When is walleye season in Indiana?

Year-round statewide; 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + hybrid; minimum size zoned 14 in (south of SR 26) / 16 in (north of SR 26). 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 walleye?

The Indiana daily bag limit for walleye is 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + walleye-sauger hybrid statewide. The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (12); 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.

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Indiana?

Yes. In Indiana, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + setlines prohibited for walleye; Minimum size zoned by State Road 26 (14 in south / 16 in north); sauger + saugeye have no statewide minimum.

Do specific Indiana waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 10 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Brookville Lake, Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), and 7 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Indiana Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Sander vitreus

Last updated June 9, 2026

Indiana's walleye fishery centers on the southern + central reservoir tier — Brookville Lake (5,260 acres on the Whitewater River — premier deep clear-water IN walleye reservoir), Lake Monroe (10,750 acres on Salt Creek), Patoka Lake (8,800 acres on the Anderson River), Salamonie Reservoir (2,860 acres on the Salamonie River), and Mississinewa Reservoir (3,210 acres on the Mississinewa River). The Tippecanoe River + East Fork White River + Wabash River carry stream walleye + sauger. The Ohio River boundary with Kentucky carries sauger + walleye + paddlefish snagging under the reciprocity compact. Lake Michigan Indiana waters hold a limited walleye population (most Great Lakes walleye are concentrated in Lake Erie + Saginaw Bay — Lake Michigan is salmon + perch country). Indiana's statewide rule is a 6-fish combined daily bag (walleye + sauger + walleye-sauger hybrid) with a zoned minimum size — 14 inches south of State Road 26, 16 inches north of SR 26 — so the southern reservoirs (Brookville, Monroe, Patoka) run a 14-inch minimum and the northern reservoirs (Salamonie, Mississinewa) a 16-inch minimum, both at 6 / day. A handful of northern natural lakes carry tighter rules (Wall Lake 16 in / 2 per day, Lake George 15 in, Wolf Lake 14 in).

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Season

Year-round statewide; 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + hybrid; minimum size zoned 14 in (south of SR 26) / 16 in (north of SR 26).

Jan 1 – Dec 31Statewide
Open harvest year-round (no statewide closed walleye season)

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + walleye-sauger hybrid statewide
Possession: Two times the daily bag limit (12); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 14 in min south of State Road 26 (incl. Patoka + Monroe + Brookville); 16 in min north of SR 26 (incl. Salamonie + Mississinewa); Wall Lake 16 in / 2 per day, Lake George 15 in, Wolf Lake 14 in
Trophy rule: Brookville Lake produces 8+ lb walleye annually; Salamonie + Mississinewa trophy walleye tier; spring tributary spawning runs March – April

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines + setlines prohibited for walleye
Minimum size zoned by State Road 26 (14 in south / 16 in north); sauger + saugeye have no statewide minimum

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Indiana waters:

Brookville Lake
14 in min (south of SR 26), 6 / day; premier IN walleye reservoir; deep clear-water
Lake Monroe
14 in min (south of SR 26), 6 / day; reservoir walleye + sauger
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)
14 in min (south of SR 26), 6 / day; reservoir walleye + sauger
Salamonie Reservoir
16 in min (north of SR 26), 6 / day; trophy walleye USACE Wabash Valley reservoir
Mississinewa Reservoir
16 in min (north of SR 26), 6 / day; trophy walleye
Wabash River main stem
14 in min, 6 / day; sauger + walleye; IN/IL boundary water
Ohio River main stem
14 in min, 6 / day; sauger + walleye; IN/KY reciprocity compact
Wall Lake
16 in min, 2 / day; LaGrange County natural-lake walleye special reg
Lake George (Steuben County)
15 in min; Steuben County natural-lake walleye special reg
Wolf Lake
14 in min; Lake County urban IN/IL border walleye fishery

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

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Walleye 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 walleye season in Indiana?: Year-round statewide; 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + hybrid; minimum size zoned 14 in (south of SR 26) / 16 in (north of SR 26). 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 walleye?: The Indiana daily bag limit for walleye is 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + walleye-sauger hybrid statewide. The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (12); 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 walleye can you keep in Indiana?: The Indiana size rule for walleye is 14 in min south of State Road 26 (incl. Patoka + Monroe + Brookville); 16 in min north of SR 26 (incl. Salamonie + Mississinewa); Wall Lake 16 in / 2 per day, Lake George 15 in, Wolf Lake 14 in. Trophy rule: Brookville Lake produces 8+ lb walleye annually; Salamonie + Mississinewa trophy walleye tier; spring tributary spawning runs March – April.
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Indiana?: Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Indiana?: Yes. In Indiana, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines + setlines prohibited for walleye; Minimum size zoned by State Road 26 (14 in south / 16 in north); sauger + saugeye have no statewide minimum.
Do specific Indiana waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 10 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Brookville Lake, Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), and 7 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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