Hello everyone.  I am getting back into fishing and would like to know some good spots around Indiana that have good shoreline fishing and aren't too over-fished.  I live in Indianapolis so anything closer would be nice but I don't mind driving for a few hours if the locations are nice.  I suppose any locations that have boat rentals and good fishing would be ok too.  Thanks for any replies in advance !

In Indianapolis theres Eagle Creek and Geist Reservoir, but I'm not sure how much shore fishing there is on either although Geist is really developed with housing editions and stuff.  I'm pretty sure Patoka has boat rentals, if you want to drive to Jasper.

It is a couple hours worth of driving but you can catch alot of bass at Sugar Ridge fish and willdlife area. They have a ton of pits with good shoreline fishing. I go there all of the time.  

I would have to say that Geist is almost impossible to bank fish for bass.  I think your best places in indianapolis would be some private ponds, neigborhood ponds, or some golf courses.  I have played golf a couple of times this year at riverside golf course and seen some giants in there.

If you like to fish for smallies, drive up to Muncie.  You can fish miles of the White River from the bank for both smallies and largemouth.  I grew up in Muncie and have caught more fish out of that river than I can count.

Forget Geist and Eagle Creek.  There is little bank fishing there.

You could also try Westwood Park just west of New Castle just off State Road 38.  Lots of shallow weeds.  It is a trolling motor only lake.  

There is a small wildlife area on US 36 west of New castle also called Province Pond.  Dave Province donated his private lake and most of his property to the state and they formed a refuge out of it.  Lots of people fish here and it was loaded with fish back when Dave still owned it.

Summit Lake has some bank fishing with lots of shallow weeds.  It is just east of Mt Summit off of US 36.

If you can get a hold of a small boat, go to Waveland.  It is FULL of bass and you can catch them all day long.

Now, where in Indy are you?  I'm up in Noblesville.

Brad

DITTO on the white river. there is a canoe rental place in Daleville, IN (a bit closer to indy) that will drop you off and pick you up. there are some great spots along the way.

Bass fishing ......  Fish the bird sanctuary at Eagle Creek hands down. Its an old strip pit and no boat may be put on the lake and its deep with some great bank fishing. Please throw anything over 3#s into eagle creek lake for me.. Thanks !

Try Shadyside Lake at Shadyside Park in Anderson. Good bank fishing on the lake and along Killbuck Creek (which feeds the lake) where it flows into White River. You can also fish the banks of the river in the same general area.

It is only about 30 minutes from the northeast side of Indianapolis.

Although most areas I fish are not close to Indy, I don't mind sharing a little fishing info, after all, I think thats somewhat the concept of the fishing forum. And since these areas are public waters, you could find them by doing a little research on your own. I fish mostly small lakes in the southern part of the state and have done fairly well on them all, the Hoosier national forest off I-64 close to Evansville has 4 very nice small remote lakes, Indian, Celina, Tipsaw, Saddle.

Plus there are numerous ponds in the forest that I haven't fished, you can get a map from the Forest service, but you might have to hike into them. Starvehollow lake near Brownstown is a real nice small lake that has boat rentals. Tucker lake near Paoli. Elk creek lake outside Scottsburg is remote and nice. Salinda and John Hay lakes near Salem are very nice lakes also. You can find info on about all these small lakes from the Indiana DNR. All of these are trolling motor lakes only. Good luck fishing 

Tippiecanoe River, Kankakee River and backwater areas both are superb for largemouth and smallmouth, and the walleye fishing isn't too shabby either.

If you like steelhead try any of the streams in Northern Indiana - Trail Creek, Salt Creek, Beauty Creek, the Little Calumet River...maps and access points are available for all of these area from the INDNR.

How about trying for a giant musky? Just this past year a 34 lb. musky was caught from shore at Wolf Lake in Hammond.

But seriously, goto the INDNR site and you'll find a long list of places that are available for quality shore fishing.

We're is the best place to fish for bass in north vernon indiana and what are they biting on