Trout, Rainbow

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:

1. • Little Elkhart River from CR 43 downstream to CR 16, except for waters along Riverbend Park from CR 16 upstream to the pedestrian footbridge
2. • Solomon Creek from CR 33 downstream to the Elkhart River
3. • 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.