Kosciusko County Lakes Guide - 2025 by The Papers Inc.

LAKES GUIDE

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY 2025

What’s Inside

Lilly Center For Lakes & Streams

Brian Peterson Real Estate

Burke’s Vinyl Seawalls, LLC

Clayton Garden Center Page 6

Coldwell BankerDeb Paton Showley Group

Coldwell BankerThe Sally Bailey Team

Publisher: Ron Baumgartner rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

Business Manager: Annette Weaver aweaver@the-papers.com

Editor-In-Chief: Deb Patterson ...................... dpatterson@the-papers.com

Director of Marketing: Kristin DeVittorio kdevittorio@the-papers.com

Expert Contributor: Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams, a division of Grace College ......................... lakes@grace.edu, or visit: lakes.grace.edu

Cover

Dixie Sternwheeler Page 3

Don & Sons Excavating

ERA Crossroads

Goshen Home Medical

Jellystone Park

To Reserve Your Ad Space For Our 2026 Lakes Guide, Call Teresa Today!

Page 23

Cover

Back Cover

Kosciusko County Visitor Center Page 3

Lakeland Animal Clinic

Main Channel Marina

Metcalf•Payne & Bell

Ousley Seawall Construction, Inc.

Patona Bay Marina & Resort

Pierceton Chamber of Commerce

Front Cover

Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home Back Cover

Reliance Design•Build•Renovate

Page 1

Re/Max Lakes-Skibowski Team Inside Back Cover

Re/Max Partners-Syracuse Page 23

Snyder Morgan Kuchmay LLP

AGE OPERATOR

RESTRICTIONS:

Indiana Boating Safety

All Motorboat or PWC operators in Indiana must have a valid driver’s license to operate on all public waters Operators who are at least 15 years of age and don’t have a driver’s license may operate a motor vessel if they take a NASBLA approved boater education course and have an I D Card on board issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

PERSONAL FLOTATION

DEVICES (PFD):

Boats less than 16 feet long, and a canoe or kayak of any length, must have onboard a wearable U S C G approved PFD for everyone onboard or being towed

Boats 16 feet and longer must have wearable PFDs for everyone onboard and readily accessible

Personal Watercraft operators and passengers must wear an approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD .

Required PFDs must be readily accessible

RECKLESS OPERATION:

Reckless operation of a boat, when a boat is operated carelessly in willful disregard of the rights, safety, or property of others, is a crime in Indiana Examples of reckless operation include:

• Excessive speed in regulated or congested areas or during times of restricted visibility

• Operating in a manner that may cause an accident

• Operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Operating in a swimming area with swimmers present

• Towing water skiers where obstructions exist or a fall might cause them to be injured

• Bow riding or riding on the gunwale or transom where no seating is provided

• Operation of a personal watercraft which endangers life or property

EXHAUST MUFFLER REQUIRED:

No person shall operate any powercraft without a muffler, underwater exhaust, or other device that muffles or suppresses the sound of the exhaust at all speeds .

WATER SKIING/TUBING:

No person shall tow a person on water skis, tube, or similar device without an observer (in addition to the boat operator) aboard to observe the skier and the towline .

Water skiing/tubing is not permitted between after sunset and before sunrise

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC):

Persons less than 15 years of age shall not operate a Personal Watercraft Each person on a Personal Watercraft (PWC) must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD Additionally, the operator must wear a lanyard type cut off switch provided by the manufacturer which will shut off the PWC should the operator fall off

A PWC is a boat and operators of PWCs must obey all boating regulations and requirements . PWC operators must adhere to additional legal requirements that apply specifically to the operation of PWCs on Indiana waterss. The operator of a Personal Watercraft should operate in a reasonable and prudent manner

PWCs may be operated during daylight hours only unless equipped with the appropriate lighting

PWCs may be used to tow skiers/ tubes if the PWC is designed to seat at least three people and is at least 9 feet long Also, a person other than the operator must be onboard as an observer

BOAT LIGHT REQUIREMENTS:

Boats under way between sunset and sunrise must display a green bow light on the starboard (right) and red bow light on the port (left), as well as an “all around” (visible from 360 degrees) white light on the stern . Boats at anchor must display one all around white light visible to any approaching crafts Rowboats or paddleboats must have an all around white light ready to display in time to prevent collision

BOATING WHILE INTOXICATED:

Operating a boat or PWC while intoxicated is against the law Refusal to submit to a test may result in loss of operating privileges for at least one year SPEED LIMITS AFTER “OFFICIAL SUNSET”:

No skiing, or any other activity requiring speeds in excess of 10 MPH may be engaged in between the official time of sunset and sunrise. Syracuse has a flashing beacon light on the NW corner of the lake (at the public pier) that starts flashing at sunset

DAMAGE TO MARKER BUOYS:

