Catfish Lake Fishing Guide, Whitley County, Indiana

• Overview

  The Whitley County end of Indiana holds Catfish Lake. This is rolling bush ground. This is a pocket water of some 5 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Whitley County. Tri-Lakes is the closest town at 1.2 miles. The nearest city of size is Fort Wayne, 19 miles away. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Catfish Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Whitley County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and redear sunfish among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Catfish Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 72°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at late December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Catfish Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This sits inside Crooked Lake Nature Preserve, so read the reserve notices first. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Little Crooked Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Catfish Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.