Lake James Fishing
A lake in Steuben County, 1,884 acres (NHD outline area).
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Lake James, the Hoosier rundown
The lake called Lake James spreads over 1,884 acres (NHD outline area) in Steuben County. Angola is the closest Census place, about 4 miles from the DNR map point.
Access, species and Indiana limits are laid out further down.
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.
Ownership, district and directions for Lake James
- Owner (DNR)State
- DNR districtDNR fisheries district 2
- Public freshwater lakeon the Indiana list of public freshwater lakes
These lines are copied from the DNR records kept on Lake James.
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.
DNR-mapped launches on Lake James
The DNR access layer shows no launch on Lake James, so look at the neighbours below.
Ramps one cove over from Lake James
- Jimmerson Lake boat rampJimmerson Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Little Otter (Use Big Otter Ramp)Little Otter Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Crooked Lake boat ramp (north)Crooked Lake, 2 miles south
- Big Otter Lake boat rampBig Otter Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Marsh Lake boat rampMarsh Lake, 3 miles northeast
- Loon Lake boat ramp (north)Loon Lake, 3 miles south
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.
Creel and length limits at Lake James
| 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) |
The 2026-2027 statewide rows are the default for Lake James.
- 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.
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Every sourced event on Lake James sits on its tournament page.
Lake James among nearby lakes
On size, Crooked Lake (Steuben County) leads the lakes near Lake James at 801 acres (NHD outline area).
| Lake | Distance | Size | DNR ramps | Stocking rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake James | this lake | 1,884 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Jimmerson Lake | 1 mile northwest | not printed | 1 | 2 |
| Little Otter Lake | 2 miles northeast | 33 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Failing Lake | 2 miles east | 24 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Big Otter Lake | 2 miles northeast | 70 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Crooked Lake (Steuben County) | 2 miles southwest | 801 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
Indiana DNR lake layer, NHD outline areas, DNR Fishing Access Sites and stocking dashboard; read November 5, 2026.
A few Hoosier miles off Lake James
Other lakes a state-road drive from Lake James
- Jimmerson Lake1 mile northwest
- Little Otter Lake2 miles northeast
- Failing Lake2 miles east
- Big Otter Lake2 miles northeast
- Crooked Lake (Steuben County)2 miles southwest
Topping off the minnow bucket near Lake James
- Corner Landingbait and tackle shop, Angola, under a mile
- Clausen's Boat Housemarina, Angola, 2 miles
- Marina Giftsmarina, Angola, 2 miles
- The Complete Fishermanbait and tackle shop, Fremont, 2 miles
- Tri-State Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Fremont, 2 miles
- Diamond Marine Servicesmarina, Angola, 2 miles
Indiana guides who fish Lake James
- Monsters on the Maumee, LLCfishing guide, (419) 966-1120
Towns with a motel near Lake James
- Angola4 miles
- Fremont6 miles
- Ashley13 miles
Indiana counties along Lake James
- Steuben Countyseat: Angola
Piscifun tackle for the next run to Lake James
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Fish to know on sight at Lake James
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Plain answers about Lake James
How do I find Lake James on a map of Indiana?
Its county on the DNR layer is Steuben County, about 4 miles from Angola.
How many acres does the mapped outline of Lake James hold?
Size on record: 1,884 acres (NHD outline area).
Where does a trailer boat get onto Lake James from a DNR site?
Nearest mapped ramp: Jimmerson Lake boat ramp, 2 miles.
What swims in Lake James?
No DNR species list exists for it.
What bass may go home from Lake James?
The statewide lake row reads: 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, size 14 inches.
What will an Indiana license run me for Lake James?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents). Those younger than 18 are exempt.
Which DNR shore sites line Lake James?
No pier is recorded here.
What tackle store is closest on the drive to Lake James?
Corner Landing, under a mile away, heads the shop list.
Rig the rods for Lake James
Every 2026 fee and limit is one click away.