As of the time of this writing, there are hundreds of lakes in Indiana – hundreds of lakes that are totally worth visiting, if you ask us. Of those lakes, only a handful are natural lakes. The others are quarries, dams, reservoirs, or other man-made phenoms. Don’t get us wrong, the man-made lakes do make up some of the most beautiful lakes in Indiana, but there’s something about an all-natural lake that just hits differently. Enter Bass Lake, a small, peaceful lake in Indiana with a vibrant surrounding community and an incredibly relaxed vibe. Bass Lake isn’t your average natural lake, though. It’s got some mystery surrounding it, which makes us feel like it’s that much more worthy of a feature. Check out this small and unique lake in Indiana as soon as you’re able to and really take a minute to appreciate its oddness:
Bass Lake is the third-largest natural lake in Indiana, covering more than 1400 acres.
Though excellent for fishing, boating, and swimming, it’s not overly deep. At its deepest, it’s just 32 feet down, and its average depth is six to nine feet. It’s got long, sandy beaches, and it’s an excellent place for lounging about in the sun during the warmer months.
Even better still, it’s surrounded by a beautiful and vibrant low-key community, and the lake seems to emit waves of “chill” across the whole region.
But this lake’s a little different than the rest, for more than one reason. On one hand, the fish around here are a little…strange. Some disappear for no reason. Some appear for no reason.
Originally called Cedar Lake, Bass Lake was eventually renamed as a nod to the high number of black bass that were said to be present at the time.
Emphasis on the word “were”. Today, bass are few and far between within Bass Lake, but Walleye are plentiful… somehow (more on that in a moment). It’s not currently known why the bass population here is so low; it’s been a source of mystery for fish biologists trying to unlock the odd secrets of the lake. There are numerous theories, reasons, and ideas, but none that are concrete as of yet.
And then, seemingly overnight one year, an enormous number of Walleye fish “appeared” in the lake.
Scientists were absolutely baffled. The last time they’d conducted a survey just a year earlier, the Walleye they came up with averaged about three to four inches in length. These “new” Walleye tended to be between seven and eight inches long, and they couldn’t have been the fish that were previously caught. Did someone stock the lake (illegally) overnight? If so, it would have costed tens of thousands of dollars, so… who? And why? Until then, science is left to guess.
The “fish thing” isn’t the only mystery at Bass Lake, either. Bass Lake is weird for something other than its magically appearing and mysteriously disappearing fish: it has no obvious water source.
It is assumed that underground springs beneath the lake are what must be supplying it with fresh water, as there are no streams and no nearby dams or reservoirs that are tributary to Bass Lake. By all appearances, it should be a stagnant pool of water and a mosquito breeding ground galore.
So, it’s a bit of an oddity for multiple reasons, but there is one absolute certainty: Bass Lake is beautiful, low-key, and perfect for a relaxing afternoon away from the house.
Dip your toes in and wonder about the lake’s mysteries. After all, they ARE fun to think about.
So, what do you think? What’s feeding into Bass Lake? What happened to the bass? And where did all these Walleye come from? Tell us your thoughts and theories in the comments!
Address: Bass Lake, IN 46534, USA
The Most Mysterious Lake In Indiana Is Also The Most Peaceful
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