The Lake Association has been charged by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources with the responsibility of placing and maintaining State-Owned Marker Buoys These are placed less than 200 feet from shore in locations considered particularly critical as warning to boaters to keep their distance from shore (such as off point of land) or to reduce their speed (such as entries to channels) Intentional damage or other interference with these buoys is a crime against the State and carries a severe fine, a jail sentence, or both. These buoys are anchored with a chain and will probably damage a boat if hit

LEGAL DISTANCE FROM SHORE:

It is unlawful to operate a motorized boat closer than 200 feet from the shoreline, unless coming or going from the shore; also to operate at greater than idle speed closer than 200 feet from shore

REGISTRATION/TITLING:

All motorboats operated on the waters of Indiana must be registered and numbered Motorboats legally registered in another state can be used in Indiana for 60 consecutive days before an Indiana registration is required

Indiana and federal boating laws are presented in a summarized form . The laws in their entirety can be found by consulting Indiana State Law These laws are subject to change . It is the responsibility of the operator to be aware of the most current laws when using a boat

Certain bodies of water in Indiana have local restrictions as to type and size of watercraft or motor horsepower, restricted use areas, boat speed, and times for use Check with the local authorities for these additional restrictions

You may obtain registration and title application forms at any BMV location

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Department of Natural Resources 402 West Washington St., Room W160A Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232-4200

PUBLIC ACCESS SITES

Barbee Lakes- Rolling Ridge Rd to Upper Rattlesnake Dr

Barbee Lakes- East bank of Grassy Creek, Lower Armstrong Rd

Beaver Dam Lake CR 750 West

Carr Lake SR 15 to 550 S to Kinsey Rd .

Center Lake Detroit St , north of Bixler Park

Chapman Lake Chapman Lake Dr & EMS C14

Dewart Lake CR 300 E & EMS D24

Lake Wawasee Hatchery Rd & CR 1000 N

Palestine Lake SR 25 to 1st Street

Pike,

Little Pike Lakes Arthur St . to Pike Lake Park

Price Lake South Shore of Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area

Shock Lake Just north of Syracuse-Webster RdSR 13 to CR 850 N

Syracuse Lake Medusa St & North Front St

Tippecanoe, James East bank of Grassy Creek, & Oswego Lakes Armstrong Rd

Waubee Lake Camp Mack Rd at Waubee Park Webster

Backwater Rd & EMS W22 Winona Lake East Smith St to Hillside Dr Wyland Lake CR 875 E

INDIANA ANNUAL LICENSES & STAMP PRIVILEGES

Indiana Fishing & License Regulations 2025-26

WHO REQUIRES A FISHING LICENSE

With a few exceptions, a valid fishing license issued by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is required to fish in public lakes, streams, rivers, tributaries, and boundary waters in Indiana An individual may not take another individual sport fishing for hire on public waters, including boundary waters like Lake Michigan, without a fishing guide license .

A licensee must hold an ink-signed copy of a license while fishing, signed electronic copies are acceptable You must present the license to an Indiana Conservation Officer (or any other authorized law enforcement official) upon request. There are fines and penalties for fishing without a license. To legally fish for or take trout and salmon from public waters, you must have a valid trout/ salmon stamp and a valid fishing license.

• Resident owners or lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land, their spouses and children living with them, while fishing on the farmland they own or lease This exemption does not apply to land owned by a business, corporation, or partnership unless the shareholders, partners, members, or owners are composed solely of an immediate family and farm that land . Farmland means agricultural land that is devoted to or best adaptable to the production of crops, fruits, timber, or raising livestock, or is assessed as agricultural land for property tax purposes

• Some non-resident landowners, while fishing in public waters from the farmland they own, according to the exemptions that their state provides to Indiana residents

To qualify for resident fishing licenses, a person must have established a true fixed and permanent home and primary residence in Indiana for 60 consecutive days prior to purchasing a license or permit and may not claim residency for fishing, hunting, or trapping in another state or country. All other people are considered nonresidents

Indiana residents must be at least sixty four (64) years of age to be eligible to buy a Senior Annual or Senior Fish for Life License . The Senior Fish for Life License is valid for the rest of the holder’s life and includes the trout/ salmon stamp Indiana residents who were born before April 1, 1943, do not need a fishing license when fishing in Indiana waters.

A fishing license may be revoked if the license holder is convicted of violating fish and wildlife regulations. Any equipment used in the violation of Indiana fish and wildlife laws may be seized for evidence and be confiscated upon conviction

FISHING LICENSE EXEMPTIONS

A fishing license and trout/salmon stamp are NOT required for: Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943 Such residents should carry their valid Indiana driver’s license or other identification to verify age and residency.

• Residents and non-residents under age 18

• Residents who are legally blind Proof of being legally blind is not required while fishing.

