What is the deepest lake in Indiana?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Mississinewa Lake is the deepest at about 137 ft.

Deepest lakes in Indiana: 10 lakes ranked by depth

The deepest lakes in Indiana with a published depth, deepest first. Deep lakes stay cold below the surface all summer, which is what trout and big predators want.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Mississinewa Lake	about 137 ft	3,180 acres
2	Lake Maxinkuckee	about 88 ft	1,860 acres
3	Lake Wawasee	about 77 ft	3,000 acres
4	Lake Monroe	about 59 ft	10,800 acres
5	Patoka Lake	about 52 ft	8,800 acres
6	Geist Reservoir	about 48 ft	1,890 acres
7	Lake Freeman	about 45 ft	1,500 acres
8	Eagle Creek Reservoir	about 45 ft	1,400 acres
9	Lake Shafer	about 30 ft	1,290 acres
10	Cedar Lake	about 16 ft	780 acres

1. Mississinewa Lake

Mississinewa Lake covers 3,180 acres of water. You will find it right by Mount Vernon. The usual Indiana mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. The deepest water is around 137 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

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

2. Lake Maxinkuckee

At some 1,860 acres, Lake Maxinkuckee is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it about 33 miles north of South Bend. The usual Indiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The deepest water is around 88 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work. Lake Maxinkuckee, near Culver in Marshall County, is the second-largest natural lake in Indiana.

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

3. Lake Wawasee

Lake Wawasee is a natural lake of 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. The deepest water is around 77 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Lake Wawasee is the largest natural lake wholly contained within Indiana, a spring-fed glacial lake known for unusually clear water. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

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

4. Lake Monroe

Lake Monroe spreads over 10,800 acres of water. Expect largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 59 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

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

5. Patoka Lake

Patoka Lake spreads over some 8,800 acres. The lake is near English. Patoka Lake Dam holds it on the Patoka River. Largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie are the draw. At about 52 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. 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

6. Geist Reservoir

Geist Reservoir is a reservoir of some 1,890 acres. The lake is near McCordsville. It is the Fall Creek behind Geist Reservoir Dam. Like most lakes its size in Indiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The deepest water is around 48 ft. 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

7. Lake Freeman

Lake Freeman is a reservoir of 1,500 acres. It lies right by 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. 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

8. Eagle Creek Reservoir

At 1,400 acres of water, Eagle Creek Reservoir is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it near Clermont. Eagle Creek Dam holds it on the Eagle Creek. The usual Indiana mix applies: 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

9. Lake Shafer

Lake Shafer covers 1,290 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Lafayette (about 26 miles). Norway Dam holds it on the Tippecanoe River. The usual Indiana mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. At about 30 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Lake Shafer, built in 1922-1923 on the Tippecanoe River, is the other of the two Monticello 'Twin Lakes' and is home to the Indiana Beach amusement park.

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

10. Cedar Lake

At 780 acres of water, Cedar Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies about 14 miles north of Hammond. Like most lakes its size in Indiana, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. It goes down to about 16 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs: good places to start. Cedar Lake is the largest natural lake in northwest Indiana, formed from glacial meltwater.

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

The clearest of them

Lake Wawasee is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.