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Spring-fed karst river from Fredericksburg to the Ohio. Smallmouth and rock bass in limestone country. The river tops out around 10 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Traced from the shoreline, Blue River runs 2,695 acres with 137.4 miles of edge. The 18.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. The basin spans about 28.3 mi end to end and 6.5 mi across at its widest. You'll find it in Harrison County. For a second option, Buffalo Trace Lake lies 7 mi northeast.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 10 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 10 ft through summer, 3 to 10 ft in winter. The spot to know is Milltown rapids, a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Milltown rapids (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Milltown rapids (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Inside bend (mile 27.5) (8 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 42.8) (6 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 10 ft covers summer, 3 to 10 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in the 8 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 63.0) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) (8 ft) |
Spring rock bass on Blue River hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 3 to 10 ft once it turns cold. Put Milltown rapids first on the milk run — a rock pile near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run the evening. The summer box starts with a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Milltown rapids (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Milltown rapids (4 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Milltown rapids (4 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Milltown rapids (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
The chart marks 36 structure features on Blue River; the deepest is Wyandotte Lake Dam tailrace at about 9 ft.
Access data: Indiana DNR — Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Indiana waters are set by the Indiana DNR — and special regulations can apply to Blue River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Indiana fishing regulations →
Blue River is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rock bass on Blue River.
Milltown rapids is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Blue River is regulated by the Indiana DNR. Check the official Indiana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Buffalo Trace Lake 7 mi · Lake Salinda 16 mi · Springs Valley Lake 20 mi · Deam Lake 21 mi · Olinger Lake 22 mi · Kiwanis Lake (Sam Peden Park) 22 mi · Patoka Lake 22 mi · Ohio River - Cannelton Pool 22 mi, IN/KY · John Hays Lake 22 mi · Elk Creek Lake 25 mi · Lake Celina 25 mi · Spurgeon Hollow Lake 26 mi
See how Blue River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana · best channel catfish lakes in Indiana · best rock bass lakes in Indiana
Browse all Indiana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.