Best Fishing Times in Indiana This Week
Near Angola, Michigan City and Bloomington: today on a 24 hour timeline and the next seven days rated Fair to Best.
Working out the moon and the sun for Angola, IN, and reading the forecast.
Fishing somewhere else? Enter any ZIP for your own spot
Photo: “Fall fishing on the Madison River at sunrise”, Jacob W. Frank, Yellowstone National Park (NPS), Public domain
Indiana at a glance
Solunar windows plus the agency calendarWhen fish bite in Indiana
Indiana's fishing year runs from the March and April sauger run below Ohio River locks and dams to bluegill on spring nests, summer perch along Lake Michigan, and fall trout and salmon in its tributaries.
Each entry below is from Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife or its published guides, quoted word for word and linked. Line the season up with the week above: a run in its prime and a Great day with a window at first light is the morning to take off.
- March and April
Sauger
In March and April, adult sauger run up the Ohio River to spawn and gather below the locks and dams.
“During early spring in March and April, adult sauger run upstream to spawn, congregating below locks and dams.”
Fish and Wildlife: Fishing Tips When & Where, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, read October 9, 2026 - Water at 65 degrees
Bluegill
Once the water reaches 65 degrees, bluegill and redear sunfish spawn and feed in the shallows while guarding their nests.
“Once the water temperature reaches 65 degrees, bluegill and redear sunfish will also spawn and feed in the shallows while defending their nests.”
Fish and Wildlife: Fishing Tips When & Where, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, read October 9, 2026 - Summer
Yellow perch
In summer, yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish and freshwater drum often come close to the Lake Michigan shore.
“Summer waters often bring yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, and freshwater drum close to shore.”
Fish and Wildlife: Fishing Tips When & Where, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, read October 9, 2026 - Fall
Trout and salmon
In fall, cast flies, spinners and spoons for trout and salmon once they return to Lake Michigan tributaries.
“Try casting flies, spinners, and spoons for trout and salmon once they return to Lake Michigan tributaries.”
Fish and Wildlife: Fishing Tips When & Where, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, read October 9, 2026
Reading the Indiana timeline
Each day has two major solunar periods of about two hours, centered on the moon overhead and underfoot, and two minor periods of about an hour at moonrise and moonset. A window within an hour of sunrise or sunset is marked in gold. The rating adds the moon phase, the gold windows and a capped nudge from the National Weather Service forecast for each town. Every factor and its points.
Dawn and dusk are the reliable part; the moon windows are the old angler’s rule.
