Northern Indiana (all postings)

Thanks, bigfil, for the info! My friend and I are going this Saturday, so I'll see if he's interested going to Potato Creek.

Is the timber you referred to fairly close to shore, or do you have to shoot a real long cast out there from shore to reach it?

Thanks again!

Jim H.

Hey all

Went to Potato Creek yesterday, Started fishing around 8:00 am water temp was 60 Deg. Crappies are just starting to move toward the timber caught at least 40 but most of them were only 8" we did manage to keep a dozen 10 inches ( we only keep enough for 1 meal ) now the info.

We were fishing outside the timber in 10-11 f.o.w but set our slip bobbers at 5', using jigs ( pink/white ) tipped with minnows

We did work some of the timber with cane poles getting right next to the wood but most of them came from open areas next to the timber that had a creek or channel next to it

Action should start picking up soon with the water starting to warm up next weekend should be great.

Hope this helps

Big fil

Hi there,

I'm planning to go fishing in a few weeks (maybe mid-May) with a friend from St. John, IN who hasn't fished in a while. Since I'm from the northwest suburbs of Chicago and not familiar with the Lake County area, I'd like to get some advice on good area lakes/ponds to try that have bank access. Some preliminary internet searches have given me some lakes/ponds that might be worth trying, including: Bingo Lake, Golf Lake, Hermit Lake, Hidden Lake, Lake Seven, Fisher Pond. Would any of these be worth trying? Recommended bodies of water don't have to be in Lake County, but I'd prefer to not have to go more than an hour away from my friend's house. For example, I've read that there are some lakes in the LaPorte area that are supposed to be good and have bank access, e.g., Stone Lake, Pine Lake, Clear Lake.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks very much!

Jim H.

horse, I haven't fished any Indiana inland lakes for smallmouths but do fish Lake Michigan for them on occasion. The only time that I have found them schooled is in the fall. They will be in the shallows in the spring to spawn, but I won't fish bedding bass. Inland manmade lakes are though, especially if there is no visible structure. If you can, spend more time using your electronics looking for areas that might hold fish than fishing, or try and find someone that has spent time on that lake or a lake similar to it and drain them for info. As far as baits, use what you have confidence in or have had luck using on other lakes. Talk to local bait shops if there are any. The biggest thing is just spending time on that lake until you learn it and what the fish want. Sorry i couldn't be more help. BGB

hey bluegillbill2 I am a resident of northeast indiana and I am mainly a pond fisher, just bass usually, allen county is a tough place to find good fisheries, one of the few I know of is hurshtown resevoir. it has a ton of smallmouth bass, largemouth, all kinds of panfish including crappie, catfish, carp and they have started releasing walleye in it about 4 years ago and they're doing well. the only problem is that it has very very little structure and is a giant square! hahaha manmade as a back up water supply for fort wayne. so do u have any tips on how I would go about finding schools of smallies in this body of water? baits? water is clear, cold and rocky bottom everywhere

Is anyone alive on this site? I have never seen such lack of participation or reports as I have on this site for the Indiana section.