Indiana has some prime fishing opportunities on its myriad of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds, and there are a number of species to fish for in the Hoosier State. But before you head out in the boat to cast for trout, it's important to know what you can legally hook and what can get you in trouble.
First, nearly everyone age 18 and older fishing on public waters in Indiana is required to have and carry while fishing a proper fishing license. These can be purchased from hundreds of retailers around the state and also online. There are a few different options: day permits that allow you to also catch salmon and trout as well as annual permits that require extra stamps for hooking a salmon or trout, but not other fish. For more on fishing licenses, see the
Indiana Department of Natural Resources comprehensive website.
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Once your license is secured, the second thing you need to know before hitting the water is catch, size, and bag limits for the species you are angling. This varies depending on the fish. For bluegill, yellow bass, and bullhead fish, for instance, there is no size requirement and no bag limit — you can hook as many as you'd like each day.
However, if you're fishing for black bass in Lake Michigan, you are only allowed to bag three per day, and the fish must be at least 14 inches long. In rivers and streams, you can take up to five black bass per day and they can measure between 12 and 15 inches.
The fish with the strictest daily bag limit in Indiana are the muskellunge and tiger muskellunge. Anglers are restricted from catching more than one fish per day and the fish must measure a minimum of 36 inches.
"Muskies," as these fish are nicknamed, are popular trophy fish — there's even an annual Indiana Muskie Classic — that are found in lakes and streams around the state. Muskie's can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds, although the average size is between 28 and 48 inches.
For the full scoop on bag limits and size restrictions in Indiana,
visit the state regulatory website. Many fishing smartphone applications will also provide this information.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before fishing.
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