This program from the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife provides:
- Stocked catchable-size channel catfish and rainbow trout
- Locations to fish in or near urban areas, such as city parks
- Great shore fishing access
- Locations with restrooms and parking nearby
- Sites where Learn to Fish workshops are run often
Urban Stocking Locations
Stocking locations, timing, and quantity are similar each year. Plans are posted as soon as they become available.
Avon: Park Pond #2 (Washington Township Park)
Carmel: Meadowlark Pond (Meadowlark Park)
Evansville: Diamond Valley Lake (Diamond Valley Park), Garvin Park Lake* (Garvin Park)
Fort Wayne: Lakeside Pond (Lakeside Park), Shoaff Park Pond* (Shoaff Park), Spy Run Creek* (Franke Park)
Hobart: Robinson Lake (Robinson Park)
Indianapolis: Delaware Lake* (Fort Harrison State Park), Dubarry Park Pond (Dubarry Park), Krannert Lake (Krannert Park)
Lafayette: Munger Park Lake (Munger Park)
Madison: Johnson Lake* (Johnson Park)
South Bend: Pinhook Lake* (Pinhook Park)
Terre Haute: Dobbs Pond (Dobbs Memorial Park), Maple Avenue Lake* (Maple Avenue Nature Park)
* Locations stocked with trout
Urban Stocking Fish
Channel Catfish
Channel catfish are a hearty species that acclimate well to all types of Indiana waters. Stocking occurs in late April-early May, early June, and late September. Dates subject to change. Channel catfish:
- Are easy to catch
- Don’t require expensive fishing equipment
- Are attracted to strong-smelling baits, so try using nightcrawlers, chicken livers, shrimp, “stink bait,” or cut hot dogs
- Taste great
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout are a cold-water species so do best during the cooler months of Indiana. Stocking occurs in mid-March and mid-October in a select number of the designated urban fishing waters. Dates subject to change. Rainbow trout:
- Can be caught using a basic rod-and-reel combo or by fly fishing
- Will bite on bait, such as red wigglers, bee moth larvae (a.k.a. bee moths or wax worms), a kernel of corn, a combination of bee moth and corn, or store-bought “trout bait”
- Will bite on flies and lures, such as inline spinners or spoons
- Taste great
Stocking weeks: The last two weeks of March. Fall stockings will occur in the middle of October. Dates subject to change.
Fish illustrations by Rick Hill, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.
What you need
- Anglers age 18 and older must purchase a valid fishing license, unless otherwise exempt from needing a fishing license, such as on a Free Fishing Day.
- Anglers age 17 and younger do not need a fishing license.
- Trout anglers must purchase a trout stamp, in addition to a fishing license.
More Information
- General fishing information
- Fishing Guide & Regulations
- Buy a License
- Where to Fish
- Learn to Fish
- Fishing Tips and Videos
- Free Fishing Days
- Tips on How to Fish
