Monroe Lake
Indiana's largest lake, south of Bloomington. It's known for crappie, bass, walleye and hybrid striped bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Wiper
Hybrid striped bass. Chase surface-feeding schools and points with wind.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Wiper | ||||||||||||
| Walleye |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the Indiana DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Monroe Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Indiana Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Two Herons MarinaAt lake5505 S State Rd 446, Bloomington(812) 837-9394Directions ↗
- The Fishin' SheddNearby4855 S State Road 446, Bloomington(812) 837-9474Directions ↗
- Dunham's Sports8.9 mi1018 James Avenue, Bedford(812) 275-5030Directions ↗
Local tips
- The upper lake, east of State Road 446, is a quiet, no-wake area.
- Wipers chase shad in open water in summer.
- Paynetown and Fairfax recreation areas have ramps.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Monroe Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.