Fishing at Goose Pond, Elkhart County, Indiana

• Overview

  You will find Goose Pond in Elkhart County, Indiana. It lies 823 feet above sea level. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Elkhart County standards. For supplies, Bristol is 2.4 miles out. The big place round here is South Bend, 24 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Goose Pond

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Elkhart County include rock bass, bluegill, johnny darter and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Goose Pond decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 72°F; the cold one sits at 23°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running late March to late December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Goose Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Dock Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat Goose Pond as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.