2026 regulation year
Ferdinand State Forest Lake 2026 — Indiana Fishing Regulations
Indiana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Ferdinand State Forest Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Indiana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Reservoir in Ferdinand State Forest, Dubois County — black bass 12–15 in protected slot, 5 / day; electric-motor-only; bluegill + redear + channel catfish
Source: Indiana special-water list
Per-species rules on Ferdinand State Forest Lake
12–15 in protected slot, 5 / day; electric-motor-only state-forest lake
Official source
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Indiana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Indiana Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Indiana trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Indiana
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Ferdinand State Forest Lake?
- Ferdinand State Forest Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Indiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "Reservoir in Ferdinand State Forest, Dubois County — black bass 12–15 in protected slot, 5 / day; electric-motor-only; bluegill + redear + channel catfish." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Ferdinand State Forest Lake?
- Yes. Ferdinand State Forest Lake is in Indiana, so a valid Indiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Ferdinand State Forest Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Indiana rules.
- Do Ferdinand State Forest Lake's special rules replace Indiana's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Indiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Ferdinand State Forest Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Ferdinand State Forest Lake?
- Largemouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Ferdinand State Forest Lake, each linking to its full Indiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Indiana limits.