Shipshewana Lake Fishing
An Indiana lake in LaGrange County, 222 acres (NHD outline area).
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First Indiana notes on Shipshewana Lake
A lake of 222 acres (NHD outline area), Shipshewana Lake belongs to LaGrange County. The handiest town is Middlebury, some 5 miles off.
The DNR access layer for it holds 2 boat ramps. The DNR stocking dashboard holds 2 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 Shipshewana Lake on its map
- Location (DNR)One mile west of Shipshewana on CR 250N, then 0.5 mile north on CR 900W
- Owner (DNR)DNR DFW, State
- DNR districtDNR fisheries district 2
- Public freshwater lakeon the Indiana list of public freshwater lakes
Nothing in this list for Shipshewana 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 Shipshewana Lake
The DNR named these fish for Shipshewana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipshewana Lake West boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded | Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area |
| Shipshewana Lake boat ramp | boat ramp | concrete ramp, ADA access, no fee recorded | Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area |
Backup launches when the Shipshewana Lake lot fills
- Cass Lake boat rampCass Lake, 2 miles west
- Stone Lake boat ramp (east)Stone Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Scott PFA boat ramp on Pigeon RiverPigeon River, 5 miles northeast
- Emma Lake boat rampEmma Lake, 6 miles southeast
- Fish Lake boat ramp (west)Fish Lake, 8 miles south
- Bristol boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), 11 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 Shipshewana Lake
The DNR offers 2 contour maps covering Shipshewana Lake.
Indiana DNR lake depth maps (PDF bathymetry by lake), read November 5, 2026.
What the DNR put into Shipshewana Lake
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | September | Northern Pike | 1,000 | 8.7 |
| 1985 | Multiple | Northern Pike | 496 | 10.55 |
At Shipshewana 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 Shipshewana 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 Shipshewana 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.
Shipshewana Lake measured against the lakes beside it
The roomiest neighbour of Shipshewana Lake is Stone Lake (LaGrange County), at 115 acres (NHD outline area).
| Lake | Distance | Size | DNR ramps | Stocking rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipshewana Lake | this lake | 222 acres (NHD outline area) | 2 | 2 |
| Cass Lake | 2 miles west | 107 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Hunter Lake | 4 miles northwest | 99 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Brokesha Lake | 4 miles northwest | 31 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Stone Lake (LaGrange County) | 5 miles northwest | 115 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Emma Lake | 7 miles southeast | 41 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 2 |
Indiana DNR lake layer, NHD outline areas, DNR Fishing Access Sites and stocking dashboard; read November 5, 2026.
Near Shipshewana Lake
Nearby water to fish after Shipshewana Lake
- Cass Lake2 miles west
- Hunter Lake4 miles northwest
- Brokesha Lake4 miles northwest
- Stone Lake (LaGrange County)5 miles northwest
- Emma Lake7 miles southeast
Hoosier tackle stops handy to Shipshewana Lake
- Tackle Shackbait and tackle shop, Middlebury, 5 miles
- Yoder Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Shipshewana, 6 miles
- JR's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Topeka, 7 miles
- Hochstetler Furniture Shop & Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Topeka, 9 miles
- Allstar Custom Baitsbait and tackle shop, Topeka, 10 miles
- Jones Lake Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Rome City, 16 miles
Home bases for anglers fishing Shipshewana Lake
- Middlebury5 miles
- Lagrange10 miles
- Topeka11 miles
Shipshewana Lake, broken out by Indiana county
- LaGrange Countyseat: LaGrange
Piscifun reels to toss in the boat for Shipshewana Lake
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Things Indiana anglers ask about Shipshewana Lake
What county seat is near Shipshewana Lake?
One mile west of Shipshewana on CR 250N, then 0.5 mile north on CR 900W. Search LaGrange County, about 5 miles from Middlebury.
What acreage goes with Shipshewana Lake?
Its outline measures 222 acres (NHD outline area).
Does Shipshewana Lake have a boat launch?
Use Shipshewana Lake West boat ramp or another of 2 boat ramps.
Are there bass in Shipshewana Lake?
The DNR fish list starts with bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike.
What is the bass limit on Shipshewana Lake?
The statewide lake row reads: 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, size 14 inches.
Does a Hoosier fishing license cover Shipshewana 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 Shipshewana Lake?
The DNR lists no pier or shore site here.
Where do Hoosiers fishing Shipshewana Lake stock up on hooks?
Tackle Shack, about 5 miles away, is first on our list.
How often is Shipshewana Lake stocked?
The latest dashboard row: 1,000 Northern Pike, 8.7 in average (September 1987).
Set an early alarm for Shipshewana Lake
Indiana fees and limits sit on one page.