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Fishing Sugar Creek: what the data says
Crawfordsville through Shades and Turkey Run. Indiana's prettiest smallmouth float. The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Sugar Creek
Spring smallmouth bass on Sugar Creek hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Deer's Mill riffle-pools, 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 | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Sugar Creek
Spring channel catfish on Sugar Creek hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2), a creek channel in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday |
Rock Bass fishing at Sugar Creek
Spring rock bass on Sugar Creek hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Deer's Mill riffle-pools is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring rock bass. Plan around the evening in the warm months. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Terre Haute Boys Club Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Shades Pond Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Channel swing (mile 23.9): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.0): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.1): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.3): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.3): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.9): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 29.3): current seam, around 6 ft
- Inside bend (mile 2.3): point, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Sugar Creek?
Sugar Creek is about 8 ft 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.
What fish are in Sugar Creek?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rock bass on Sugar Creek.
Where is the best fishing spot 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.
When is the best time to fish Sugar Creek?
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.
Nearby waters
Wabash River · Raccoon Lake (Cecil Harden) · Rockville Lake · Bicentennial Pond 2 · Bicentennial Pond 1 · Cagles Mill Lake (Cataract)
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 every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.