Story Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Story Lake has a reported maximum depth of 30 ft, and covers about 72 acres in DeKalb County, Indiana. The Indiana DNR survey maps contours down to 25 ft; the depth between 25 ft and 30 ft is interpolated rather than measured. Depths come from the Indiana DNR survey of 2019.
Measured from the Indiana DNR lake bathymetry survey.
Depth below 25 ft is interpolated. The survey's own contours stop at 25 ft, while it reports a maximum of 30 ft. The basin between those two depths is inferred by the model, not measured — so the shape of the deep hole is an estimate, and the deep-spot marker shows the deepest depth actually surveyed.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 25 ft
- Survey year
- 2019
- Surface area
- 72 acres
- Shoreline
- 1.55 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 14% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Ramp · Indiana DNR site
Additional depth details5 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–30 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 25 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
- 41.51539, -85.14022
- IN DNR lake ID
- 155641853
- Vertical exaggeration
- 2.66×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.1 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-21Story Lake has a partly natural setting, well sheltered geometry, limited nearby major-road exposure. 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 | Good | 15.8 of 30 | 58% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (4% forest, 54% wetland; 21% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 25.0 of 25 | mean fetch 416 m · 79% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions |
| 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 |
| Road isolation | Very Good | 11.8 of 15 | limited nearby major-road exposure · 4 INDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 2,146 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 14% 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
- Moderate — 4% forest and 54% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Indiana lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys12 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Lake Chubsucker
Hybrid Sunfish
About these fish → the Fish of Indiana guide
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 12 species found here — 8 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 2019Gamefish Largemouth Bass 79 · Bowfin 1
Panfish Bluegill 124 · Redear Sunfish 114 · Warmouth 11
All survey species12 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Non-native species records
1 recordPlants & algae
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.
Story Lake — common questions
How deep is Story Lake?
The Indiana DNR reports a maximum depth of 30 ft for Story Lake. The survey's own contours reach 25 ft, so the depth below that is interpolated from the reported maximum rather than mapped.
How big is Story Lake?
Story Lake covers about 72 acres in DeKalb County, Indiana.
What fish are in Story Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include largemouth bass, bluegill, bowfin, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed. The page lists all 12 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Story Lake?
Yes. The Indiana DNR lists a public access site on Story Lake: a boat ramp with ADA access. The DNR records no fee. DNR directions: "3 miles W of Ashley on SR 4, then 0.5 mi. S on CR 11."
Is the depth of Story Lake measured or estimated?
The survey contours reach 25 ft while the survey reports a maximum of 30 ft, so the basin between those depths is inferred by the model rather than measured.
