.3 miles away

Hayden

15.4 miles away

Freetown

18.5 miles away

New Pekin

20.4 miles away

Otisco

20.5 miles away

Memphis

21.3 miles away

North Vernon

21.4 miles away

Azalia

21.5 miles away

Dupont

21.5 miles away

Borden

21.8 miles away

New Washington

23.9 miles away

Tunnelton

24.3 miles away

Livonia

26.1 miles away

Madison

26.7 miles away

Grandview Lake

26.9 miles away

Grammer

27.1 miles away

Charlestown

27.4 miles away

Milton

28.3 miles away

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FAQ about Rider Ditch fishing

📍 Where is Rider Ditch located?
Rider Ditch is a canal located in Jackson County, Indiana, United States. Its coordinates are:
38°46′57.3″N 85°53′29.2″W
.
🎣 Where on Rider Ditch is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Rider Ditch by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Rider Ditch?
The most common species in Rider Ditch are:
📢 What are the latest Rider Ditch fishing reports?
The latest Rider Ditch fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Rider Ditch?

Fishing in Indiana requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term, available online and at licensed vendors.

In Indiana, no fishing license is required for anglers under 18. Residents 64 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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