Prairie Creek Reservoir Fishing in Delaware County, Indiana

• Overview

  Indiana holds Prairie Creek Reservoir, in Delaware County. The ground round it is pine and birch. The water covers around 1,257 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. By surface area it heads our Delaware County listings. Start from Parker City, 6.2 miles down the road. Indianapolis sits 52 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Prairie Creek Reservoir

  The books put it at 30 ft. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name bluegill, rock bass, orangethroat darter, rainbow darter and smallmouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Prairie Creek Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 73°F on average, January about 24°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid March. Break-up near mid March, freeze-up near late December: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Prairie Creek Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Being publicly held, the water is generally open for fishing. There is a slipway at Prairie Creek Boat Ramp, roughly half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Burlington Lake sits 3.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Prairie Creek Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.