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Best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana

40 Indiana waters list smallmouth bass (official records or labelled estimates), 25 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. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.

1. Lake Michigan — Illinois and Indiana Shore — 258 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Chinook Salmon, Coho SalmonWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites, 7 carry-in or shore-oriented
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 · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites, 4 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, 4 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. Morse Reservoir — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, CrappieWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Brookville Lake — 140 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 13 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Lake Wawasee — 75 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Eel River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock BassWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. Crooked Lake (Steuben) — 81 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Lake Tippecanoe — 123 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Blue River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock BassWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Sugar Creek — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock BassWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Whitewater River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock BassWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. Worster Lake (Potato Creek) — 18 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
17. George lake — 82 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Lake Maxinkuckee — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Koontz Lake — 32 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, CrappieWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Lake Shafer — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
21. Lake Gage — 68 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Oliver Lake — 90 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Prairie Creek Reservoir — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
24. Lake James — 86 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
25. Westler Lake — 33 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 15 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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