Best Lakes for Fishing Near Fort Wayne
Indiana
9 fishing lakes within driving distance of Fort Wayne, Indiana, ranked by water quality and fishing-specific filters. Filtered for documented fish species (3+) and public access. Ranked by water quality and species diversity.
A moderate cluster of 9 graded lakes lies within reach of Fort Wayne, averaging a grade of D. Dewart Lake (B) is the cleanest of the set.
The fishing-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the fishing use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dewart Lake | Kosciusko | B | 38.6 mi | 10.2 ft | - |
| 2 | Lake George | Steuben | B | 47.4 mi | 14.5 ft | - |
| 3 | Big Chapman Lake | Kosciusko | C | 36.4 mi | 6.9 ft | - |
| 4 | Syracuse Lake | Kosciusko | C | 39.3 mi | 8.8 ft | - |
| 5 | Lake Wawasee | Kosciusko | D | 36.9 mi | 5.9 ft | - |
| 6 | Winona Lake | Kosciusko | F | 37.3 mi | 2.8 ft | - |
| 7 | Pike Lake | Kosciusko | F | 38.5 mi | 1.9 ft | - |
| 8 | Yellow Creek Lake | Kosciusko | F | 42.4 mi | 2.8 ft | - |
| 9 | Beaver Dam Lake | Kosciusko | F | 43.6 mi | 3.1 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.