Goose Lake Fishing in Whitley County, Indiana

• Overview

  Goose Lake is a Whitley County water, in Indiana. The surface lies 902 feet up. At about 85 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 1.5 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Tri-Lakes lies 5.7 miles from the water. Columbia City follows at 6.5 miles, then Pierceton at 8.4 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Whitley County: bluegill, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish and warmouth. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Goose Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and late December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Goose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Troy Cedar Lake, 1.3 miles out. Nothing on Goose Lake should be assumed from this page alone.