Salamonie River
river in Indiana
The Salamonie River, especially the sections above and below Salamonie Lake, is an excellent smallmouth bass fishery for fly anglers in central Indiana. It features a mix of riffles, runs, and deeper pools, providing diverse habitat for bronzebacks. It's a great river for wading or floating, offering a quieter fishing experience away from more crowded waters.
Focus on imitating baitfish
- 01Focus on imitating baitfish, crayfish, and leeches as water cools.
- 02Deep sections below the dam for Walleye.
- 03Coves, wooded inlets, and submerged structures in Salamonie Lake are key.
- 04Slow, deliberate retrieves are crucial for lethargic fish.
Past reports week by week
6 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Woolly Bugger (Black)
A versatile year-round pattern, especially effective for predatory fish like Walleye in warming, stained spring waters.
Perch Pattern
Walleye are voracious predators of juvenile perch, making this streamer a prime choice in early spring when perch fry are present.
Clouser Minnow (Trout)
An excellent baitfish imitation that Walleye actively pursue. Its weighted eyes help it get down to depth in current.
Crappie Jig Fly
These patterns are excellent for Walleye holding near submerged structure during their spring activity.
Buy at AmazonSan Juan Worm
Extremely effective after rainfall, mimicking natural aquatic worms dislodged by runoff, a common occurrence with current conditions.
Buy at AmazonZonker
An effective baitfish imitation that excels in off-color water, making it ideal for the current rainy conditions.
Buy at AmazonSquirmy Wormy
Another top producer in post-rain conditions, providing a tempting, natural presentation for opportunistic Walleye.
Buy at AmazonPine Squirrel Leech (Olive)
Small leech patterns effectively mimic sluggish baitfish and annelids in cold water, enticing strikes from lethargic Walleye in early spring.
Flashback Hare's Ear
A reliable general mayfly nymph that works well in off-color or deeper water, targeting Walleye feeding subsurface.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Dora Road Bridge
Offers roadside access to the Salamonie River, allowing anglers to target smallmouth bass in productive stretches.
Lagro Access
A convenient public access point near Lagro, suitable for launching canoes or kayaks for smallmouth fishing.
Salamonie River State Forest Access
Provides access to the Salamonie River within the state forest, offering good wading and float opportunities for smallmouth bass.
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Indiana season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Quick answers
Common questions about Salamonie River.
What flies work best on Salamonie River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Salamonie River right now are Woolly Bugger (Black) (80% confidence), Perch Pattern (80% confidence), Clouser Minnow (Trout) (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Salamonie River?
Salamonie River holds Walleye. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Salamonie River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Salamonie River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.