• Residents of a state-owned mental rehabilitation facility

• Residents of any licensed health care facility in Indiana taking part in a supervised fishing activity sponsored by the facility.

• Residents who have a developmental disability as defined by IC 12-7-261. Proof of the disability is not required while fishing.

• Fishing in a private pond that does not allow fish entry from or exit to public waters However, an angler must have permission from the property owner to fish.

• Residents of Indiana engaged in full-time military service while on approved military leave However, the angler must carry leave orders and a valid Indiana Driver’s License or voter registration card .

NOTE: Nonresident military personnel on active duty and stationed in Indiana may purchase an Indiana resident license Resident disabled American veterans can get an annual DAV fishing and/or small game hunting license for $2.75 or 10-year license for $27.50 by first completing an application form available from the County Service Officer where they live or by downloading the application at fishing.IN.gov and clicking “Fishing License,” then “Licenses and Permits for Hunters and Anglers with Disabilities ” Mail the completed form to: DNR Customer Service Center: 402 W . Washington St ., Room W160, Indianapolis, IN 46204

HOW TO BUY A LICENSE

Online … Go to: on IN gov/INHuntFish

In Person … To find a retailer near you, visit Fishing.IN.gov, select “Buy your license in person or by mail” then click “Find an authorized license vendor” or visit the DNR Customer Service Center, Indiana Government Center South, 402 W Washington St , Room W160, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Open 8:30 a m to 4 p m , Monday-Friday

By Mail … Send check, money order (payable to Indiana DNR) or Visa, Master Card, or Discover card number with expiration date and CVV code to:

DNR Customer Service Center, Attn: Licenses 402 W Washington St , Room W160 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739

Allow two weeks for delivery Include the following information:

• Name, date of birth and Social Security Number (mandatory)

• Complete address, city, state, ZIP code, and phone number

• Height, weight, color of hair and eyes .

• Specify the licenses including the season

• Hunter Education certificate number if born after Dec. 31, 1986. By Phone … Call (317) 232-4200

BARBEE LAKES-LOWER

Approximate Acres of Water — Irish: 182; Sechrist: 105; Little Barbee: 74; Sawmill: 36; Banning: 12 Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Muskie, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Irish, Little Barbee, Sawmill & Sechrist: Marl, muck & sand; Banning: Gravel, muck & sand For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

BARBEE LAKES-UPPER/KUHN LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — Big Barbee: 311; Kuhn Lake: 137 Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Muskie, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Gravel, marl, muck & sand EMS precedes each Letter/Number (ie: EMS-B2) For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

LAKE

BEAVER DAM LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 155 Best Fishing — Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Redear Lake Bottom — Clay, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

CARR LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 79

Best Fishing — Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Clay, gravel, marl, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

CARR LAKE

S.KinseyRd.

| 574-372-5281

How clear is my lake? How clear is my lake?

WATER CLARITY IN 16 KOSCIUSKO COUNTY LAKES

By Dr. Nate Bosch, Creighton Brothers Endowed Director

If your lake is clear, that must mean it is clean, right? From a scientific perspective, a clean lake does not have to be clear – and a clear lake is not always clean. Water clarity is an important metric to understand the health of a lake. The Lilly Center’s research team uses a black and white Secchi (seh-key) Disk to

measure water clarity. Generally, clearer lakes have fewer nutrients and, by extension, less algae. However, a clear lake may be hiding bacteria, pesticides, or toxins like the ones algae produce. The lakes that the Lilly Center sampled during the summer of 2024 are organized below by the highest average

clarity. The lake with the highest average water clarity was Syracuse Lake, with 11 feet of clarity. Another indicator of water quality is dissolved oxygen. When enough dissolved oxygen is present, a lake can support a variety of aquatic critters! Fish (like bluegill, sunfish, and catfish) and zooplankton (like

daphnia and rotifers) all need dissolved oxygen to breathe. The lake with the thickest dissolved oxygen layer was Lake Tippecanoe, with over 66 feet of fish habitat. Taking steps to improve the water clarity of your lake can make your

Clarity

The average clarity of a lake in 2024.

Dissolved Oxygen

The average depth of fish habitat in 2024.

Total Depth

lake more enjoyable, healthier, and even impact your home’s value. Learn more about the ways water clarity has an impact on many aspects of lake life by visiting: lakes.grace.edu/field-notes.

Or learn more by scanning this QR code:

LAKES WITH AVAILABLE

toxin notifications

Big Barbee Lake

Beaver Dam Lake

Center Lake

Big Chapman Lake

Dewart Lake

James Lake

Oswego Lake

Pike Lake

Silver Lake

Syracuse Lake

Lake Tippecanoe

Waubee Lake

Lake Wawasee

Webster Lake

Winona Lake

Yellow Creek Lake

LEFT: A blue-green algae bloom on Big Chapman Lake in 2024.

