Inland Trout Regulations
Inland Trout Sizes & Limits |
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Species |
Daily Bag Limit |
Minimum Size |
Brook Trout |
5, any combination of brook, rainbow, or brown trout; no more than one may be brown trout |
7 inches* |
Rainbow Trout |
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Brown Trout |
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Indiana anglers have two options when it comes to trout fishing: inland waters and Lake Michigan and its tributaries. The following information covers regulations for inland trout fishing. Learn more about Lake Michigan trout and salmon regulations.
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 details on trout stockings, visit the Indiana fish stocking page.
Catch-and-release applies to all trout streams from Jan. 1 through April 14. View the Lake Michigan Regulations page 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 1 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
Brown Trout Minimum Size Limit Waters: There is an 18-inch minimum size limit at Oliver, Olin, and Martin lakes in LaGrange County, and the Brookville Lake tailwater in Franklin County.
