Fishing at Barel-and-a-Half Lake, Kosciusko County, Indiana

• Overview

  Set in Kosciusko County, Barel-and-a-Half Lake is an Indiana water. The surroundings are pine and birch. North Webster is the closest town at 2.2 miles. After that come Syracuse at 6.6 miles and Ligonier at 9.1 miles. Also on the doorstep: Spear Lake near enough 0.4 miles, 0.5 miles out stands Rothenbeger Lake, Long Lake near enough 0.6 miles, 0.6 miles out stands Allen Lake and Wyland Lake near enough 0.7 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Barel-and-a-Half Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Kosciusko County records list bluegill, yellow perch, largemouth bass, logperch and longear sunfish among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Barel-and-a-Half Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 72°F for July and 23°F for January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about late December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. At Barel-and-a-Half Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. A recognised fishing place sits half a mile away. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Spear Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Barel-and-a-Half Lake before loading the car.