Tippecanoe River Fishing Guides and Conditions, Indiana

About the Tippecanoe River

The Tippecanoe runs about a hundred and eighty miles across northern Indiana from the lakes in Kosciusko County down through Winamac, Monticello and Delphi to the Wabash near Lafayette. Because so much of its flow comes out of natural lakes and glacial sand rather than farm-field runoff, it runs clearer and steadier than most Midwestern rivers of its size, and that clarity supports an extraordinary range of life, including one of the richest freshwater mussel communities in North America. Conservation groups rank it among the most biologically significant rivers in the region.

For anglers it is a smallmouth river first. The gravel and cobble reaches above and below Winamac hold good numbers, with rock bass everywhere and the occasional very good fish on the deeper bends and the log jams. Channel and flathead catfish work the holes, northern pike hold in the slower weedy stretches near the lakes, and the impoundments at Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman split the river and add walleye and largemouth to the mix. Below Oakdale Dam the river runs to the Wabash through some of the best smallmouth water in the state.

The Ora gauge reads the upper-middle river. Moderate readings give clear water, defined riffles and easy floating in a canoe or kayak, which is how most of this river is fished. Heavy rain brings it up and colors it for a couple of days, and spring flows can be pushy through the tighter reaches. Late-summer low water is very clear and the fish get spooky, which favors early mornings and long casts.

Winamac, Monticello, Delphi and the Tippecanoe River State Park provide access and camping along the corridor.

Access

Tippecanoe River State Park: the largest public access, camping and several miles of river.
Winamac: town access and canoe launch near the gauge reach.
Ora and Monterey: quiet upper-middle access points.
Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman: the impoundments at Monticello.
Oakdale Dam: the tailwater and the start of the lower river.
Delphi and the Wabash and Erie Canal Park: lower river access.
Tippecanoe Battlefield and the Wabash confluence: the bottom end.

Seasons

April and May: high water and the first smallmouth activity; walleye in the tailwaters.
June and July: peak float season, topwater smallmouth and comfortable flows.
August: low clear water, spooky fish, early mornings.
September and October: the biggest smallmouth of the year and beautiful floating.