Lake Wawasee
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Lake Wawasee is mapped to a depth of 75 ft on the Indiana DNR survey and covers about 3,508 acres in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
Measured from the Indiana DNR lake bathymetry survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 75 ft
- Surface area
- 3,508 acres
- Shoreline
- 33.23 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 5% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Ramp · Indiana DNR site
Additional depth details15 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–75 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 75 ft, 55 ft, 45 ft, 40 ft
Provenance
Sources: IN DNR Lake Bathymetry, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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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
- 41.39906, -85.69872
- IN DNR lake ID
- lake-wawasee
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-21Lake Wawasee has a substantially developed setting, long open-water fetch, substantial nearby higher-volume roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Modest | 0.6 of 30 | 30% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (7% forest, 21% wetland; 62% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 2.4 of 25 | mean fetch 3,580 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long open-water fetch |
| Watercraft controls | None identified | 7.5 of 15 | No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law. |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 DNR fishing access site · boat ramp · ADA-accessible · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 0.8 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 65 INDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 10,267 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
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 5% 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 — 7% forest and 21% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Indiana lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys28 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Common Carp
White Bass
Lake Chubsucker
Hybrid Sunfish
Golden Shiner
Lake Chub
Brook Silverside
Logperch
Starhead TopminnowAbout these fish → the Fish of Indiana guide
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 28 species found here — 19 open to harvest.
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.
Official rule text for this lake
“An individual may take minnows at any time during the year.” — 312 IAC 9-7-15(a), 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
Fishery
surveyed 2008 and 2022Gamefish Largemouth Bass 348 · Northern Pike 117 · Bowfin 23 · Smallmouth Bass 18
Panfish Bluegill 1,748 · Yellow Perch 232 · Warmouth 99
All survey species28 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Non-native species records
6 records
How to identify invasive species in Indiana lakes →
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.
Lake Wawasee — common questions
How deep is Lake Wawasee?
The deepest contour on the Indiana DNR bathymetric survey of Lake Wawasee is 75 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 Lake Wawasee?
Lake Wawasee covers about 3,508 acres in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
What fish are in Lake Wawasee?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin. The page lists all 28 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Lake Wawasee?
Yes. The Indiana DNR lists a public access site on Lake Wawasee: a boat ramp with a fishing pier, a boat dock, restrooms and ADA access. The DNR records no fee. DNR directions: "Four miles S of Syracuse on SR 13, then two miles E on Old Road 8 (CR 1000N)."
