The state-owned access is located on the west side of the eastern bay off state Route (SR) 1 on Circle Park Road.

Hamilton Lake covers over 800 acres in Steuben County. The lake tends to ice over and is a consistent place to drill a few holes all winter long.

Additional information is available by contacting the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s District 2 at (260) 829-6241.

For information on lodging and other amenities, contact the Angola Area Chamber at (260) 665-3512 or visit online at www.angolachamber.org.

SYLVAN LAKE
Put a minnow on your line and drop it in through a hole in the ice on Sylvan and there’s no telling what you’ll catch.

“One of the tried-and-true lakes in District 3 is Sylvan Lake,” said fisheries biologist Jed Pearson.

The best bet for Sylvan’s bluegills is in the Cain Basin on the southeast end of the lake. Bluegills in the 7- to 8-inch range are taken here regularly. And it’s not just the bluegills that make this a top winter destination. Black crappies and yellow perch have a following as well.

But the real pride and joy of the lake are its walleyes. Since 2001, walleyes have been stocked in the lake and that effort is paying off. Most of the fish will be under the 22-inch mark, but there are plenty with enough size on them to eat.

The ’eyes can be taken with Rapala ice jigs or live minnows placed under a small bobber. The advent of under-the-ice viewing instruments like the Aqua-Vu can help take the guesswork out of locating fish. Walleyes will relate to bottom structure but are still on the prowl.

Most of the walleye action will be in an area forming a rough triangle that starts on the east side of Bishop Island. From there, draw a line to Boy Scout Island in the northwest corner of the lake. Move on down to the southwest corner of Boy Scout Island and connect it back to Bishop Island. Rocks, big boulders, gravel substrate and sand make great walleye habitat, and that’s why you’ll find them in this section of the lake.

An unexpected, but welcome, surprise is the occasional nice largemouth bass that’s taken. Most are caught incidentally by fishermen targeting other species. Many bass ranging from 14 to 17 inches are present, with some reaching up to 21 and 22 inches. Chances of connecting with one are excellent.

The lake’s yellow perch will be feeding right through the winter season. The diffused low-light conditions allow them to respond to angler offerings in sometimes surprisingly shallow water. You’ll find them wherever they happen to be on the day. Minnows, small jigs tipped with larval baits and soft plastics can open up some fast action.