Indiana
A 143-acre lake near Prairie Portage in Lake County — best known for pike and bass. Last surveyed 2019.
Fish Species (7)
Northern Pike
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 1–3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 1.75 | 26.9" | 5.44 lbs |
Largemouth Bass
Large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 10.0 per gill net · typical 0.3–0.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 10.00 | 12.6" | 1.37 lbs |
Smallmouth Bass
Large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 2.8 per gill net · typical 0.4–1.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 2.75 | 13.8" | 1.53 lbs |
Rock Bass
Average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–4.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 0.50 | 5.5" | 0.17 lbs |
Yellow Perch
Below-normal numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 1–8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 0.50 | 6.5" | 0.13 lbs |
Bluegill
Small fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 1.25 | 4.0" | 0.06 lbs |
Other species in this lake (1)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
White Sucker
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 2019
Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 1.5–10.4 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2019 | 0.25 | 20.0" | 3.85 lbs |
Biologist Notes
August 6, 2019Indiana Lake is located approximately 14 miles NE of Ely within the BWCAW. Because of its proximity to Basswood Lake and nearby entry points, Indiana…
Indiana Lake is located approximately 14 miles NE of Ely within the BWCAW. Because of its proximity to Basswood Lake and nearby entry points, Indiana is a popular lake with wilderness enthusiasts. Indiana Lake also has a reputation for quality bass fishing with some larger pike as an additional component. There are portages from Basswood Lake and Good Lake for public access. A third option is a short portage near the Indiana Lake outlet which connects with the Hula Lake outlet entering Wind Bay on Basswood. There are two designated USFS campsites located on the N side of the lake for overnight use. Seven species of fish were sampled during the 2019 survey of Indiana Lake. Largemouth bass (59%) dominated the catch. Smallmouth bass were sampled in above average numbers and some good sized pike were also observed. The only other survey of Indiana Lake was completed in 1975. Largemouth bass numbers in 2019 were above the historical average of 6.3/gill net for this lake and well above the average of 0.5/gill net when compared to other similar area lakes where largemouth bass occur. The 2019 sample represents the highest gill net catch ever recorded for largemouth bass from an area lake. Largemouth average length was 13.1 inches (about 6 years old) which is larger than the historical average length of 9.3 inches. The largest largemouth sampled in 2019 measured 17.2 inches. Smallmouth bass numbers in 2019 were below the historical average of 5.6/gill net for Indiana Lake but above average when compared to other area lakes that are similar. Smallmouth average length was 14.3 inches which is larger than the historical average length of 13.4 inches. The largest smallmouth sampled was 15.9 inches long. Northern pike numbers in 2019 were lower than the historical average of 2.4/gill net for this lake and slightly below average compared to other similar area lakes. However, pike sampled were of good size. Pike average length was 27.5 inches which is larger than the historical average length of 24.0 inches. The largest pike sampled in 2019 was 39.6 inches in length.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Indiana?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch in Indiana. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Indiana?
Minnesota DNR records list public access for Indiana. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.
How deep is Indiana?
Indiana has a maximum depth of 31 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Indiana last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Indiana is from 2019.
Does Indiana have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Indiana in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 143.04 acres
- Max Depth
- 31 ft
- Shoreline
- 1.99 mi
- Public Access
- Yes