Best fishing lakes in Indiana: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Monroe

At 10,800 acres, Lake Monroe is a big lake. Largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish are the draw. The deepest water is around 59 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Monroe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Brookville Lake

At some 5,250 acres, Brookville Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is within an easy drive of Hamilton (about 22 miles). It is the East Fork of the Whitewater River behind Brookville Lake Dam. The fish here are bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Brookville Lake, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1974 on the East Fork of the Whitewater River, lies between Mounds State Recreation Area and Whitewater Memorial State Park.

Brookville Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Patoka Lake

Patoka Lake spreads over 8,800 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Louisville (about 43 miles). It holds largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie. The deepest water is around 52 ft. Patoka Lake, Indiana's second-largest reservoir, was completed in 1978 and is jointly managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Indiana DNR.

Patoka Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Salamonie Lake

At some 2,880 acres, Salamonie Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it near Andrews. It is the Salamonie River behind Salamonie Dam. It holds crappie, catfish, white bass and walleye. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Salamonie Lake was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1966 on the Salamonie River for flood control.

Salamonie Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Mississinewa Lake

Mississinewa Lake spreads over 3,180 acres. The lake is right by Mount Vernon. The usual Indiana mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. At about 137 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Mississinewa Lake, built 1962-1967 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, works together with Salamonie and Huntington Lakes to prevent flooding downstream in the Wabash and Ohio rivers.

Mississinewa Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Bass Lake

At 1,400 acres of water, Bass Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies within an easy drive of South Bend (about 35 miles). The fish here are largemouth bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Bass Lake in Starke County was named for the large numbers of black bass once found there.

Bass Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Wawasee

Lake Wawasee covers some 3,000 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Elkhart (about 22 miles). The usual Indiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. It goes down to about 77 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Lake Wawasee is the largest natural lake wholly contained within Indiana, a spring-fed glacial lake known for unusually clear water. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Lake Wawasee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Geist Reservoir

Geist Reservoir covers some 1,890 acres. The lake is about 1.4 miles southeast of McCordsville. Geist Reservoir Dam holds it on the Fall Creek. Like most lakes its size in Indiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. At about 48 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Geist Reservoir, completed in 1943 northeast of Indianapolis, is a water-supply reservoir operated today by Citizens Energy Group.

Geist Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Freeman

Lake Freeman covers 1,500 acres. The lake is next to Monticello. Oakdale Dam holds it on the Tippecanoe River. Like most lakes its size in Indiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. At about 45 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Freeman, built 1923-1925 on the Tippecanoe River and owned by NIPSCO, is the more residential of the two Monticello 'Twin Lakes'.

Lake Freeman today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Eagle Creek Reservoir

Eagle Creek Reservoir covers 1,400 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Indianapolis (about 8 miles). Eagle Creek Dam holds it on the Eagle Creek. Like most lakes its size in Indiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. It goes down to about 45 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Eagle Creek Reservoir sits within Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.

Eagle Creek Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Raccoon Lake

Raccoon Lake is a reservoir of about 1,390 acres. You will find it about 25 miles southwest of Terre Haute. Like most lakes its size in Indiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Cecil M. Harden Lake, commonly called Raccoon Lake, is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir in Parke County, Indiana.

Raccoon Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Lake Lemon

At about 1,280 acres, Lake Lemon is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is near Nashville. The usual Indiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Lemon today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Which lake for which fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Lake Monroe, Brookville Lake, Patoka Lake and Mississinewa Lake
• Walleye: Brookville Lake, Patoka Lake, Salamonie Lake and Mississinewa Lake
• Trout: Brookville Lake
• Crappie: Lake Monroe, Brookville Lake, Patoka Lake and Salamonie Lake
• Pike and muskie: Brookville Lake
• Catfish: Lake Monroe, Brookville Lake, Patoka Lake and Salamonie Lake

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

Buy a Indiana fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.