Lily Lake, Indiana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within LaPorte County, Indiana, you have Lily Lake. Land around it is lake country bush. Roughly 32 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Nearest place of any size is La Porte, 1 mile away. Beyond it, Trail Creek at 8.8 miles and Otis at 9 miles. Within easy reach: Stone Lake about 0.7 miles, Clear Lake at about 0.7 miles, Pine Lake about 1.1 miles, Lower Lake at about 1.2 miles and Fishtrap Lake about 1.4 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. LaPorte County records list shortnose cisco, alewife and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Lily Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 73°F; by January the average is down near 23°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly late December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lily Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Stone Lake, 0.7 miles out. Treat access at Lily Lake as something to verify.