Fishing Town Corner Lake

Town Corner Lake offers an excellent bluegill fishery in a small 14-acre setting within Pigeon River Country State Forest. Bluegill dominate the catch at 88% by number and grow nearly one full inch faster than the state average, with fish reaching 10 inches and 9 different year classes present showing consistent reproduction. The population estimate shows 25 bluegill per acre over 4 inches, providing steady action for panfish anglers. Largemouth bass make up 12% of the catch but grow extremely slowly at almost 3 inches below the state average, with most fish stuck in the 9-11 inch range despite having bluegill forage available. Only bass over 14 inches are rare, though one 16-incher was collected in the 2011 survey. The lake has two small basins with a maximum depth of 20 feet and average depth of 10 feet, substrate of marl and sand with pulpy peat in deeper areas, and high water clarity. Summer temperatures reach 73-74°F throughout the water column with no thermal stratification, making it unsuitable for trout despite decades of stocking attempts. The lake's fascinating management history includes two complete chemical reclamations in 1962 and 1973 that eliminated thousands of stunted fish, followed by repeated failed attempts to establish rainbow and brown trout fisheries. Access is via an unimproved boat ramp suitable for small boats, with a state forest campground on shore providing a remote fishing experience in entirely forested surroundings.