Ice-anglers who are interested in other species besides bluegill and redear sunfish need not worry. Largemouth bass are also present, although not in extremely high numbers. Yellow perch and black crappies are relatively abundant. Perch were found up to 11.3 inches long in the survey, and crappies up to 11.4 inches were measured. There are also warmouth and pumpkinseed sunfish to add variety to the catch.

According to Price, the maximum depth is 52 feet and the average depth is about 15 feet. Anglers interested in catching a bunch of yellow perch should look to the deeper water and fish near the bottom. Many of the other panfish will be found in shallower water.

SILVER LAKE
Beautiful Silver Lake in Steuben County can be found almost straight west of Angola, one mile west of Interstate 69 and just south of U.S. Route 20. This 238-acre body of water is popular with local fishermen, both for numbers and size of fish that can be caught. Although the lake has a maximum depth of only 38 feet, the average depth is 20 feet -- which provides plenty of space for the thriving fish populations.

Neil Ledet, the District 2 fisheries biologist for the DNR, gives Silver Lake the nod when it comes to a good ice-fishing destination in northeastern Indiana. "Silver Lake produces some nice 8- to 9-inch bluegills and 9- to 10-inch redears, too. It also has some decent northern pike that can keep guys fishing tip-ups on the move."

One of the more popular fishing spots on the lake is on the north shore between the large cattail peninsula and the shoreline. Ledet's assistant fisheries biologist Larry Koza often fishes Silver Lake during the winter months and agrees that this area usually holds plenty of fish. "It is the most popular spot for bluegills," Koza said. "There is a big hole in the lake that is 17 or 18 feet deep, and the whole area is surrounded by shallow water."

Koza also recommends fishing for yellow perch in the deep hole in front of the church off U.S. Route 20. The bottom dips to 30 feet in that area, and fishermen catch perch up to about 12 inches right there. "Silver Lake produces some nice perch," Ledet said, "but ice-anglers have to keep moving every day or two to keep up with these schooling fish, which typically move a lot during the winter."

Perch fishermen generally use live minnows for bait here, but when they are searching for fish, they often use heavy minnow-imitating ice jigs until they get some action. Most pike fishermen use large, lively golden shiner minnows with their tip-ups, although there are still some anglers who swear by large dead minnows. As usual, it pays to experiment.

According to Ledet, the state hoped to complete a public access site on this lake last summer. "Even if the site is not completed this year, ice-anglers will be able to get to the lake from the state-owned public access site lot," he said. "To reach the site off U.S. Route 20, go south on 360 W. to Lane 70, then go east to the next lane and turn right to the site."

ROCKVILLE LAKE
Located just a little north of the town of Rockville in Parke County, Rockville Lake has been somewhat of a "secret spot" for local fishermen for many years. Although it is a fairly small impoundment (100 acres), it consistently produces impressive numbers of bluegill and redear sunfish.

When asked about the current status of Rockville Lake's fish populations, District 5 fisheries biologist Rhett Wisener reported that everything was looking good. "It's one of our better quality panfish lakes in the west-central part of the state. The lake is only 100 acres, and usually the smaller lakes are better quality panfish waters."