Fishing Season: Spring thru Fall

Sugar Creek - IN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

48

Orvis Carmel's Tip of the Week

Higher temps will taper off later in the week with chances of rain in the forecast. The fishing will improve with a little rain, search for the deepest pools/runs you can find. Our fish are moving into the winter pools and you’ll need to find water they are holding in.

Directions open in app

Map of Sugar Creek

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 11/17/25

Looks like warm days and sunshine as the high temps taper off in the 50's. Water is slowing down so get out and fish while levels are good.

Techniques & Tips as of 11/17/25

Don't be afraid to use vivid color patterns, and throw some suspended baitfish patterns as well. Smaller streamers and working well, slow your retrieve and work the water well…with the colder water temps our fish and moving slower!

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