Worster Lake Fishing
An Indiana lake in St. Joseph County, 337 acres (NHD outline area).
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First Indiana notes on Worster Lake
A lake of 337 acres (NHD outline area), Worster Lake belongs to St. Joseph County. The handiest town is North Liberty, some 4 miles off.
The DNR access layer for it holds 2 boat ramps. The DNR stocking dashboard holds 49 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 Worster Lake on its map
- Owner (DNR)State
- DNR districtDNR fisheries district 2
Nothing in this list for Worster 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 Worster Lake
The DNR named these fish for Worster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worster Lake East Boat Launch | boat ramp | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req, Electric only | Potato Creek State Park |
| Worster Lake West Boat Launch | boat ramp | concrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee & Lake Permit Req, Electric only | Potato Creek State Park |
Backup launches when the Worster Lake lot fills
- Pleasant Lake boat rampPleasant Lake, 5 miles southeast
- South Chain boat rampSouth Chain (Szmanda) Lake, 10 miles north
- Upper/Lower Fish Lake boat rampUpper/Lower Fish Lake, 10 miles west
- Veteran's Memorial Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), 10 miles northeast
- Lentz Landing on North Chain LakeNorth Chain Lake, 10 miles north
- Leeper Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), 11 miles northeast
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 Worster Lake
The DNR offers 1 contour map covering Worster Lake.
Indiana DNR lake depth maps (PDF bathymetry by lake), read November 5, 2026.
What the DNR put into Worster Lake
| Year | Month | Species as listed | Number | Avg length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.49 |
| 2024 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.33 |
| 2023 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.07 |
| 2022 | August | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.12 |
| 2021 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.07 |
| 2020 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.6 |
| 2019 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.89 |
| 2018 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.24 |
| 2017 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 0.87 |
| 2016 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.4 |
| 2015 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.5 |
| 2014 | June | Hybrid Striped Bass | 3,270 | 1.24 |
At Worster 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 Worster 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 Worster 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.
Tournaments on Worster Lake
Dates, launch ramps and printed weights for Worster Lake events have a page of their own.
Worster Lake measured against the lakes beside it
The roomiest neighbour of Worster Lake is Upper/Lower Fish Lake, at 267 acres (NHD outline area).
| Lake | Distance | Size | DNR ramps | Stocking rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worster Lake | this lake | 337 acres (NHD outline area) | 2 | 49 |
| Rupel Lake | 3 miles southwest | 25 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 0 |
| Pleasant Lake (St. Joseph County) | 5 miles southeast | 32 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Riddles Lake | 6 miles southeast | 78 acres (NHD outline area) | 0 | 21 |
| South Chain (Szmanda) Lake | 9 miles north | 95 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Upper/Lower Fish Lake | 10 miles west | 267 acres (NHD outline area) | 1 | 4 |
Indiana DNR lake layer, NHD outline areas, DNR Fishing Access Sites and stocking dashboard; read November 5, 2026.
Near Worster Lake
Nearby water to fish after Worster Lake
- Rupel Lake3 miles southwest
- Pleasant Lake (St. Joseph County)5 miles southeast
- Riddles Lake6 miles southeast
- South Chain (Szmanda) Lake9 miles north
- Upper/Lower Fish Lake10 miles west
Hoosier tackle stops handy to Worster Lake
- Kelley's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeville, 5 miles
- Stacy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, South Bend, 11 miles
- The Anglers Arsenalfly shop, Walkerton, 12 miles
- Starboard Choice Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 12 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 14 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 14 miles
Booking an Indiana guide for Worster Lake
- Sea King Charterscharter, Granger, (269) 208-5064
Home bases for anglers fishing Worster Lake
- North Liberty4 miles
- Walkerton9 miles
- South Bend10 miles
Worster Lake, broken out by Indiana county
- St. Joseph Countyseat: South Bend
Piscifun reels to toss in the boat for Worster Lake
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Hoosier lakes and creeks near Worster Lake, on camera
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Things Indiana anglers ask about Worster Lake
What county seat is near Worster Lake?
Search St. Joseph County, about 4 miles from North Liberty.
What acreage goes with Worster Lake?
Its outline measures 337 acres (NHD outline area).
Does Worster Lake have a boat launch?
Use Worster Lake East Boat Launch or another of 2 boat ramps.
Are there bass in Worster Lake?
The DNR fish list starts with catfish, smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass and channel catfish.
What is the bass limit on Worster Lake?
The statewide lake row reads: 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, size 14 inches.
Does a Hoosier fishing license cover Worster 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 Worster Lake?
The DNR lists no pier or shore site here.
Where do Hoosiers fishing Worster Lake stock up on hooks?
Kelley's Bait & Tackle, about 5 miles away, is first on our list.
How often is Worster Lake stocked?
The latest dashboard row: 3,270 Hybrid Striped Bass, 1.49 in average (June 2025).
Set an early alarm for Worster Lake
Indiana fees and limits sit on one page.