Sechrist Lake in Kosciusko County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sechrist Lake stands in Kosciusko County, Indiana. The setting is rolling bush. With some 105 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The nearest town is North Webster, 2.3 miles away. Pierceton lies 6.6 miles off, Winona Lake another 7.2 miles. Within easy reach: Little Barbee Lake at 0.4 miles, Irish Lake just 0.9 miles, Heron Lake at 1 mile, Big Barbee Lake just 1.1 miles and Banning Lake at 1.2 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Sechrist Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Kosciusko County include bluegill, yellow perch, largemouth bass, logperch and longear sunfish. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Sechrist Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 23°F to 72°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. The lid tends to go about late March and return around late December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Sechrist Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Little Barbee Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Sechrist Lake carry more weight than any list.