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Indianapolis to Worthington. Sleeper smallmouth and big-flathead water. The river tops out around 20 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 12,021 acres wrapped in 240.1 miles of bank — 4 islands included. The 15.6 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 83.3 mi long by 8.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Monroe County. If the bite dies, Griffy Lake is 10 mi to the southeast.
Spring smallmouth bass on White River (West Fork) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 6 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 20 ft. Put Broad Ripple riffles first on the milk run — a rock pile near 5 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Broad Ripple riffles (5 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 6.8) (7 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 6.8) (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 8.7) (11 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 6 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Spencer deep bends — creek channel, 16 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Spencer deep bends (16 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Spencer deep bends (16 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Spencer deep bends (16 ft) |
Early season flathead catfish use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 20 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 20 ft. Put Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) first on the milk run — an eddy pocket near 11 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Summer is an 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) — creek channel, 15 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.7) (11 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (15 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Spencer deep bends (16 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for common carp tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Start at Tailout eddy (mile 34.2). It's an eddy pocket holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Lake Edgewood Dam tailrace (17 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Spencer deep bends (16 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) |
Early season longnose gar use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 1 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 15 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday and the evening. Tie on a rope lure or a small white spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Lake Edgewood Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (15 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 34.2) (11 ft) |
White River (West Fork) also holds freshwater drum (5 to 20 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
60 pieces of structure are mapped here — Lake Edgewood Dam tailrace, around 17 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 White River (West Fork) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Indiana fishing regulations →
White River (West Fork) is about 20 ft (6 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, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, common carp, longnose gar, freshwater drum, rock bass on White River (West Fork).
Broad Ripple riffles is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 5 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 White River (West Fork) 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.
Griffy Lake 10 mi · Lake Lemon 15 mi · Cagles Mill Lake (Cataract) 15 mi · Yellowwood Lake 19 mi · Monroe Lake 21 mi · Crooked Creek Lake 23 mi · Shakamak Lake 32 mi · East Fork White River 32 mi · Kickapoo Lake 32 mi · Stone Arch Lake 32 mi · 1000 Islands Lake 34 mi · Pisgah Lake 35 mi
See how White River (West Fork) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Indiana · best smallmouth bass lakes in Indiana · best channel catfish lakes in Indiana · best flathead catfish 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.