I just moved to Griffith IN from NC.  I'm buying a new Stratos 176 bass boat  I'm trying to find some good lakes within at hour of Griffith/northwest Indiana area for bass and or crappie. Also maybe some info about where the boat launches are on those lakes! Thanks!

Welcome aboard, Dennis! There's a lot of Indiana guys

here that will chime in soon!

Welcome,  Dennis.  I'm from Indy, but I can give you one good lead.  In Fisherman magazine called the south shore of Lake Michigan a real sleeper for trophy smallmouth. It mentioned fishing man made structure just about anywhere along shore. Best of luck!

Aside from Lake Michigan, there are few places you can take your boat within an hour of Griffith. Cedar Lake isn't far. On the weekends, the lake is so churned up, you can't fish it past 10. There is Bass Lake and Maxinkukee which are south of Southbend. In central and Southern Indiana, you get to the reservoirs but they are a few hours farther.

 If you head into Illinois, there is Heideke Lake that has bass, stripers, walleyes, and catfish.  It was a cooling plant lake but they don't generate there anymore so the water temps are normal for the area. It, like the other cooling lakes, doesn't open until April. That's probably the best lake that is closest to you. One half hour farther west is LaSalle Lake, a cooling plant lake with a lot of species present. Once you get into early summer, the water gets pretty warm and fishing slows down

I didnt realize you could take a bass boat on Lake Michigan? Any could inlets the stays relatively calm? If so where are these launches located?

If you want to get on some quick, fast-paced bass action - try hitting up the St. Joseph River (especially the more eastern stretches). It can be a smallmouth haven at times. I've even managed to get some 4-5 pounders in the boat.

 

Be careful of floating logs though.