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Best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana

30 Indiana waters hold smallmouth bass, 14 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.

1. Lake Michigan — Illinois and Indiana Shore — 258 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Chinook Salmon, Coho SalmonWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites
2. Wabash River — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel CatfishWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 16 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Ohio River — McAlpine Pool — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. White River (West Fork) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. East Fork White River — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites
6. Ohio River — Cannelton Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
7. Brookville Lake — 140 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 13 public access sites
8. Lake Wawasee — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Eel River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock BassWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
10. Crooked Lake (Steuben) — 81 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Lake Tippecanoe — 123 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Blue River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock BassWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Sugar Creek — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock BassWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Whitewater River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock BassWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Worster Lake (Potato Creek) — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
16. George lake — 82 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Lake Maxinkuckee — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Oliver Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Lake James — 86 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
20. Stone Lake — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Long Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Bicentennial Pond 2 — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. St. Joseph River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Chinook SalmonWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 18 public access sites, 5 carry-in or shore-oriented
24. Saugany Lake — 66 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. Clear Lake (Steuben) — 108 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites

…plus 5 more Indiana waters holding smallmouth bass.

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When to fish smallmouth bass in Indiana

• Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
• Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
• Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.

Also in Indiana: best largemouth 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 common carp lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best rock bass lakes

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