Bartley Lake in Noble County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Indiana holds Bartley Lake, in Noble County. The water sits 876 feet up. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 1.0 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Nearest place of any size is Albion, 3.2 miles away. It is 22 miles to Fort Wayne, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Bartley Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Noble County include bluegill, largemouth bass and warmouth. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Bartley Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 72°F in July and bottom out at 22°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. From about late March to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bartley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Kuhns Lake at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Bartley Lake are worth checking on the day.