Koontz Lake Fishing Spot
- Elevation: 717'
- Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/10/09 09:37 AM
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Skipping or flipping plastic worms or other baits under and around docks is an enjoyable way to pass a morning. There are enough largemouths in Koontz Lake (like most natural lakes) to ensure a modicum of success fishing that way. At night, however, bass lose some of their wariness and desert the shade and seclusion offered by the miniature wharfs. Night-anglers can expect to get strikes away from the docks, even in swimming areas bass would never go during the day. Some people swear by black-colored lures in the darkness. The theory is that the black lures cast a strong silhouette against the night sky or even blacker subsurface background. Ben and I chose luminescent lures as much to benefit our own eyesight as that of the fish. I think fish do pick up and strike at the "glow" lures at times better than a black or other colored bait. But many anglers night-fish with them more because it's easier to see them and make accurate casts. Though bass will move out from the docks or other cover, a well-placed cast is still more likely to produce a strike than a lure just tossed randomly toward the bank.
Koontz Lake Description
In 1848 Samuel Koontz constructed a dam at the outlet of Woodworth's Lake, and the resulting larger body of water became known as Koontz Lake. The dam provided water power for Starke County's first mill. In pioneer days, Koontz Lake was known for its annual harvest of wild blueberries. Pickers came from miles around, camping on the lake and enjoying a festival like atmosphere. Today, Koontz Lake is a thriving residential and resort community. On the north side of Koontz Lake, a 58 acre nature preserve and wetland conservation area preserves one of northwest Indiana's largest tamarack bogs. Nature lovers will enjoy seeing these unusual deciduous conifers, more typical of Canada in an undisturbed wetland environment. Hunting is allowed in the preserve in season. Koontz Lake is located just outside of Walkerton, Indiana, 25 miles south of South Bend and is less than a 2 hour drive from both Chicago and Indianapolis. It is also conveniently located 30 miles east of Valparaiso and just minutes from Plymouth. This beautiful 365 acre lake offers boating, waterskiing and wakeboarding, fishing, and public beach access . The lake also offers a public launch with handicapped access. The town of Koontz Lake includes lovely residential areas, a branch library, a public park with a ball field and picnic shelters. Rental cabins and homes, a marina, restaurants, and laundromat are available in town. Koontz Lake hosts the annual Float-A-Rama over the Independence Day weekend. Decorated boats are on parade and children participate in a fun-filled paddle boat race. Koontz Lake has been improved by a $1.2 million state enhancement project that controls sediment runoff into the lake and includes the first nutrient filter installed in Indiana. This environmentally sound lake now has numerous varieties of fish that are stock controlled by the Department of Natural Resources. Koontz Lake, located in northern Starke County, is one of Indiana's natural lakes. Like many of our natural lakes, most of the high ground lakeshore was platted into lots and sold to individuals as home sites. Most of the homeowners are "water" oriented, which is both good and bad for fishermen. The bad part of this equation is that on weekends and even nice afternoons on weekdays during the late spring and summer months, there are plenty of recreational boaters plying the waters. Skiers are common and even more common are speedsters riding their personal watercraft. These users tend to stick to the mid-part of the lake, but the diminutive size of the lake means there is little time for the wake-waves to subside before they reach into areas fishermen are likely to be positioned. Few anglers relish the unfettered chop as they try to line up for their next cast. Unlike the big reservoirs, there are few natural coves or even portions of these lakes that are cordoned off as idle zones where fishermen can benefit. The good thing for fishermen is almost every home has its own dock. These are one of the best-known places where the largemouth bass will hide out. Few of the docks have no fish, while the better ones have an abundance of bass. Though some dock owners don't like fishermen casting around "their" docks, most tolerate it. The docks are private property, but the water and fish under the docks aren't, so dock owners don't have any legal claim to keeping people away. That doesn't give fishermen the right to tie up to the docks, to cast lures onto the docks or bang lures off the sides of boats tied up the docks. A little common sense and politeness will go a long way toward keeping everyone's temper in check.
Koontz Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marshall and Starke Counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,554 at the 2000 census. It is named for the nearby lake named after the owner of a nearby mill, Samuel Koontz.[3]