Pleasant Lake Fishing in Steuben County, Indiana

• Overview

  Pleasant Lake is one of the Steuben County waters in Indiana. What surrounds it is pine and birch. Roughly 53 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 1.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is high ground by Indiana standards. For a base, Angola sits 4.3 miles out. Hamilton is 5.8 miles and Waterloo 9.7 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Pleasant Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Steuben County: bluegill, yellow perch and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Pleasant Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 22°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about late March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Pleasant Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Meserve Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Pleasant Lake for certain.