Trout fishing on inland lakes is open year-round.
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INDIANAPOLIS - The Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife plans to stock nearly 35,000 rainbow and brown trout across Indiana this spring in preparation for this year’s inland trout fishing season, which opens Saturday, April 26, for inland streams.
Nineteen streams across 13 counties are anticipated to receive fish before and after opening day.
Locally, Brookville Tailwater received 1,500 rainbow and 2,600 brown trout this spring. An additional 1,000 brown trout are scheduled to be stocked in mid-to-late October.
Most of the lake stockings of rainbow trout were done last month, starting the week of March 24. Anglers don’t have to wait to fish for those, as trout fishing on inland lakes is open year-round.
To find a stocked stream near you, see the 2025 trout stocking plan at on.IN.gov/fish-stocking.
Trout will bite on a variety of artificial baits such as spinners and flies, but natural baits such as worms and bee moths tend to be the most popular.
The bag limit for trout in inland waters other than Lake Michigan and its tributaries is five per day with a minimum size of 7 inches. No more than one of an angler’s catch can be a brown trout. There is no size limit for trout on inland lakes except for any harvested brown trout caught below the Brookville Lake tailwater or from Oliver, Olin or Martin lakes. Those trout must be 18 inches or larger to be kept.
To fish for trout, anglers age 18 and older need an Indiana fishing license and a trout/salmon stamp. To purchase yours for this year, visit GoOutdoorsIN.com.