When is crappie (black + white) season in Indiana?

Year-round statewide; 25 / day combined black + white crappie statewide bag limit. Those are the 2026 Indiana dates; always confirm against Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Indiana bag limit for crappie (black + white)?

The Indiana daily bag limit for crappie (black + white) is 25 / day combined black + white crappie statewide (one of the highest in the country). The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (50); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size crappie (black + white) can you keep in Indiana?

The Indiana size rule for crappie (black + white) is No minimum size statewide; 9 in min only on Dogwood + Hardy lakes (monitored).

Do you need a license to fish for crappie (black + white) in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for crappie (black + white), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for crappie (black + white) in Indiana?

Yes. In Indiana, crappie (black + white) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + setlines prohibited for crappie; 9-inch minimum only on Dogwood + Hardy lakes (population-monitoring); no statewide size limit.

Do specific Indiana waters have different crappie (black + white) rules?

Yes. 6 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide crappie (black + white) regulation, including Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), Brookville Lake, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Indiana Crappie (black + white) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Pomoxis nigromaculatus / Pomoxis annularis

Last updated June 9, 2026

Indiana runs one of the country's most generous crappie bag limits — 25 fish per day combined black + white crappie statewide, with no minimum size statewide (only Dogwood + Hardy lakes are monitored under a 9-inch crappie minimum — Patoka, Monroe + Brookville have NO crappie size limit). The southern + central USACE reservoir tier — Lake Monroe + Patoka + Brookville + Salamonie + Mississinewa — holds the densest crappie population. Indianapolis metro reservoirs (Geist + Eagle Creek) carry year-round suburban crappie. The northern Indiana natural-lake tier — Cedar + Bass + Wawasee + Maxinkuckee + Tippecanoe — supports glacial-lake crappie + bluegill. The Wabash River backwaters + East Fork + West Fork White River oxbows hold floodplain river crappie. Indiana-distinctive: no closed season on crappie statewide; the 25 / day standard bag is one of the highest in the country, above MO (30 in Truman only), MS (20 / day Big 4), and IL (15 / day on Rend Lake).

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Season

Year-round statewide; 25 / day combined black + white crappie statewide bag limit.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Statewide
Open harvest year-round

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 25 / day combined black + white crappie statewide (one of the highest in the country)
Possession: Two times the daily bag limit (50); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum size statewide; 9 in min only on Dogwood + Hardy lakes (monitored)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines + setlines prohibited for crappie
9-inch minimum only on Dogwood + Hardy lakes (population-monitoring); no statewide size limit

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Indiana waters:

Lake Monroe
No min, 25 / day combined; densest IN crappie population
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)
No min, 25 / day combined; trophy crappie reservoir
Brookville Lake
No min, 25 / day combined; deep clear-water reservoir crappie
Salamonie Reservoir
No minimum statewide, 25 / day combined; USACE Wabash Valley crappie
Geist Reservoir
No minimum statewide, 25 / day combined; Indianapolis metro crappie
Wabash River main stem
No minimum statewide, 25 / day combined; river backwater crappie; IN/IL boundary

Official source

Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Indianafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The crappie (black + white) rules on this page are sourced from Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife's official crappie (black + white) regulation page.

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Crappie (black + white) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Indiana Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Indiana trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is crappie (black + white) season in Indiana?: Year-round statewide; 25 / day combined black + white crappie statewide bag limit. Those are the 2026 Indiana dates; always confirm against Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Indiana bag limit for crappie (black + white)?: The Indiana daily bag limit for crappie (black + white) is 25 / day combined black + white crappie statewide (one of the highest in the country). The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (50); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size crappie (black + white) can you keep in Indiana?: The Indiana size rule for crappie (black + white) is No minimum size statewide; 9 in min only on Dogwood + Hardy lakes (monitored).
Do you need a license to fish for crappie (black + white) in Indiana?: Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for crappie (black + white), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for crappie (black + white) in Indiana?: Yes. In Indiana, crappie (black + white) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + setlines prohibited for crappie; 9-inch minimum only on Dogwood + Hardy lakes (population-monitoring); no statewide size limit.
Do specific Indiana waters have different crappie (black + white) rules?: Yes. 6 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide crappie (black + white) regulation, including Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), Brookville Lake, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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