SC Mike
09-05-2006, 01:57 PM
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/SC_Lakeoftheweek.gif (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com)
Bass Lake, Starke County (http://sportsmansconnection.com/lakeinfo/12486-Bass/)
Nearest town: Knox
Surface area: 1,345 acres
Maximum depth: 30 feet
Average depth: 3.5 feet
Secchi disc: 2.0 feet
Shoreline demographics: 90% developed; 10% wetland
Shoreline fishing: Good
Accessibility: State-owned public access, with limited parking, on southwest shore; shore-fishing at State Park
Motors: Inboard / outboard motors allowed
Accommodations: Park, camping, picnicking
Park office: Tippecanoe River State Park, 4200N US 35, Winamac, IN 46996; (574) 946-3213
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/in/Bass.gif (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com)
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/in/Bass-Stocking.gif
FISHING INFORMATION: Bass Lake, Indiana’s third largest
natural lake, is home to good numbers of crappie, walleye and
channel catfish. Crappie, in particular, are highly sought-after fish
with good numbers of keepers and individuals up to 14 inches.
White bass are a secondary species. Small numbers of largemouth
bass and bluegill are present. Primary forage fish are quillback,
minnows and young perch.
Growth rates for most species are average. In an 18-year study,
it was found that the average length for walleye ages one through
five were 6.6 inches, 11.3 inches, 14.1 inches, 16.7 inches, and
19.0 inches. Walleye anglers are subject to a 14-inch minimum
length on walleyes. A 2000 creel survey indicated that the best
months to fish for walleye are April and May, while the best months
to fish for crappie are October and May, and most catfish are
caught from May through July. Large shallow flats suffer from
intense summer boat traffic that limits productivity and increases
water turbidity.
Bass has all the right ingredients to make it an excellent crappie
lake. While crappie populations tend to cycle up and down,
Bass Lake is more consistent than most. Many crappie are caught
on summer nights fishing below a floating light, and many are
caught in the fall when crappie suspend in deep water.
Walleye and catfish come out of the depths and cruise shallows
at night looking for an easy meal. Shallow flats near deeper
water are great locations for nighttime walleye fishing. Because
of the large areas of shallow water, this is one of the earliest
lakes in the area to warm in spring, providing action soon after
ice-out.
The expansive flat covering most of the south end of the lake
(SPOT 1) is a good crappie area. Crappie congregate in
spring, hugging up against available cover. Fish weeds with a
jig tipped with a small minnow suspended from 10-20 inches
below a bobber. Keep moving and pitch to weeds or drift until
you find a concentration of fish; then stop and cover the area
more thoroughly.
(SPOT 2) is one of those shallow flats near deep water
where walleye forage at night. Cast a jig and minnow or twitch
a Rapala or Rattlin’ Rogue. The north side of the point at
(SPOT 3) spills off into deeper water with some large rock
that attracts walleye. A bottom bouncer and spinner with a
nightcrawler is a good choice day or night. You’ll catch catfish
here, too.
Cranberry Point and the adjacent hump (SPOT 4) is a
classic walleye spot, and it’s especially good when wind is
blowing from the north. A Lindy rig and minnow or crawler is a
good choice for a search technique. When you find a pod of fish,
grab a jig and hover over the fish with a jig and minnow; fish it
with a vertical presentation.
The flat and steep drop-off at (SPOT 5) provides action
for walleye, white bass and catfish. Catfish and walleye cruise
shallows at night, and walleye will be found on the drop-off
during the day. White bass school in this area and calm summer
days can provide good surface action. There is shore fishing
access along the State Park here, and some catfish can be
caught at night fishing from shore.
The shoreline in (SPOT 6) is crappie spawning
habitat and you’ll find them here from April through May.
(SPOT 7) is a deep hole that’s one of the most
consistent ice-fishing spots on the lake. Look for suspended
crappie in winter. While (SPOT 6) is a prime location for
spawning crappie, it’s also a solid transitional location, too.
As they complete the spawn, they’ll drop back into deeper water.
Look for crappie to hold somewhere between (SPOT 6)
and (SPOT 7). Larger crappie can be difficult to catch once
they move deep, but they can be coaxed into biting. Many
anglers don’t have the option of fishing at night, so deep-water
action is the way to go. Use a slip bobber to get your minnow,
leech, or waxworm down to them. The advantage of a slip bobber
is the ability to adjust to the depth after you’ve located fish using
a depth finder.
Walleye fishing fans need to break out planer boards and
start trolling. Although the night bite is usually the way to go
during the heat of summer or later in fall, there are many
walleye available to catch in daylight hours. After the fish are
done spawning, look for them suspended over deep water.
Use your depth finder to locate fish and then set your planer
boards out. Use either a spinner rig with a crawler or crankbaits
like a Shad Rap, Grappler Shad or Dave’s Shiner. Any of these
offerings will work—just keep an eye on the depths you catch
your fish and try to stay in similar depths. Also, if there is a lot of
traffic while you’re out, planer boards can get pretty tricky to use.
Consider trolling out the back of your boat as a reasonable
back-up plan.
