Cypress Lake

Jackson County, Indiana · IN DNR bathymetric survey

8ft Max
depth

38 acres 4 contours Public access

Paddling Index64Mixedelectric motors only · sheltered geometry

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Depth scale

02468

The lake

Survey readout

Cypress Lake is mapped to a depth of 8 ft on the Indiana DNR survey and covers about 38 acres in Jackson County, Indiana.

Measured from the Indiana DNR lake bathymetry survey.

Deepest mapped contour: 8 ft
Surface area: 38 acres
Shoreline: 1.23 mi · irregular
Aquatic vegetation: 11% of surface · NDVI estimate
Public access: Boat Ramp · Indiana DNR site

Additional depth details4 contours

Contour depths: 0–8 ft
Recorded point soundings: 8 ft, 4 ft

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Location

Jackson County, Indiana · all 2 lakes · tap a dot for that lake

Chart data

Provenance

Sources: IN DNR Lake Bathymetry, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).

⚠ Not for navigation

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Map details & sources4 sources

All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.

Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.

Coordinates: 39.02130, -85.88797
IN DNR lake ID: cypress-lake
Vertical exaggeration: 3.0×
Basemap: USDA NAIP · public domain
Model size: 1.5 MB

Paddling

Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-21

64 / 100MixedData confidence: High

Cypress Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, well sheltered geometry, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. Watercraft controls: Electric motors only.

Why this score?5 components

Included in the index

Component	Rating	Points of weight	Measurement
Natural setting	Mixed	11.5 of 30	55% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (52% forest, 0% wetland; 26% developed)
Geometric wind exposure	Excellent	25.0 of 25	mean fetch 443 m · 82% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions
Watercraft controls	Electric motors only	14.2 of 15	Electric motors only
Public access	Good	12.8 of 15	1 DNR fishing access site · boat ramp · ADA-accessible
Road isolation	Modest	0.8 of 15	substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 23 INDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 35,128 vehicles/day

Additional paddling considerations

These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.

Wake sensitivity: Moderate — narrow in places — wakes would carry across parts of the lake
Aquatic vegetation: Low — approximately 11% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
Observed motorized activity: Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
Wildlife habitat potential: Limited — 52% forest and 0% wetland cover within 150 m of shore

Compare Indiana lakes by Paddling Index →

How this index is calculated. The Paddling Index is a relative composite derived from lake geometry and public environmental, access, roadway and watercraft-control data. It is not a user review, a safety rating, or a prediction of an individual outing. Differences of a few points should not be treated as meaningful — an 84 and an 82 are broadly comparable. Components and weights: natural setting 30%, geometric wind exposure 25%, watercraft controls 15%, public access 15%, road isolation 15%; observed motorboat activity is weighted 0% because no defensible lake-level measurement exists. Where a component has no data the remaining weights are renormalized and the confidence rating is lowered; below Medium confidence no number is shown. Sources: USGS NHD waterbody outline, USGS/MRLC NLCD Land Cover (2021), IN DNR Fishing Access Sites (motor restrictions) (2026-08), IN DNR Fishing Access Sites (2026-08) and INDOT Annual Average Daily Traffic (2021). Conditions change quickly — check current weather and local conditions before going out.

Fish you might catch

from DNR surveys

26 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).

Flathead Catfish

Longnose Gar

Common Carp

Bigmouth Buffalo

Channel Catfish

Shortnose Gar

Smallmouth Buffalo

Freshwater Drum

Golden Redhorse

Largemouth Bass

Sucker

Quillback

Smallmouth Bass

Bass

Highfin Carpsucker

Chestnut Lamprey

Gizzard Shad

Hybrid Sunfish

Logperch

About these fish → the Fish of Indiana guide

Fishing rules for this lake Beta

Size and daily limits for the 26 species found here — 18 open to harvest, 2 with a special rule or closed season.

These are hook-and-line size and daily limit rules. The fishing code sets no closed season for these species on inland lakes, but posted property rules can close a water — see the notes. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, netting and bait collection are set by other sections of 312 IAC 9 and are not shown here.

