Parker Lake Fishing near Martinsville, Indiana

• Overview

  Out in Morgan County, Indiana, sits Parker Lake. The surface lies 719 feet up. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Martinsville lies 6 miles from the water. Further out sit Trafalgar (9.8 miles) and Brooklyn (11 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive. The approach is plain, and a car park is not always part of it.

• Where to Fish on Parker Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Survey and observation records for Morgan County include orangethroat darter, longear sunfish, rainbow darter, greenside darter and white sucker. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Fish Parker Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 74°F and January near 27°F on the long-run figures. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It holds true on Parker Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Painted Hills Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Parker Lake locally before you travel.