Crooked Lake, Indiana, USA

Crooked Lake, located five miles north of Angola in Steuben County, Indiana, is one of 101 lakes in Indiana’s Northern Lakes Natural Area offering fishermen and boaters a virtual paradise. Named for its gourd-like “crookedness”, Crooked Lake is one of the largest of the lakes and covers 802 acres. Steuben County Park, located on the lake’s southeastern shore, and several other parks in the area make it…
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All About Crooked Lake, IN

Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Indiana - North Indiana -

Crooked Lake, located five miles north of Angola in Steuben County, Indiana, is one of 101 lakes in Indiana’s Northern Lakes Natural Area offering fishermen and boaters a virtual paradise. Named for its gourd-like “crookedness”, Crooked Lake is one of the largest of the lakes and covers 802 acres. Steuben County Park, located on the lake’s southeastern shore, and several other parks in the area make it an ideal spot for camping and outdoor recreation.

Indiana’s Northern Lakes Natural Area is known for its wetlands, springs, lakes, and forests. Like many of the lakes in this region, the shoreline of Crooked Lake has been heavily developed for residential use with the surrounding area being mainly agricultural. Lakefront vacation rentals are available to Crooked Lake visitors.

Indiana has some great lakes for catching trophy size largemouth bass, and Crooked Lake is no exception. The cold winters make for excellent fishing in the spring. Walleyes, crappies, catfish, and bluegills are also active and hungry. For those who like carp, you will find plenty of them in the lake as well. The Bowfishing Association of America holds an annual nighttime carp rodeo at Crooked Lake to reduce the number of fish in the water. Ice fishing is also popular for those who brave winter’s chill. Access to the lake can found at a public boat ramp located at Steuben County Park.

Steuben County Park and Campground offer overnight and seasonal camping on Crooked Lake. There is a sandy beach for swimming and other summer activities. For campers, there are campsites with electricity and water, shower houses, a modern restroom and outhouses. Picnic facilities and hiking trails can be found throughout the park. Additional vacation rentals can be found on and around the lake.

People wanting to bring their speedboats to Steuben County will find opportunities to skim across the surface on a handful of lakes including Crooked Lake. Power boats and small sailboats are available for rent from some private marinas on the lake. The Crooked Lake Ski Association, as in water skiing, sets up a slalom course in what is called the third basin of the lake.

Another favorite camping location north of Crooked Lake is Pokagon (Po-KAY-gun) State Park. Off I-69 at Lake James and Snow Lake, the park offers abundant opportunities for boating, swimming and fishing. Pontoon and small boat rentals are available on Lake James. Facilities at the park include: playgrounds, horse back riding, swimming, a sand volleyball court, vacation rentals, camping, a general store, a nature center, and a restaurant.

There are a number of spots in the Crooked Lake area where people can drop canoes or row boats and enjoy the water. Fish Creek, Pigeon Creek and Fawn River are all located within Steuben County. If you didn’t bring your canoe, you can rent one on Pigeon Creek.

Winter activities in and near Crooked Lake include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and a toboggan run at Pokagon State Park. Climb a 30-foot tower, then fly down a 90-foot vertical drop for a quarter mile wooden toboggan ride through the snow-covered woods of Indiana. The toboggan run operates weekends from the Friday after Thanksgiving through March 1. You will also find a tubing and sledding hill at Pokagon State Park.

For those who would like a break from the lakes, the town of Angola is a beautiful little community just southeast of Crooked Lake. The most popular landmark in Angola is a civil war monument. At 70 feet tall it is the second tallest monument in the state. The town has many places to shop, eat and explore.

If you enjoy fishing, boating, and the great outdoors year round, then Crooked Lake and surrounding Steuben County is for you. With more than 100 lakes and three navigable creeks and rivers, there are plenty of water and outdoor activities for the entire family.

Things to Do at Crooked Lake

These are some activities in the Crooked Lake, IN area visitors can enjoy:

  • Vacation Rentals
  • Fishing
  • Ice Fishing
  • Boating
  • Sailing
  • Swimming
  • Beach
  • Canoeing
  • Water Skiing
  • Tubing
  • Camping
  • Campground
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Tobogganing
  • Horseback Riding
  • State Park
  • Playground

What Kind of Fish Are in Crooked Lake?

Crooked Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

  • Bass
  • Black Bass
  • Bluegill
  • Carp
  • Catfish
  • Crappie
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Walleye
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Find Places to Stay at Crooked Lake

If you’re considering a Crooked Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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More Sites to Book a Crooked Lake Vacation

Our interactive Crooked Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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Crooked Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

Water Level Control: Crooked Lake Association

Surface Area: 802 acres

Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 988 feet

Maximum Depth: 77 feet

Lake Area-Population: 18,131

Drainage Area: 12 sq. miles

Trophic State: Eutrophic


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