2026 regulation year
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties) 2026 — Indiana Fishing Regulations
Indiana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties) carries 8 special-regulation overlays on top of Indiana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Crappie (black + white), and 3 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
8,800-acre USACE Anderson River reservoir — IDNR's second-largest; recurring Bassmaster Open Central Division venue; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth + spotted bass, 5 / day combined; crappie no min, 25 / day; striped + hybrid striped 18 in min, 2 / day; walleye 14 in min (south of SR 26), 6 / day
Source: Indiana special-water list
Per-species rules on Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)
15 in min, 5 / day combined; recurring BASS Opens Central venue
15 in min, 5 / day combined; reservoir-specific minimum
14 in min (south of SR 26), 6 / day; reservoir walleye + sauger
Crappie (black + white) regulations →
No min, 25 / day combined; trophy crappie reservoir
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 blue ≥ 35 in/day
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 channel ≥ 28 in/day
Flathead catfish regulations →
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 flathead ≥ 35 in/day
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 Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)?
- Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties) carries 8 special-regulation overlays that override Indiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Crappie (black + white), and 3 more. One of them reads: "8,800-acre USACE Anderson River reservoir — IDNR's second-largest; recurring Bassmaster Open Central Division venue; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth + spotted bass, 5 / day combined; crappie no min, 25 / day; striped + hybrid striped 18 in min, 2 / day; walleye 14 in min (south of SR 26), 6 / day." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)?
- Yes. Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties) 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 Patoka Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Indiana rules.
- Do Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)'s special rules replace Indiana's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Indiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Patoka 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 Patoka Lake?
- Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Crappie (black + white), Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and 1 more have a water-body-specific rule on Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties), each linking to its full Indiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Indiana limits.