Fishing at South Chain Lake, Saint Joseph County, Indiana

• Overview

  South Chain Lake is one of the Saint Joseph County listings for Indiana. It stands 709 feet above sea level. With some 95 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 2.4 miles on foot. On our Saint Joseph County list it sits near the top for size. Start from South Bend, 6.2 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is South Bend, 6.2 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on South Chain Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Saint Joseph County records list bluegill, johnny darter and rainbow darter among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. South Chain Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 73°F, while January sits near 23°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around mid March, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, mid March opens the water and late December closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It sets the rhythm of the year at South Chain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, North Chain Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at South Chain Lake before loading the car.