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Crawfordsville through Shades and Turkey Run. Indiana's prettiest smallmouth float. The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Sugar Creek runs 1,022 acres with 65 miles of edge. The 14.5 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. Figure 23.2 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.7 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Montgomery County. The nearest mapped water is Wabash River, 11 mi to the northeast.
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Deer's Mill riffle-pools, a prime-rated rock pile around 4 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Deer's Mill riffle-pools (4 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Deer's Mill riffle-pools (4 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Inside bend (mile 2.3) (6 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (4 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 25.7) (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2) (6 ft) |
Come spring, look for rock bass tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deer's Mill riffle-pools: a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Deer's Mill riffle-pools (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Deer's Mill riffle-pools (4 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Deer's Mill riffle-pools (4 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Deer's Mill riffle-pools (4 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
26 pieces of structure are mapped here — Terre Haute Boys Club Lake Dam tailrace, around 7 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Sugar Creek specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Indiana fishing regulations →
Sugar Creek is about 8 ft (2 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 Sugar Creek.
Deer's Mill riffle-pools is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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 Sugar Creek 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.
Wabash River 11 mi · Raccoon Lake (Cecil Harden) 16 mi · Rockville Lake 17 mi · Bicentennial Pond 2 34 mi · Bicentennial Pond 1 34 mi · JI Case Lake 37 mi · Cagles Mill Lake (Cataract) 37 mi · Kickapoo State Park Lake 38 mi, IL · Eagle Creek Reservoir 40 mi · Green Valley Lake 41 mi · Bell Pond 42 mi · Funk Lake 45 mi
See how Sugar Creek 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.