Finster Lakes in Noble County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Finster Lakes falls in Noble County, part of Indiana. The surface lies 922 feet up. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Albion, is 4.9 miles away. Then Avilla, 7 miles, and Tri-Lakes, 7.5 miles. In the same area: Dock Lake at 0.3 miles, Bowen Lake within 0.4 miles, Krieger Lake at 0.6 miles, Long Lake within 0.6 miles and Sucker Lake at 0.9 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Finster Lakes

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, warmouth, pumpkinseed and logperch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Finster Lakes the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 72°F for July and 22°F for January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late March. Average temperatures cross freezing around late March in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Expect Finster Lakes to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Dock Lake, 0.3 miles out. The position on Finster Lakes is worth confirming on the day.