Fishing at Failing Lake, Steuben County, Indiana

• Overview

  Indiana holds Failing Lake, in Steuben County. Everything around it is mixed forest. It covers about 24 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by Indiana standards. The closest town, Fremont, is 3.9 miles away. For a city, Fort Wayne is 40 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Failing Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name bluegill, yellow perch and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Failing Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 22°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near late March, and forms again about mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Failing Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. The water borders Trine State Recreation Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Lake Charles East, 0.5 miles away. Confirm before you fish Failing Lake.