Fishing at Pinhook Lake, Saint Joseph County, Indiana

• Overview

  Pinhook Lake lies in Saint Joseph County, in Indiana. The ground around here is lake country bush. At about 32 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Notre Dame at 2.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Then South Bend, 2.4 miles, and Georgetown, 2.7 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Pinhook Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Saint Joseph County, recorded fish include bluegill, johnny darter, rainbow darter, rock bass and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Take Pinhook Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 74°F, while January sits near 24°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid March. Climate averages put the opening at about mid March and the closing near late December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Pinhook Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. You can leave the car about 140 yards from the water. Mapping shows a jetty some 100 yards off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Saint Marys Lake, 1.7 miles away. For Pinhook Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.