Mac Joy Lake Fishing in Lake County, Indiana

• Overview

  Lake County, Indiana, is where Mac Joy Lake sits. It stands 630 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 21 acres — small enough to read in one session. 2.7 miles away sits New Chicago, the nearest town. For a city, Chicago is 28 miles off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking. The character changes with the season more than with the year.

• Where to Fish on Mac Joy Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Lake County: gizzard shad, common carp and alewife. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Mac Joy Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 23°F in January up to 74°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and late December closes it again. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Mac Joy Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Ivory Wetlands covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. For the carp, bait a margin spot and sit on it; corn and bread still work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Robinson Lake, 0.6 miles away. Ask locally about Mac Joy Lake if anything is unclear.