Fishing at Appleman Lake, LaGrange County, Indiana

• Overview

  The LaGrange County entry here is Appleman Lake, in Indiana. The country here is pine and birch. The water covers some 83 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It sits higher than most water we list in Indiana. Start from Wolcottville, 10 miles down the road. It is 34 miles to Fort Wayne, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Appleman Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for LaGrange County names bluegill, rainbow darter and johnny darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Appleman Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 72°F on average, January about 22°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about late March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Appleman Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Green Lake at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Appleman Lake.