Mud Lake

Mud Lake's name doesn't tell you much about its depth. The DNR map shows a deep pocket beside the eastern part of Turkeyfoot Lake, making it quite different from a shallow marsh pond. Its short shoreline lets you focus on a few breaks rather than spend a day searching a huge reservoir.

Lake facts

• Lake size: A small connected basin beside eastern Turkeyfoot Lake
• Fish to target: Bass and panfish in the Portage Lakes fishery
• Depth: The depth map includes 40-foot contours

Where to fish

Try a small jig near cover and the upper side of the drop for panfish. For bass, work a soft plastic along an edge and slow down where the bottom changes. The map includes a 40-foot contour, but that is a feature to understand, not a reason to put every bait on the deepest bottom.

Getting on the water

Mud Lake connects with Turkeyfoot's eastern water. Plan your boat entry from a marked public access site in the connected system and check the route before launching. The developed visitor center and public beach are on Turkeyfoot; they aren't a separate Mud Lake boat ramp.

A few things to know

The park map lists Mud Lake as no-wake water with a 400-horsepower limit. That offers a slower setting beside a lake with designated speed activity. Don't assume all nearby shore is public simply because the water connects with a state park lake.