Sportsman's Connection is a leading publisher of lake maps and fishing
information, covering 12 states and over 4,700 lakes (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com) with
more on the way. Two newly revised Indiana books, lake
map downloads, lake map software are available at
www.scmaps.com
Bass Lake, Starke County (http://sportsmansconnection.com/lakeinfo/12486-Bass/)
Nearest town: Knox
Surface area: 1,345 acres
Maximum depth: 30 feet
Average depth: 3.5 feet
Secchi disc: 2.0 feet
Shoreline demographics: 90% developed; 10% wetland
Shoreline fishing: Good
Accessibility: State-owned public access, with limited parking, on southwest shore; shore-fishing at State Park
Motors: Inboard / outboard motors allowed
Accommodations: Park, camping, picnicking
Park office: Tippecanoe River State Park, 4200N US 35, Winamac, IN 46996; (574) 946-3213
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/in/Bass.gif (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com)
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/in/Bass-Stocking.gif
FISHING INFORMATION: Bass Lake, Indiana’s third largest
natural lake, is home to good numbers of crappie, walleye and
channel catfish. Crappie, in particular, are highly sought-after fish
with good numbers of keepers and individuals up to 14 inches.
White bass are a secondary species. Small numbers of largemouth
bass and bluegill are present. Primary forage fish are quillback,
minnows and young perch.
Growth rates for most species are average. In an 18-year study,
it was found that the average length for walleye ages one through
five were 6.6 inches, 11.3 inches, 14.1 inches, 16.7 inches, and
19.0 inches. Walleye anglers are subject to a 14-inch minimum
length on walleyes. A 2000 creel survey indicated that the best
months to fish for walleye are April and May, while the best months
to fish for crappie are October and May, and most catfish are
caught from May through July. Large shallow flats suffer from
intense summer boat traffic that limits productivity and increases
water turbidity.
Bass has all the right ingredients to make it an excellent crappie
lake. While crappie populations tend to cycle up and down,
Bass Lake is more consistent than most. Many crappie are caught
on summer nights fishing below a floating light, and many are
caught in the fall when crappie suspend in deep water.
Walleye and catfish come out of the depths and cruise shallows
at night looking for an easy meal. Shallow flats near deeper
water are great locations for nighttime walleye fishing. Because
of the large areas of shallow water, this is one of the earliest
lakes in the area to warm in spring, providing action soon after
ice-out.
The expansive flat covering most of the south end of the lake
(SPOT 1) is a good crappie area. Crappie congregate in
spring, hugging up against available cover. Fish weeds with a
jig tipped with a small minnow suspended from 10-20 inches
below a bobber. Keep moving and pitch to weeds or drift until
you find a concentration of fish; then stop and cover the area
more thoroughly.
(SPOT 2) is one of those shallow flats near deep water
where walleye forage at night. Cast a jig and minnow or twitch
a Rapala or Rattlin’ Rogue. The north side of the point at
(SPOT 3) spills off into deeper water with some large rock
that attracts walleye. A bottom bouncer and spinner with a
nightcrawler is a good choice day or night. You’ll catch catfish
here, too.
Cranberry Point and the adjacent hump (SPOT 4) is a
classic walleye spot, and it’s especially good when wind is
blowing from the north. A Lindy rig and minnow or crawler is a
good choice for a search technique. When you find a pod of fish,
grab a jig and hover over the fish with a jig and minnow; fish it
with a vertical presentation.
The flat and steep drop-off at (SPOT 5) provides action
for walleye, white bass and catfish. Catfish and walleye cruise
shallows at night, and walleye will be found on the drop-off
during the day. White bass school in this area and calm summer
days can provide good surface action. There is shore fishing
access along the State Park here, and some catfish can be
caught at night fishing from shore.
The shoreline in (SPOT 6) is crappie spawning
habitat and you’ll find them here from April through May.
(SPOT 7) is a deep hole that’s one of the most
consistent ice-fishing spots on the lake. Look for suspended
crappie in winter. While (SPOT 6) is a prime location for
spawning crappie, it’s also a solid transitional location, too.
As they complete the spawn, they’ll drop back into deeper water.
Look for crappie to hold somewhere between (SPOT 6)
and (SPOT 7). Larger crappie can be difficult to catch once
they move deep, but they can be coaxed into biting. Many
anglers don’t have the option of fishing at night, so deep-water
action is the way to go. Use a slip bobber to get your minnow,
leech, or waxworm down to them. The advantage of a slip bobber
is the ability to adjust to the depth after you’ve located fish using
a depth finder.
Walleye fishing fans need to break out planer boards and
start trolling. Although the night bite is usually the way to go
during the heat of summer or later in fall, there are many
walleye available to catch in daylight hours. After the fish are
done spawning, look for them suspended over deep water.
Use your depth finder to locate fish and then set your planer
boards out. Use either a spinner rig with a crawler or crankbaits
like a Shad Rap, Grappler Shad or Dave’s Shiner. Any of these
offerings will work—just keep an eye on the depths you catch
your fish and try to stay in similar depths. Also, if there is a lot of
traffic while you’re out, planer boards can get pretty tricky to use.
Consider trolling out the back of your boat as a reasonable
back-up plan.
Sportsman's Connection is a leading publisher of lake maps and fishing
information, covering 12 states and over 4,700 lakes (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com) with
more on the way. Two newly revised Indiana books, lake
map downloads, lake map software are available at
www.scmaps.com