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181-acre reservoir near Batesville. A city-owned Ripley County reservoir with a public ramp, a 2023 Indiana DNR sonar bathymetry map, and warmwater fisheries led by bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. The lake tops out around 22 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Bischoff Reservoir maps at 197 acres behind 9.9 miles of shoreline. An index of 5 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 29% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 1.4 mi, about 1 mi across. If the bite dies, Mollenkramer is 1 mi to the west.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official exact-water fish record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Early season bluegill use the shallows, holding in 1 to 6 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 15 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 22 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 1 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (21 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 7 to 22 ft game here, winter a 7 to 22 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 22 ft, prime for winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Spring largemouth bass on Bischoff Reservoir hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 22 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 21 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (21 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring channel catfish on Bischoff Reservoir hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 7 to 22 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 22 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 22 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) |
Early season brown bullhead use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 3 to 12 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 22 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 22 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 7 to 22 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) |
Bischoff Reservoir carries 7 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 22 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Indiana waters are set by the Indiana DNR — and special regulations can apply to Bischoff Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Indiana fishing regulations →
Bischoff Reservoir is about 22 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, brown bullhead on Bischoff Reservoir.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For bluegill, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bischoff Reservoir is regulated by the Indiana DNR. Check the official Indiana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Mollenkramer 1 mi · Whitewater River 15 mi, IN/OH · Decature County Park Lake 18 mi · Brookville Lake 20 mi · Brush Creek Reservoir 23 mi · Whitewater Lake 26 mi · Acton Lake 31 mi, OH · Winton Woods Lake 36 mi, OH · Rush Run Lake 38 mi, OH · Ohio River - Markland Pool 39 mi, OH/KY · Woodland Trails 39 mi, OH · Martindale 40 mi
See how Bischoff Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Indiana · best crappie lakes in Indiana · best bluegill lakes in Indiana · best channel catfish lakes in Indiana
Browse all Indiana fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.