Swede Lake, Indiana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Swede Lake in LaPorte County, Indiana. The ground around here is lake country bush. It measures about 43 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Around 1.1 miles of margin, front to back. Otis lies 4.2 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is South Bend, 30 miles away. Within a short drive: Walton Lake 2.1 miles off, Round Lake 2.5 miles, Orr Lake 2.8 miles off, Spychalskis Pond 3 miles and Crane Lake 3.3 miles off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Swede Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for LaPorte County list shortnose cisco, alewife, rainbow smelt and rainbow trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Swede Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. Break-up sits around late March on average, with the water closing again about late December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Swede Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Walton Lake, 2.1 miles away. Confirm access to Swede Lake locally before you travel.