Schaefer Lake Fishing in Bartholomew County, Indiana

• Overview

  Look for Schaefer Lake in Bartholomew County, Indiana. The setting is rolling hill on every side. Roughly 87 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Roughly 2.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It ranks high for size among our Bartholomew County listings. The nearest place of any size is Hope, 1.9 miles away. For a city, Indianapolis is 40 miles off. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Schaefer Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. County-wide records name longear sunfish, orangethroat darter and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Schaefer Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 75°F for July and 27°F for January. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Expect Schaefer Lake to follow that timing. Warm rain lifts activity; cold rain flattens it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Schultz Lake, 2.4 miles out. For Schaefer Lake in particular, ask before you travel.