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Monroe Lake

Boat Ramps
13
Access Points
14
Species
13

Monroe Lake is the largest lake wholly within the state of Indiana, covering over 10,000 acres of water surface. Located near Bloomington in south-central Indiana, this expansive reservoir was once known as the Dead Sea due to poor fishing and limited fish populations, but in recent years has made a significant comeback with promising fishing opportunities. The lake features diverse underwater structure including submerged trees, rock piles, and drop-offs that provide ideal habitats for fish. With a maximum depth of 59 feet and water volume that fluctuates between 292 and 428 million cubic meters, Monroe Lake offers exceptional opportunities for fishing throughout the entire year.


Fish stocking schedule

Latest 5 stockings

  • Walleye5,622,856 fish · 0.9 in2026
  • Hybrid Striped Bass34,227 fish · 1.4 in2026
  • Walleye1,573,606 fish · 0.7 in2025
  • Hybrid Striped Bass53,750 fish · 1.1 in2025
  • Walleye6,471,900 fish · 0.2 in2024

Source

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Sizes are the length the agency reports. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

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Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Monroe Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Monroe Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Take Monroe Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

  • Use the map without signal

    Download the map around Monroe Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.

  • Log your catches here

    Keep a private fishing journal for Monroe Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.

  • HD depth charts from Garmin

    Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.

Get the onWater Fish app

Free on iOS and Android

Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)

See the best times to fish Monroe Lake and check the forecast before you go.

SALT CREEK NEAR HARRODSBURG, IN

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Latest
10 yr average

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