Indiana

Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge

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Current River Rating

Excellent · 93

Conditions look favorable based on the available readings.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Medium confidence

Should I Go?

Recommended Window

Saturday, 8:00 AM–11:00 AM

Why

Cloud cover is generally suitable for fishing.
Air temperature is comfortable for fishing.

Favorable Factors

Light to moderate wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Recent precipitation has been light.

Timing Evidence

Window confidence: Medium

Current Readings

Flow: 910 CFS
Gage Height: 3.67 ft
Water Temperature: 78.3 °F
Observation Time: Sep 5, 2026, 7:00 AM

Updated recently · USGS station 05517500 · Direct monitoring location

Readings from past 7 Days

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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.

Better Nearby Options

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Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.

Changing Conditions Advisory

Short-term rainfall and flow-change signals

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Weather Near Gauge

Current Weather

Clear

Temperature

76°F

Feels like

82°F

Wind

2 mph N

Wind gust

4 mph

Current precipitation

0.00 in

Updated

Sep 5, 2026, 2:45 AM

Recent Rainfall

Estimated precipitation near this gauge

Last 6 hours

0.00 in

Last 24 hours

0.00 in

Last 48 hours

0.04 in

Little recent rainfall near this river.

Next 24 Hours

Sat 3 AM
Clear
Temp 76°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 7 AM
Clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 11 AM
Mostly clear
Temp 87°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 3 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 84°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 14 mph
Sat 7 PM
Mostly clear
Temp 77°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Sat 11 PM
Clear
Temp 71°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph

Four-Day Forecast

Sat, Sep 5
Partly cloudy
High 87°F / Low 71°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 22 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 79°F / Low 63°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 22 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 77°F / Low 58°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 14 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 86°F / Low 61°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 32 mph

Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.

Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.

Weather data: Open-Meteo

Historical Flow

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Fishing Overview

Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge, Indiana. Monitoring-Backed from USGS (live 00010, 00060, 00065). USGS 05517500 is the bounded interior-Indiana Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area reach, not Davis 05515500, not Shelby 05518000 on the state line, and not Illinois Momence 05520500. Flow Context remains default-deny.

Fishery Profile

Documented species you may encounter at Kankakee River.

High confidenceLast verified: Aug 26, 2026

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations

Fishery overview

The Kankakee at Dunns Bridge is northwest Indiana's marsh-river smallmouth and northern pike fishery at the Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 05517500 using live water temperature, discharge, and stage. This is not Shelby on the Indiana–Illinois line and not Illinois Momence. Flow Context remains default-deny.

Target species

Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Expectation
Primary
Population
Established
Native status
native
Confidence
High confidence
Kankakee FWA northern pike at Dunns Bridge. USGS 05517500 live 00010. Not Shelby 05518000 and not Illinois Momence 05520500.
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
Expectation
Common
Population
Established
Native status
native
Confidence
High confidence
Kankakee largemouth in slower FWA pools.
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Expectation
Common
Population
Established
Native status
native
Confidence
High confidence
Kankakee smallmouth at Dunns Bridge.
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Expectation
Present
Population
Established
Native status
native
Confidence
High confidence
Kankakee channel catfish at Dunns Bridge.
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife

Fishery characteristics

Composition: Mixed wild and stocked
Great Lakes tributary: No
Flow regime: Regulated flow

Slow, historically ditched Kankakee mainstem in Jasper County at Dunns Bridge, inside Indiana and upstream of the state-line Shelby reach. Distinct from Yellow River tributary sites and from Illinois Kankakee water.

Best seasons

Spring
Summer
Fall

Common techniques

Boat fishing
Fly fishing
Shore fishing
Spinning

Access and Public Fishing Rights

Indiana DNR Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area documents public river access on this stretch. Catalog coordinates are USGS 05517500.

Stocking information

Warmwater river fishery with northern pike and bass. Confirm current official Indiana DNR stocking and harvest notices.

Official sources

Indiana inland fishing regulations apply. This pin is Indiana interior Kankakee water, not Illinois Kankakee River State Park and not Shelby. Confirm current official DNR regulations.

Hatch Match

No destination-specific hatch data is currently available.

General fly suggestions

Popper-style surface flyGeneral warmwater surface family. Not an insect Hatch event.
Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral warmwater streamer family. Not a baitfish Hatch event.
Crayfish-style flyGeneral subsurface family. Crayfish forage is not a Hatch insect.

These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.

Location and Access

USGS monitoring location

Jasper, Indiana

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Get Directions to Map Location View Official Access Information

The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

River Details

County

Jasper

Management Category

Inland warmwater river

Regulation Scope

Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge

Regulation Summary

Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge: Indiana inland fishing regulations at Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area. Confirm current official regulations.

Target Species

Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish

Access, Parking, and Regulations

Verified access notes and official resources for Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge. This is StrikeTracks guidance — always confirm with official sources.

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