Microcystin notifications

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE IS A NICKNAME FOR AQUATIC CYANOBACTERIA

If ingested or left on the skin for too long, the toxin produced by bluegreen algae, microcystin, can cause health problems. It’s especially dangerous for animals, including dogs. Blooms typically occur in midto-late summer. Blue-green algae thrive in warm water — and excess

WHAT CAN I DO?

• Keep yard waste out of the lake. Never blow clippings or leaves into the water, or into the street where they can enter a storm drain.

• Fertilize sparingly, using phosphorus-free fertilizer. Although great for gardens in small doses, excess fertilizer

nutrients. Nutrients come from a variety of sources! Storm water runoff carries nutrients from sources such as fertilizers, yard or pet waste, parking lots, and disturbed soil.

The Lilly Center samples 16 local lakes and seven public beaches every summer. We gather water

will run off the lawn and into the lake.

• Use native plants along your shoreline. When maintained well, native plants are a beautiful and low-cost solution to capturing polluted stormwater runoff.

samples for testing in our own lab, including counting and identifying algae species. You can get toxin updates delivered to your inbox every week from Memorial Day to Labor Day! Simply scan the QR code below.

CENTER/PIKE/LITTLE PIKE LAKES

D4 Page 32

County Map Locator:

Approximate Acres of Water — Center Lake: 120; Pike Lakes: 228 Best Fishing — Center Lake: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Catfish Pike Lakes: Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, White Bass, Northern Pike Lake Bottom — Center Lake: Gravel, marl, muck & sand; Pike Lakes: Clay, marl & muck For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

CHAPMAN LAKES

County Map Locator:

Approximate Acres of Water — Big Chapman: 504; Little Chapman: 177 Best Fishing — Big/Little Chapman Lakes: Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Redear, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Big Chapman: Gravel, muck & sand; Little Chapman: Marl, muck & sand EMS precedes each Letter/Number (ie: EMS-C2) For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

DEWART LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 554

Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike

Lake Bottom — Gravel, marl, muck & sand

EMS precedes each Letter/Number (ie: EMS-D 24B)

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

HOFFMAN LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 180 Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Spotted Gar Lake Bottom — Marl & muck

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

Page 32

County Map Locator:

PALESTINE LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 290

Best Fishing — Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Redear Sunfish Lake Bottom — Clay, gravel, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

PALESTINE LAKE

RIDINGER LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 141

Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, White Bass Lake Bottom — Gravel

EMS precedes each Letter/Number (ie: EMS-R2) For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

RIDINGER

LAKE

SYRACUSE/BONER LAKES

Approximate Acres of Water — Syracuse Lake: 411; Boner Lake: 40 Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Redear Sunfish Lake Bottom — Clay, muck & sand For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

LAKE WAWASEE

Approximate Acres of Water — 3,006

County Map Locator:

Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Gravel, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

LAKE WAWASEE-UPPER

Approximate Acres of Water — 3,006

Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Gravel, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

SYRACUSE LAKE

LAKE WAWASEE-MIDDLE

Approximate Acres of Water — 3,006

Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Gravel, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

LAKE WAWASEE-LOWER/PAPAKEECHIE LAKES

Approximate Acres of Water — Lake Wawasee-Lower: 3,006; Papakeechie Lake: 178 Best Fishing — Lake Wawasee-Lower: Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch; Papakeechie Lake: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie Lake Bottom — Gravel, muck & sand For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

TIPPECANOE/JAMES/OSWEGO/STANTON LAKES

Approximate Acres of Water — Tippecanoe: 786; James: 278; Oswego: 78; Stanton: 30 Best Fishing — Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Clay, gravel, muck & sand EMS precedes each Letter/Number (ie: EMS-T2) For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

TRI-COUNTY FISH & WILDLIFE AREA

This program receives federal aid in fish and/or wildlife restoration. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC 20250 For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

WAUBEE LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 187 Best Fishing — Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Redear Sunfish, Walleye Lake Bottom — Clay, marl, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

WAUBEE LAKE

WEBSTER LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 653

Best Fishing — Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Redear Sunfish, Yellow Perch Lake Bottom — Clay, marl, muck & sand

EMS precedes each Letter/Number (ie:EMS-W2)

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

WINONA LAKE

Approximate Acres of Water — 571

County Map Locator:

Best Fishing — Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, White Bass, Catfish, Northern Pike Lake Bottom — Clay, gravel, marl, muck & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.

YELLOW CREEK/DIAMOND LAKES

Approximate Acres of Water — Yellow Creek Lake: 155; Diamond Lake: 79 Best Fishing — Yellow Creek Lake: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Catfish Diamond Lake: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Catfish Lake Bottom — Yellow Creek Lake: Muck & sand; Diamond Lake: Clay, gravel, muck, marl & sand

For more information about this and other county lakes, visit lakes.grace.edu.