Bruce Lake Fishing
An Indiana lake in Fulton and Pulaski counties, 247 acres (NHD outline area).
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First Indiana notes on Bruce Lake
A lake of 247 acres (NHD outline area), Bruce Lake belongs to Fulton and Pulaski counties. The handiest town is Winamac, some 8 miles off.
The DNR access layer for it holds 1 boat ramp. The DNR stocking dashboard holds 30 stocking rows for it.
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset via IndianaMap), not a DNR survey figure. Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026. Census 2023 places.
How the DNR lists Bruce Lake on its map
- Owner (DNR)DNR DFW, State
- DNR districtDNR fisheries district 1
- Public freshwater lakeon the Indiana list of public freshwater lakes
Nothing in this list for Bruce Lake is our wording; it is the DNR attribute text.
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
The fish the DNR records for Bruce Lake
The DNR named these fish for Bruce Lake on its lake layer, access sites, stocking dashboard or record list.
Indiana DNR lake layer and Fishing Access Sites species fields, Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026; Indiana DNR Indiana Record Fish Program list (keeper: Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife (Indiana Record Fish Program); angler names left off here), read November 5, 2026.
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| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Lake boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Division of Fish & Wildlife, Public Access North/ Bruce Lake Association |
Backup launches when the Bruce Lake lot fills
- Aubbeenaubbee Public Access Site on Tippecanoe RiverTippecanoe River, 5 miles northeast
- Haschell Bridge boat ramp on Tippecanoe RiverTippecanoe River, 5 miles west
- Monterey Town Park on Tippecanoe RiverTippecanoe River, 6 miles north
- Tippecanoe River – TSRP Otter Bend boat rampTippecanoe River, 6 miles west
- Hartz Lake boat rampHartz Lake, 7 miles north
- Winamac City Park on Tippecanoe RiverTippecanoe River, 7 miles west
Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites layer (shown on the DNR Where to Fish map; attributes as recorded, blank where not recorded), read November 5, 2026.
Contour maps the DNR published for Bruce Lake
The DNR offers 2 contour maps covering Bruce Lake.
Indiana DNR lake depth maps (PDF bathymetry by lake), read November 5, 2026.
What the DNR put into Bruce Lake
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November | Muskie | 980 | 10.56 |
| 2024 | November | Muskie | 245 | 11.64 |
| 2023 | November | Muskie | 490 | 10.61 |
| 2022 | October | Muskie | 980 | 8.57 |
| 2021 | November | Muskie | 490 | 9.73 |
| 2019 | November | Muskie | 495 | 9.83 |
| 2018 | November | Muskie | 490 | 8.82 |
| 2017 | October | Channel Catfish | 3,280 | 10.0 |
| 2017 | October | Muskie | 490 | 10.2 |
| 2016 | October | Muskie | 1,225 | 9.28 |
| 2015 | October | Muskie | 1,225 | 9.65 |
| 2014 | October | Muskie | 1,225 | 8.98 |
At Bruce Lake these are the DNR hatchery releases on file.
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
What can go home from Bruce Lake
| Species as printed | Daily limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Redear Sunfish | 25 | no size limit |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in lakes) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in rivers and streams) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | No fish 12 to 15 inches may be kept, and no more than two fish over 15 inches may be kept |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in Lake Michigan) | 3, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Yellow Bass | Unlimited | no size limit |
| White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass | 12, any combination of white bass or hybrid striped bass | No more than two fish may exceed 17 inches |
| Striped Bass | 2 | no size limit |
| Rock Bass | 25 | no size limit |
| Crappie | 25 | no size limit |
| Walleye, Walleye-Sauger Hybrid (Saugeye), Sauger | 6, any combination of walleye, walleye-sauger hybrid, and sauger | For walleye: 14 inches south of SR 26; 16 inches north of SR 26 For sauger and saugeye: No size limit |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 1 muskellunge or 1 tiger muskellunge | 36 inches |
| Northern Pike | 3 | 24 inches; no more than one 30 inches or longer |
| Yellow Perch | Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan) | no size limit |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in rivers and streams) | Unlimited | 13 inches; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in lakes) | 10 | None; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Bullhead | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Unlimited | 25 inches (fork length) |
Indiana statewide rows rule Bruce Lake wherever its own guide entry is silent.
