Stockton Lake in Morgan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Morgan County, Indiana, sits Stockton Lake. The ground round it is farm and woodlot. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. 6.9 miles away sits Martinsville, the nearest town. Indianapolis is the closest city, 30 miles away. Close by you have: Hungry Acres Lake 2.1 miles away, Kelly Lake out at 2.5 miles, Bear Lake 2.6 miles away, Parker Lake out at 2.9 miles and Painted Hills Lake 2.9 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Stockton Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Morgan County, recorded fish include orangethroat darter, longear sunfish, rainbow darter, greenside darter and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Stockton Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 74°F; the cold one sits at 27°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. The season on Stockton Lake follows the weather closely. Warm rain lifts activity; cold rain flattens it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Hungry Acres Lake at 2.1 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Stockton Lake may have changed since it was mapped.