Koontz Lake Fishing
DNR-listed lake water in Marshall and Starke counties, 340 acres (NHD outline area).
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What an Indiana angler should know about Koontz Lake
Marshall and Starke counties holds Koontz Lake, a lake measured at 340 acres (NHD outline area). Its deepest sounding on the 2010 DNR survey was 30 feet. From the DNR point it is roughly 4 miles to Walkerton.
Trailer boaters get 1 boat ramp on the DNR access map. The dashboard names it in 10 stocking rows.
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. Indiana DNR Status & Trends lake survey points (2010 survey), read November 5, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Where Koontz Lake sits, by the DNR layer
- Owner (DNR)DNR DFW, State
- DNR districtDNR fisheries district 1
- Public freshwater lakeon the Indiana list of public freshwater lakes
For Koontz Lake, the rows come straight from DNR map attributes.
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
What swims in Koontz Lake, per the DNR
For Koontz Lake, these names come from DNR layers and tables only.
Clarity, plants and fish counts at Koontz Lake
One 2010 visit to Koontz Lake gave the DNR these numbers.
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. Indiana DNR Status & Trends lake survey points (2010 survey), read November 5, 2026.
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| Site | Type | Recorded attributes | Managed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koontz Lake boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded | Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area |
Launches worth knowing near Koontz Lake
- Flat Lake boat rampFlat Lake, 6 miles south
- Kingsbury F&W Area on Kankakee RiverKankakee River, 8 miles northwest
- Mill Pond boat rampMill Pond, 9 miles southeast
- Tamarack Lake boat rampTamarack Lake, 9 miles northwest
- Dixon Lake boat rampDixon Lake, 9 miles southeast
- Cook Lake boat rampCook Lake, 10 miles southeast
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.
DNR bathymetry of Koontz Lake
DNR bathymetry for Koontz Lake: 3 contour maps.
Indiana DNR lake depth maps (PDF bathymetry by lake), read November 5, 2026.
Hatchery fish released into Koontz Lake
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | March | Largemouth Bass | 10,509 | 3.75 |
| 2019 | February | Largemouth Bass | 19,392 | 4.42 |
| 1971 | May | Northern Pike | 3,475 | |
| 1971 | April | Walleye | 500,000 | 0.25 |
| 1971 | Multiple | Largemouth Bass | 6,933 | 0.53 |
| 1970 | November | Black Crappie | 720 | 5.0 |
| 1970 | November | Bluegill | 4,600 | 1.74 |
| 1970 | November | Channel Catfish | 2,000 | |
| 1970 | November | Largemouth Bass | 5,000 | |
| 1970 | November | Redear Sunfish | 3,200 | 2.5 |
Year, month, species and count for Koontz Lake as the dashboard lists them.
Indiana DNR fish stocking dashboard (year, month, water, species, number and average length as listed; repeat stockings summed by DNR), read November 5, 2026.
How many fish leave Koontz Lake in your cooler
| 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) |
Unless the guide names Koontz Lake for a species, the statewide row decides.
- 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.
Sizing Koontz Lake against nearby Indiana lakes
Pretty Lake (Marshall County) tops this table next to Koontz Lake with 96 acres (NHD outline area).
| Lake | Distance | Size | DNR ramps | Stocking rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koontz Lake | this lake | 340 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 10 |
| Gilbert Lake | 6 miles south | 37 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Flat Lake | 6 miles south | 57 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 1 |
| Pretty Lake (Marshall County) | 8 miles southeast | 96 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Rupel Lake | 8 miles north | 25 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Tamarack Lake (LaPorte County) | 9 miles northwest | not printed | 1 | 0 |
Indiana DNR lake layer, NHD outline areas, DNR Fishing Access Sites and stocking dashboard; read November 5, 2026.
Down the state road from Koontz Lake
A second lake to try after Koontz Lake
- Gilbert Lake6 miles south
- Flat Lake6 miles south
- Pretty Lake (Marshall County)8 miles southeast
- Rupel Lake8 miles north
- Tamarack Lake (LaPorte County)9 miles northwest
Bait counters along the drive to Koontz Lake
- The Anglers Arsenalfly shop, Walkerton, 1 mile
- Jeff's PWC And Marinemarina, Culver, 13 miles
- Kelley's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeville, 13 miles
- Culver's Portside Marina, 514 W Mill Stmarina, Culver, 14 miles
- Hubers Marinemarina, Kingsbury, 14 miles
- Maxinkuckee Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Culver, 15 miles
Hiring a Hoosier guide for Koontz Lake
- Collegiate Bass Anglers Associatescharter, Plymouth, (574) 936-3458
Beds and diners within reach of Koontz Lake
- Walkerton4 miles
- North Liberty9 miles
- Plymouth9 miles
Each county touching Koontz Lake, linked
- Marshall Countyseat: Plymouth
- Starke Countyseat: Knox
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to Koontz Lake
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Lakes and stream bends close to Koontz Lake, in pictures
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Steve Shook, CC BY 2.0
Koontz Lake, one question at a time
What part of Indiana holds Koontz Lake?
Aim for Marshall and Starke counties, about 4 miles from Walkerton.
What surface area goes with Koontz Lake on the Indiana map?
It covers 340 acres (NHD outline area); the 2010 DNR survey found 30 feet at the deepest point.
Is there a public ramp at Koontz Lake?
A single DNR launch serves it, Koontz Lake boat ramp.
What fish live in Koontz Lake?
Expect bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and channel catfish, by DNR records.
Do I need to measure bass at Koontz Lake?
The statewide lake row reads: 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, size 14 inches.
Which permit do I carry at Koontz Lake?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Anglers under 18 need none.
Is there walk-in shoreline along Koontz Lake?
The DNR has no shore site on file for it.
Where do I get minnows for Koontz Lake?
Head to The Anglers Arsenal, about 1 mile away,.
Which fish has the DNR released into Koontz Lake?
The latest dashboard row: 10,509 Largemouth Bass, 3.75 in average (March 2020).
Point the truck toward Koontz Lake
Know what goes in the cooler before launching.