Lake James (Indiana)

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Lake James is a natural, glacial lake in the northeast corner of Indiana, in Steuben County near the city of Angola. It’s Indiana’s fourth-largest natural lake, with about 1,230 acres of water, roughly 117 miles of shoreline, and an elevation of 965 feet.

The lake has three basins—First (south), Second, and Third (north). The average depth is 27 feet, and the deepest part is about 88 feet. The lake’s water volume is around 33,000 acre-feet, and the water takes about 312 days to be renewed.

Water flows into Lake James mainly through Croxton Ditch (the largest inlet) plus Sowles Bay and Whisper Bay inlets. Water leaves through Jimmerson Creek to Jimmerson Lake. Water from Lake James and nearby Snow Lake drains west to the Fawn River and eventually into Lake Michigan.

Lake James is the largest lake in the James Lake Chain, a group of glacial lakes mostly in Steuben County. Pokagon State Park sits along all three basins, and the Potawatomi Inn is on the First Basin. A long-time lake hotspot, Bledsoe’s Beach has hosted dances, a hotel, and boat activity for decades.

Islands include Kemery Island in the First Basin; Goat Island, a tiny islet near the Second Basin; and Eagle Island in the Third Basin, connected to the mainland by wetlands.

History and development: The Potawatomi hunted around the lake area before European settlement. The lake was named Lake James by surveyors in the 1830s. Settlement grew after a railroad connected Angola to the lake in the early 1900s, boosting cottage development. A small electric railway served Paltytown, with a resort area, and mail service by boat operated from the shore for many years.

Wildlife and plants: The lake and surrounding wetlands host many birds and fish. Common fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, redear sunfish, and sometimes northern pike. There are more than 20 native aquatic plants, with different species at different depths.

Recreation: Boating and fishing are the main activities. In 2005, about 2,000 boats were docked on the lake. The Lake James Yacht Club hosts weekly sailboat races, and events include a Fourth of July boat parade and a Seaplane Splash-In near the Potawatomi Inn.

Water quality: In 1973 the EPA rated Lake James as mesotrophic, meaning a moderate nutrient level and good water. Improvements to wastewater treatment in the 2000s reduced nutrients further, helping keep the lake’s waters clear.