BassSpecial rulesLargemouth bass of any length may be kept here (312 IAC 9-7-6(d)); the statewide 5-fish black bass aggregate still applies. Smallmouth and spotted bass keep the 14-inch minimum.

Largemouth BassSpecial rulesLargemouth bass of any length may be kept here (312 IAC 9-7-6(d)); the statewide 5-fish black bass aggregate still applies. Smallmouth and spotted bass keep the 14-inch minimum.

Beta. This panel is newly published. Every value is transcribed from the Indiana Administrative Code (312 IAC 9-7) and checked against the Indiana DNR's 2026-27 Fishing Regulations Guide, but the coverage and wording are still under review. If anything here disagrees with 312 IAC 9-7 or the Indiana DNR's guide, the DNR is right — the Administrative Code is the legal text; the guide summarizes it.

No closed season in the fishing code: 312 IAC 9-7 sets no season for these species on inland lakes (trout and salmon “at any time of year”, 9-7-13(d)(1)). Posted property rules can still close a water or bar entry (312 IAC 8-2-1) and 312 IAC 9-6-6 closes a few named areas, so check the property before you go. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit (312 IAC 9-1-12.1); fish already processed and stored at your primary residence do not count toward it (312 IAC 9-2-8(d)).

BassSpecial rulesLargemouth bass of any length may be kept here (312 IAC 9-7-6(d)); the statewide 5-fish black bass aggregate still applies. Smallmouth and spotted bass keep the 14-inch minimum.

Bigmouth BuffaloOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Buffalo”)

Black CrappieOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (312 IAC 9-7-14(a)) Black and white crappie together.

BluegillOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Bluegill”)

BullheadOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Bullhead”)

Channel CatfishOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 10 (312 IAC 9-7-3(b), (d)) The 10 is catfish in aggregate of any size from a lake or reservoir. Of those, not more than one channel catfish 28 inches or longer, one blue catfish 35 inches or longer and one flathead catfish 35 inches or longer per day.

Chestnut LampreyRule not confidently resolvedNot named in 312 IAC 9-7 or in the DNR guide's limits table. Please check with the Indiana DNR (317-232-4200) before keeping this species.

Common CarpOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Carp”)

Flathead CatfishOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 10 (312 IAC 9-7-3(b), (d)) The 10 is catfish in aggregate of any size from a lake or reservoir. Of those, not more than one channel catfish 28 inches or longer, one blue catfish 35 inches or longer and one flathead catfish 35 inches or longer per day.

Freshwater DrumRule not confidently resolvedNot named in 312 IAC 9-7 or in the DNR guide's limits table. Please check with the Indiana DNR (317-232-4200) before keeping this species.

Gizzard ShadOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Gizzard shad”) No limit on harvest, but live shad may not be kept: live gizzard or threadfin shad may be possessed or used as bait only on eight named waters (Brookville, Cecil M. Harden, Monroe and Patoka reservoirs, Lakes Freeman and Shafer, Hardy Lake, the Ohio River main stem excluding its embayments), and only where collected. Everywhere else shad must be killed immediately (312 IAC 9-6-8(b)–(d)).

Golden RedhorseOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Sucker”) Greater redhorse is endangered in Indiana (312 IAC 9-6-9) and may not be taken — identify redhorse carefully.

Highfin CarpsuckerOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Sucker”) Greater redhorse is endangered in Indiana (312 IAC 9-6-9) and may not be taken — identify redhorse carefully.

Hybrid SunfishRule not confidently resolvedNot named in 312 IAC 9-7 or in the DNR guide's limits table. Please check with the Indiana DNR (317-232-4200) before keeping this species.

LogperchRule not confidently resolvedNot named in 312 IAC 9-7 or in the DNR guide's limits table. Please check with the Indiana DNR (317-232-4200) before keeping this species.

Longear SunfishRule not confidently resolvedNot named in 312 IAC 9-7 or in the DNR guide's limits table. Please check with the Indiana DNR (317-232-4200) before keeping this species.

