Pinhook Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Pinhook Lake is mapped to a depth of 20 ft on the Indiana DNR survey and covers about 32 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
Measured from the Indiana DNR lake bathymetry survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 20 ft
- Surface area
- 32 acres
- Shoreline
- 1.91 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 10% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Ramp · Indiana DNR site
Additional depth details4 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–20 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 20 ft, 20 ft, 10 ft, 10 ft, 10 ft, 5 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
- 41.71384, -86.27529
- IN DNR lake ID
- pinhook-lake
- Vertical exaggeration
- 3.0× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 1.7 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-21Pinhook Lake has a substantially 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 | Modest | 0.6 of 30 | 6% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (4% forest, 2% wetland; 82% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 25.0 of 25 | mean fetch 349 m · 94% 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 | 10.5 of 15 | 1 DNR fishing access site · shoreline access · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 1.9 of 15 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 19 INDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 27,124 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
- High — narrow throughout — passing wakes would reach most of the water
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 10% 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 — 4% forest and 2% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Indiana lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys10 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Hybrid Sunfish
About these fish → the Fish of Indiana guide
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 10 species found here — 7 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.
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 2022Gamefish Largemouth Bass 68 · Northern Pike 7
Panfish Bluegill 390 · Redear Sunfish 68 · Warmouth 58
All survey species10 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Non-native species records
2 recordsPlants & algae
Fish
- Brook Trout
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.
Pinhook Lake — common questions
How deep is Pinhook Lake?
The deepest contour on the Indiana DNR bathymetric survey of Pinhook Lake is 20 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 Pinhook Lake?
Pinhook Lake covers about 32 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
What fish are in Pinhook Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish. The page lists all 10 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Pinhook Lake?
Yes, from shore. The Indiana DNR lists a public access site on Pinhook Lake: a shoreline fishing site with a fishing pier, a boat dock and restrooms. The DNR records no fee.
