Fishing Season: Spring thru Fall

Sugar Creek - IN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

72

Orvis Carmel's Tip of the Week

Stream conditions are holding at good levels with flows very slow. Try baitfish patterns on an intermediate sink during the day and switch to top water patterns in the morning and evenings.

Directions open in app

Map of Sugar Creek

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 9/15/25

Water temps are heating back up with little rainfall in the future. Mornings are cool and a great time to go throw some top water action.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/15/25

Water is low and flow is minimal. Poppers work well before the water heats up. Try fishing down in pockets or in shady areas with a good baitfish pattern like a Clouser Minnow or a crayfish pattern like a Come At Me Cray.

Local Species Available Spring thru Fall

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    Small Mouth Bass

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    Carp

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    rock bass

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    bluegill

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    suckers

Orvis Carmel's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
TeQueely Streamer Chart or Black 6-10
Woolly Bugger olive, black 6-10
May's Full Motion Crayfish Red 8
Jan's Trout Crayfish Fruit Cocktail 4-6
Near Nuff Crayfish Olive 8
Lefty's Deceiver White/Chart 2-4
Hawkins' Hat Trick char, black 2-4
Clouser Minnow Chart/White 6-1/0
Todds Wiggle Minnow shad 2-4
Galoup's mini Dungeon black 6

TeQueely Streamer

Fish love the contrasting tail colors and rubber legs on this streamer fly pattern.

2.99

Item #002C

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Orvis Carmel's Recommended Gear

Description: About Sugar Creek

Sugar Creek is the epitome of a small mouth bass fishery. It has all the structure that smallies like to orient into and pleanty of food for them to eat. You can either walk and wade or float this river, although at higher flows drift boats are recomended. This river constantly produces smallies over 20", so if you want to feel the tug of a fish that just does not give up, Sugar is the best place for you to start your warm water river journey.

Nearest Airport:

Indianapolis International

Hatches:

Crawfish, Baitfish, Helgramites, Frogs, Leeches, Poppers

Best Time to Fish:

Mid Morning-Late Afternoon

Best Stretch:

covered bridge in darlington and down stream.

Best Access:

Darlington/Thorntown