Guide To Walleye & Sauger Fishing In Indiana

Walleye & Sauger

There are some nice choices for walleye including Bass Lake, Brookville Lake, Cagles Mill Lake, Cecil M Hardin Lake, Clear Lake, Crooked Lake, Dewart Lake, Eagle Creek Reservoir, Geist Lake, Hardy Lake, Kokomo Reservoir, Lake Freeman, Lake Maxinkuckee, Lake of the Wood, Lake Wawasee, Mississinewa Reservoir, Monroe Lake, Morse Reservoir, Patoka Lake, Pike Lake, Prairie Creek Reservoir, Pretty Lake, Salamonie Lake, Summit Lake, Sylvan Lake, Syracuse Lake, Tippecanoe Lake, Wall Lake, Webster Lake and Winona Lake. Ice fishing for walleye is available at some of these lakes in winter.

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Top lures for walleye in Indiana

Jigs with a variety of trailers and bait work well in virtually any depth water. When walleyes are shallow, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and rip baits are the often very productive. As they move deeper, spoons are ideal for active walleye. Understanding the seasonal movements of walleyes can enhance your chances of selecting the right lures for conditions on local waters.

IN State Record Walleye

The state record walleye is a tie, one was caught from the Kankakee River and the other from the Tippecanoe River.

The state record sauger came from the Tippecanoe River.

Douglas Johnson shows off a couple real nice walleye from Lake Monroe while night fishing.

Indiana walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

Fishing For Walleye

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Trolling for walleye with deep diving crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinners and live bait provides a way to cover vast areas and locate concentrations of fish. Use of planer boards allows anglers to cover water out both sides of the boat while trolling. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

Fishing For Sauger

Closely related to the walleye and similar in appearance, sauger are generally smaller than walleye, reaching 4 to 5 pounds (or more) and up to about 20 inches. Often found in muddier rivers, it thrives in larger, silty lakes. They spawn in the shallows at night, without creating or guarding specific nests.

Walleye prefer moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in warmer impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting filets. Click here to learn all about walleye fishing.

Click here for a Indiana Fishing License.

Watch this video for walleye tips and tactics.

Walleye Resources

In-Fisherman - Walleye
U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Walleye
The National Wildlife Federation - Walleye

Also find information about walleye, sauger or saugeye fishing in these states.