- Walleye size lineWalleye taken from all public waters (lakes, rivers, and streams) south of State Road 26 must be 14 inches or longer. Walleye taken north of State Road 26 must be 16 inches in length or longer, except for: Bass Lake (Starke County) and Wolf Lake (Lake County); minimum size 14 inches Lake George (Steuben County); minimum size 15 inches Wall Lake (LaGrange County); minimum size 16 inches with a daily bag limit of two walleye There is no minimum size requirement for saugeye on all state waters, except for Huntingburg Lake (Dubois County), Glenn Flint Lake (Putnam County), and Sullivan Lake …
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026. Indiana DNR license fees (license year April 1 to March 31), read November 5, 2026.
Bruce Lake measured against the lakes beside it
The roomiest neighbour of Bruce Lake is Lake Maxinkuckee, at 1,910 acres (NHD outline area).
| Lake | Distance | Size | DNR ramps | Stocking rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Lake | this lake | 247 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 30 |
| Langenbaum Lake | 7 miles north | 44 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 1 |
| Hartz Lake | 7 miles north | 28 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 9 |
| Lake Maxinkuckee | 9 miles north | 1,910 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 45 |
| Bass Lake (Starke County) | 12 miles northwest | not printed | 1 | 0 |
| Fletcher Lake | 13 miles southeast | 44 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
Indiana DNR lake layer, NHD outline areas, DNR Fishing Access Sites and stocking dashboard; read November 5, 2026.
Near Bruce Lake
Nearby water to fish after Bruce Lake
- Langenbaum Lake7 miles north
- Hartz Lake7 miles north
- Lake Maxinkuckee9 miles north
- Bass Lake (Starke County)12 miles northwest
- Fletcher Lake13 miles southeast
Hoosier tackle stops handy to Bruce Lake
- Culver's Portside Marina, 514 W Mill Stmarina, Culver, 10 miles
- Maxinkuckee Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Culver, 11 miles
- Jeff's PWC And Marinemarina, Culver, 11 miles
- Bass Lake Marina Incmarina, Knox, 12 miles
- Butch' Baitbait and tackle shop, Knox, 13 miles
- Culver's Portside Marina, 1430 E 9th Stmarina, Rochester, 14 miles
Booking an Indiana guide for Bruce Lake
- Musky Psycho Guide Servicefishing guide, (708) 259-9809
Home bases for anglers fishing Bruce Lake
- Winamac7 miles
- Culver10 miles
- Rochester14 miles
Bruce Lake, broken out by Indiana county
- Fulton Countyseat: Rochester
- Pulaski Countyseat: Winamac
Piscifun reels to toss in the boat for Bruce Lake
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Hoosier lakes and creeks near Bruce Lake, on camera
Photo: Jim Hammer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jim Hammer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Steve Shook, CC BY 2.0
Things Indiana anglers ask about Bruce Lake
What county seat is near Bruce Lake?
Search Fulton and Pulaski counties, about 8 miles from Winamac.
What acreage goes with Bruce Lake?
Its outline measures 247 acres (NHD outline area).
Does Bruce Lake have a boat launch?
Only Bruce Lake boat ramp appears on the DNR layer.
Are there bass in Bruce Lake?
The DNR fish list starts with bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass and northern pike.
What is the bass limit on Bruce Lake?
The statewide lake row reads: 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, size 14 inches.
Does a Hoosier fishing license cover Bruce Lake?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Kids under 18 fish without one.
Where do Hoosier bank casters set up at Bruce Lake?
The DNR lists no pier or shore site here.
Where do Hoosiers fishing Bruce Lake stock up on hooks?
Culver's Portside Marina, about 10 miles away, is first on our list.
How often is Bruce Lake stocked?
The latest dashboard row: 980 Muskie, 10.56 in average (November 2025).
Set an early alarm for Bruce Lake
Indiana fees and limits sit on one page.