Indiana Dunes Fishing

Anglers will enjoy fishing along the shores of Lake Michigan, Long Lake and the Little Calumet River. 

Spring is the time for smelt, though salmon, trout, bass, bluegill and pumpkinseed are also plentiful. Summer brings yellow perch in close to the Lake Michigan shore. Reeling in a summer steelhead from the Little Calumet River is an exciting challenge! Fishing for Chinook, Coho salmon, lake trout and Skamania steelhead is a great way to spend a cool fall day.

Places to Fish

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk

• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk has a fishing pier, enclosed pavilion with restrooms and seasonal food service, a 900-foot breakwater with handrails and a loop trail
• The area is known for small mouth bass, carp, catfish, salmon and trout
• Fishing is allowed 24 hours a day, every day of the year
• Anglers must have a special permit to fish during the park’s closed hours (30 minutes after sunset to 8:00 a.m.). For a free permit, call the City of Portage Parks Department at 219-762-1675.

Long Lake

• Accessible from the marked trails at West Beach 
• Great spot for fishing or birding
• A public access area is available on the lake
• Motor boats are permitted

Little Calumet River 

• Can be accessed from the Heron Rookery and the Little Calumet River Trail
• While at the Rookery, keep an eye out for the Great Blue Herons repairing their nests or feeding in the shallow waters

Fishing Notes

• During the spring, fish for smelt at the State Park or the National Lakeshore's Kemil Beach 
• Smelt fishing, using a net or a seine, requires a separate permit
• Anglers are required to have a State of Indiana fishing license and a stamp is needed for trout and salmon fishing
• Although the national lakeshore doesn't have any boat launches, they are available in nearby communities
• Other creeks and streams besides the ones mentioned above are available for fishing