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Fishing Tippecanoe River: what the data says
Winamac to the Wabash. a gin-clear gravel float full of smallmouth. The river tops out around 12 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Tippecanoe River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Oakdale Dam tailwater: a rock pile around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at Tippecanoe River
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Gravel runs (Winamac), a gravel shoal in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Channel Catfish fishing at Tippecanoe River
Spring channel catfish on Tippecanoe River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 5.9): a creek channel around 9 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday |
Rock Bass fishing at Tippecanoe River
Start shallow in spring: rock bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Oakdale Dam tailwater: a rock pile around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around the evening in the warm months. Tie on a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Norway Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Oakdale Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Wallys Woods Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 10 ft
- Channel swing (mile 27.6): creek channel, around 10 ft
- Current seam (mile 26.3): current seam, around 10 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 28.9): eddy pocket, around 10 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.9): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.0): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Channel swing (mile 11.7): creek channel, around 9 ft
- Oakdale Dam tailwater: rock pile, around 8 ft
- Current seam (mile 15.8): current seam, around 8 ft
- Inside bend (mile 4.2): point, around 8 ft
- Inside bend (mile 14.5): point, around 8 ft
- Channel swing (mile 17.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Tippecanoe River?
Tippecanoe River is about 12 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 Tippecanoe River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, rock bass on Tippecanoe River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Tippecanoe River?
Oakdale Dam tailwater is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 8 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 Tippecanoe River?
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
Lake Freeman · Lake Shafer · Bicentennial Pond 1 · Bicentennial Pond 2 · Winamac Ponds East · Fletcher Lake
See how Tippecanoe River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana · best walleye 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.