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Best common carp lakes in Indiana

76 Indiana waters list common carp (official records or labelled estimates), 59 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.

1. Wabash River — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel CatfishWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 16 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Ohio River — McAlpine Pool — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. White River (West Fork) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Ohio River — Newburgh Pool — 62 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
5. Ohio River — J.T. Myers Pool — 49 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
6. Monroe Lake — 54 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites
7. East Fork White River — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites
8. Ohio River — Cannelton Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
9. Morse Reservoir — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Mississinewa Lake — 137 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
11. Salamonie Lake — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
12. Eel River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock BassWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Lake Lemon — 27 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Hardy Lake — 35 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Crooked Lake (Steuben) — 81 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Sylvan Lake — 28 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Summit Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
18. Hamilton Lake — 69 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Kokomo Reservoir — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Whitewater River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock BassWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
21. Worster Lake (Potato Creek) — 18 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
22. Winona Lake — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Lake Manitou — 48 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Lake Maxinkuckee — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Koontz Lake — 32 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, CrappieWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 51 more Indiana waters holding common carp.

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When to fish common carp in Indiana

• Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
• Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
• Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.

Also in Indiana: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best rock bass lakes

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