Fishing at Lake Charles East, Steuben County, Indiana

• Overview

  Within Steuben County, Indiana, you have Lake Charles East. It sits at 1,024 feet above sea level. At roughly 22 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Indiana listings. Nearest place of any size is Fremont, 4.3 miles away. Angola follows at 4.5 miles, then Hamilton at 12 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Charles East

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Reported across Steuben County: bluegill, yellow perch and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lake Charles East the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. In an average year the thaw lands around late March and the freeze near mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Lake Charles East rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. The water borders Trine State Recreation Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lake Charles West, 0.4 miles out. Rules at Lake Charles East are worth checking on the day.