The 2017 Indiana trout stream season opens this Saturday, April 29, at 6 a.m. local time and runs through Dec. 31.
By Saturday morning, DNR fisheries personnel will have stocked nearly 22,000 rainbow trout in 17 streams across the state. The trout are produced at DNR’s Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station in LaGrange County.
In addition to rainbows, brown trout raised at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery will be stocked in mid-May. However, anglers may catch holdover browns from prior stockings in streams such as the Brookville Lake tailwater on the Whitewater River, Little Elkhart River, Solomon Creek and Pigeon River.
Information about Indiana trout stocking sites and the respective number of trout stocked at each is at wildlife.IN.gov/5457.htm.
Anglers age 18 and older must have a trout stamp and valid fishing license to fish for trout. The daily bag limit is five trout, and no more than one can be a brown trout. The minimum size limit is 7 inches.
An 18-inch minimum size limit for brown trout exists at Oliver, Olin and Martin lakes in LaGrange County, and on Whitewater River below the Brookville Lake dam in Franklin County. Also, sections of the Little Elkhart River, Solomon Creek and Cobus Creek in Elkhart County are designated as catch-and-release and artificial lures or flies only. Before fishing, make sure you know the law, particularly at these special sites.
The Indiana Fishing Regulation Guide is available at most license retailers and online at wildlife.IN.gov/2347.htm.
