Crane Lake near La Porte: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Crane Lake lies in LaPorte County, Indiana. The ground round it is pine and birch. Roughly 70 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. For a base, La Porte sits 2.7 miles out. South Bend is the closest city, 27 miles away. Within easy reach: 0.5 miles away is Orr Lake, Pine Lake within 0.8 miles, 1.1 miles away is Stone Lake, Lily Lake within 1.7 miles and 2.1 miles away is Fishtrap Lake. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Crane Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in LaPorte County include shortnose cisco, alewife, rainbow smelt, rainbow trout and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Crane Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about late December in a typical year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Crane Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Orr Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. For Crane Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.