Fishing near South Bend, Indiana
St. Joseph County, population 103,453 (2020 Census).
- 3 milesto nearest lake page
- 8ramps nearby
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South Bend as a fishing base
Census 2020 put the population of South Bend, a city in St. Joseph County, at 103,453. The closest paged lake is Pinhook Lake, near 3 miles north of town. For more room, Worster Lake maps at 337 acres (NHD outline area). The shortest tow to a ramp is 1 mile, to Leeper Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties).
About 2 miles away, Woodlawn Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties) needs no boat.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for South Bend; miles are straight lines.
South Bend area lakes, by distance
| Lake | Distance | Area | Max depth | Kind | Ramps | Fish the DNR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinhook Lake | 3 miles north | 32 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike | |
| South Chain (Szmanda) Lake | 5 miles west | 95 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | |
| North Chain Lake | 6 miles west | 86 acres (NHD outline area) | 33 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2020) | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie |
| Worster Lake | 10 miles southwest | 337 acres (NHD outline area) | lake | 2 | catfish, smallmouth bass, trout | |
| Pleasant Lake (St. Joseph County) | 11 miles south | 32 acres (NHD outline area) | 29 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2013) | lake | 1 | catfish, smallmouth bass, trout |
| Riddles Lake | 12 miles south | 78 acres (NHD outline area) | 19 ft maximum depth (DNR Status & Trends survey, 2014) | lake | 0 | yellow perch, walleye, hybrid sunfish |
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset via IndianaMap), not a DNR survey figure. Depths from DNR Status & Trends surveys with the survey year. 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.
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- Judy Creek5 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, 1 USGS gauge
- Willow Creek (St. Joseph County)7 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream
- Eller Ditch9 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)12 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream, DNR salmonid stream, Lake Michigan tributary, 14 DNR access sites, 2 USGS gauges
- Potato Creek12 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
- Cobus Creek12 miles, DNR put-and-take salmonid stream
Current flow near South Bend
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph River At South Bend, In | 1,820 cfs, -0.06 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:15 pm |
| Judy Creek Near South Bend, In | 11 cfs, 2.34 ft gage height | Nov 6 9:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 6, 2026 10:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
NHD named flowlines, DNR river designations and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 5, 2026.
Pins around South Bend
- Leeper Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), boat ramp, no fee recorded, 1 mile
- Veteran's Memorial Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 3 miles
- South Bend boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, no fee recorded, 4 miles
- Lincoln Park (Mishawaka) on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 4 miles
- Merrifield Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 5 miles
- South Chain boat rampSouth Chain (Szmanda) Lake, concrete ramp, fee, Speed Limit, 5 miles
- St. Patrick's Farm boat ramp on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), concrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Entry Fee, 6 miles
- Lentz Landing on North Chain LakeNorth Chain Lake, concrete ramp, restrooms, no fee recorded, 6 miles
DNR shore sites handy to South Bend
- Woodlawn Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)shore access, no fee recorded, 2 miles
- Pinhook Lake shore accessfishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, Electric only, 3 miles
- Central Park (Mishawaka) on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)shore access, restrooms, lights, no fee recorded, 5 miles
- Frank Zappia shore access on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties)shore access, restrooms, no fee recorded, 7 miles
- Cobus Creek Parkfishing pier, ADA access, restrooms, no fee recorded, 11 miles
- Cobus Creek Park Pondfishing pier, restrooms, no fee recorded, 11 miles
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.
Tackle and guides near South Bend
Bait stores handy to South Bend
- Stacy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, South Bend, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 5 miles
- Starboard Choice Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 5 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Mishawakasporting goods store, Mishawaka, 5 miles
- Wyland's Marinemarina, Mishawaka, 8 miles
- Kelley's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeville, 10 miles
- Midway Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Osceola, 11 miles
- Lake Effect Living, LLP Small Engine Repair & Bait Salesbait and tackle shop, New Carlisle, 14 miles
DNR-listed guides around South Bend
- Sea King Charterscharter, Granger, (269) 208-5064
Yellow Pages, chain store and DNR property listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); DNR licensed guide list and tourism bureau charter listings; read November 5, 2026.
A competition calendar for South Bend
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in St. Joseph County or within 20 miles, checked November 2026.
State record weights from water near South Bend
| Species | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | 38 lb. | Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | La Porte County | 1980 |
| Steelhead Trout | 26 lb. 9.9 oz. | Trail Creek (LaPorte County) | LaPorte County | 1999 |
| Common Carp | 43 lb. 4 oz. | Pike Lake | Kosciusko County | 1989 |
| Muskellunge | 42 lb. 8 oz. | James Lake | Kosciusko County | 2002 |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 22 lb. 2 oz. | Tippecanoe River | Carroll County | 2005 |
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. Waters within 40 miles.
Size and bag rules for South Bend anglers
Indiana residents buy the annual license for $23; out-of-state anglers spend $60.
| Species | 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) |
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026. Lake and river pages print any special regulation entry. Indiana DNR license fees (license year April 1 to March 31), read November 5, 2026.
Neighbouring pages for South Bend
Other towns around South Bend
- Notre Dame2 miles
- Mishawaka5 miles
- Granger8 miles
- Osceola10 miles
- New Carlisle12 miles
The county page holding South Bend
- St. Joseph Countyseat: South Bend
Spinning reels from Piscifun suited to South Bend
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Lakes and stream bends close to South Bend, in pictures
Photo: Kevin Dooley, CC BY 2.0
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
South Bend anglers ask
Which Indiana lake is the quick hop from South Bend?
Pinhook Lake, 3 miles north.
Which DNR ramp serves a South Bend boater?
Leeper Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties), a run of 1 mile.
Which DNR pier is handy for South Bend?
Roughly 2 miles out, at Woodlawn Park on Saint Joseph River (Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties).
Which bait store is nearest South Bend?
Stacy's Bait & Tackle is listed 4 miles from town.
Which county guide lists South Bend?
St. Joseph County, Indiana.
Must a South Bend visitor carry an Indiana license?
The yearly license for a non-Hoosier is $60, or $15 for a single day.
Which nearby lake lets a South Bend boater roam most?
Worster Lake maps at 337 acres (NHD outline area) and lies 10 miles off.
Which Indiana communities neighbour South Bend?
In order of distance, Notre Dame (2 miles), Mishawaka (5 miles) and Granger (8 miles).
Are there posted tournaments on water by South Bend?
9 events on file; the next is Michiana Fishing League at Lake of the Woods (Marshall County) (21 Mar 2027) on Lake of the Woods (Marshall County), March 21, 2027.
Is any Hoosier record from a lake by South Bend?
Chinook Salmon, 38 lb., 1980, from Trail Creek.
Stay in South Bend and fish each sunrise
Every Indiana ramp page leads with a directions link.