Indiana Fish Species

19 game fish species found in Indiana waters. Each guide covers where to find them, best baits and lures, seasonal patterns, regulations, and links to the best lakes.

Black Bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Best: Apr, May, Jun 257 lakes

Limit: 14 inches / 5 per day

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Best: May, Jun, Sep

Limit: 14 inches / 5 per day

Spotted Bass

Micropterus punctulatus

Best: Apr, May, Jun

Limit: 14 inches / 5 per day

Panfish

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Best: Mar, Apr, May 257 lakes

Limit: None / 25 per day

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Best: Mar, Apr, May

Limit: None / 25 per day

Sunfish

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Best: May, Jun, Jul 257 lakes

Limit: None / 25 per day

Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

Best: May, Jun, Jul 257 lakes

Limit: None / 25 per day

Perch

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar 180 lakes

Limit: None / 25 per day

Catfish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Best: May, Jun, Jul

Limit: None / 10 per day

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Best: May, Jun, Jul 257 lakes

Limit: None / 10 per day

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug

Limit: None / 5 per day

Walleye

Saugeye

Sander vitreus x Sander canadensis

Best: Mar, Apr, May 21 lakes

Limit: 14 inches / 6 per day

Walleye

Sander vitreus

Best: Mar, Apr, May 187 lakes

Limit: 14 inches / 6 per day

Temperate Bass

White Bass

Morone chrysops

Best: Mar, Apr, May

Limit: None / 25 per day

Pike

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

Best: Oct, Nov 4 lakes

Limit: 36 inches / 1 per day

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Best: Mar, Apr, Oct 180 lakes

Limit: 24 inches / 6 per day

Salmon & Trout

Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Best: Apr, May, Aug

Limit: 14 inches / 5 per day

Coho Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Best: Mar, Apr, May

Limit: 14 inches / 5 per day

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Best: Jul, Aug, Sep

Limit: Check Lake Michigan and tributary-specific regulations / 5 per day