Longnose GarOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Gar”)

QuillbackOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Sucker”) Greater redhorse is endangered in Indiana (312 IAC 9-6-9) and may not be taken — identify redhorse carefully.

Redear SunfishOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (312 IAC 9-7-14(c))

Shortnose GarOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Gar”)

Smallmouth BassOpen to harvestMinimum size: 14" · Daily limit: 5 (312 IAC 9-7-6(a), (c)(3)) The 5 is black bass in aggregate — any combination of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass — not 5 of each.

Smallmouth BuffaloOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Buffalo”)

SuckerOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: no limit (312 IAC 9-7-14(d) · “Sucker”) Greater redhorse is endangered in Indiana (312 IAC 9-6-9) and may not be taken — identify redhorse carefully.

WarmouthRule not confidently resolvedNot named in 312 IAC 9-7 or in the DNR guide's limits table. Please check with the Indiana DNR (317-232-4200) before keeping this species.

White CrappieOpen to harvestMinimum size: no size limit · Daily limit: 25 (312 IAC 9-7-14(a)) Black and white crappie together.

Official rule text for this lake

“An individual may take or possess largemouth bass of any length in the following lakes: (4) Cypress Lake in Jackson County.” — 312 IAC 9-7-6(d), Indiana Administrative Code

From 312 IAC 9-7 (Sport fishing), Indiana Administrative Code (readopted 2025-03-25), and the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide · verified 2026-09-15. Regulations can change — the Indiana Administrative Code (312 IAC 9-7) is the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations

Compiled from Indiana DNR fishery surveys. Silhouettes are stylized and scaled to typical adult sizes relative to one another. Presence is not a promise — fishing isn’t a sure thing.

Fishery

surveyed 2019

693Fish sampled

26Species

Gamefish Largemouth Bass 16 · Channel Catfish 13 · Flathead Catfish 2 · Smallmouth Bass 1

Panfish Bluegill 102 · Black Crappie 8 · White Crappie 7

All survey species26 species

Gamefish

Largemouth Bass16 caught · to 17″

Channel Catfish13 caught · to 24″

Flathead Catfish2 caught · to 24″

Smallmouth Bass1 caught · to 12″

Panfish

Bluegill102 caught · to 7″

Black Crappie8 caught · to 8″

White Crappie7 caught · to 9″

Redear Sunfish6 caught · to 6″

Longear Sunfish3 caught · to 5″

Hybrid Sunfish2 caught · to 6″

Warmouth1 caught · to 5″

Forage & nongame

Gizzard Shad450 caught · to 13″

Golden Redhorse14 caught · to 19″

Smallmouth Buffalo14 caught · to 19″

Common Carp11 caught · to 26″

Quillback11 caught · to 18″

Freshwater Drum8 caught · to 14″

Bass5 caught · to 7″

Shortnose Gar5 caught · to 28″

Chestnut Lamprey3 caught · to 9″

Longnose Gar3 caught · to 37″

Sucker3 caught · to 12″

Logperch2 caught · to 3″

Bigmouth Buffalo1 caught · to 12″

Bullhead1 caught

Highfin Carpsucker1 caught · to 10″

Length is the largest fish netted in the survey, not an angler record. Source: Indiana DNR fish survey (Indiana Data Hub) (counts summed across survey years).

Non-native species records

1 record

Fish

Silver Carp

What does non-native mean?

USGS records identify non-native species that have been documented for this lake or its shoreline. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive, and historical records do not confirm current presence.

Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.

Quick answers

Cypress Lake — common questions

How deep is Cypress Lake?

The deepest contour on the Indiana DNR bathymetric survey of Cypress Lake is 8 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.

How big is Cypress Lake?

Cypress Lake covers about 38 acres in Jackson County, Indiana.

What fish are in Cypress Lake?

Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 26 species and the evidence behind each.

Is there public access to Cypress Lake?

Yes. The Indiana DNR lists a public access site on Cypress Lake: a boat ramp with ADA access. The DNR records no fee. DNR directions: "Near the intersection of I-65 and SR 11."

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