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Best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana

22 Indiana waters hold smallmouth bass, 6 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 · Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon
2. Wabash River — 30 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel Catfish
3. White River (West Fork) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
4. Brookville Lake — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
5. Ohio River — McAlpine Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
6. East Fork White River — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
7. Ohio River — Cannelton Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
8. Lake Wawasee — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
9. Eel River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock Bass
10. Crooked Lake (Steuben) — 81 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
11. Lake Tippecanoe — 123 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
12. Lake Maxinkuckee — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
13. Blue River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass
14. Sugar Creek — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass
15. Whitewater River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Rock Bass
16. Oliver Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
17. Lake James — 86 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
18. St. Joseph River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Chinook Salmon
19. Clear Lake (Steuben) — 108 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
20. Lake George (Fremont) — 85 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
21. Tippecanoe River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass
22. Lake Gage — 68 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill

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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