Fishing Season: Spring thru Fall

Sugar Creek - IN

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Orvis Carmel's Tip of the Week

Water levels have been up with the rainfall. Trending downward currently which is a good time to go before it rains again. With water temps rising look for smallmouth to start chasing baitfish in more shallow areas.

Directions open in app

Map of Sugar Creek

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 5/5/25

This week has rain in the forecast which may blow the stream out, the weekend looks promising however as long as levels start to return.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/5/25

If you have an intermediate sinking line or poly leader, try throwing baitfish patterns or leeches while levels are up.

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

Buy Now

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