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Lake Shafer, Indiana, USA

Lake Shafer is the summer destination of many Indiana families. Located just outside of Monticello, Indiana, Lake Shafer is one of two man-made lakes on the Tippecanoe River. Due to the constant flow of water from the river, the residence time of Lake Shafer is only 3 days. Lake Shafer is ten miles long and covers 1291 acres, and because of its location is a natural trap…
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    • All About Lake Shafer, IN

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Indiana - West Indiana -

    Lake Shafer is the summer destination of many Indiana families. Located just outside of Monticello, Indiana, Lake Shafer is one of two man-made lakes on the Tippecanoe River. Due to the constant flow of water from the river, the residence time of Lake Shafer is only 3 days. Lake Shafer is ten miles long and covers 1291 acres, and because of its location is a natural trap for sediment. Starting in 2004, there have been efforts to dredge the lake, removing sandbars and increasing the lake’s depth. Lake Shafer’s 50 miles of shoreline offer numerous recreational opportunities.

    Lake Shafer was created by the building of the Norway Hydroelectric Dam one mile north of Monticello. The dam, made of earth fill and concrete, was completed in June of 1923. Lake Shafer has been completely drained four times for dam repairs since 1923. The dam is owned and operated by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), and provides electrical power and recreation for the area. With its four generators, the Norway Dam is capable of producing up to 7,200 kw of electricity per hour. A second dam, Oakdale Hydroelectric Dam, was built just south of Monticello creating Lake Freeman. Up until World War II, these two dams provided enough energy to support Monticello and surrounding areas. Because both dams are run-of-the-river dams, the lakes maintain an almost constant water level. This has enabled both lakes to become centers for tourism. There are over 100 camps, resorts and tourist hotspots surrounding these lakes.

    Lake Shafer is the more visited of the twin lakes due to the presence of the Indiana Beach Amusement Park and Camp Resort, which is the largest amusement park in the state of Indiana. Indiana Beach Amusement Park offers over 30 rides including 6 roller coasters. They also have an exciting water park and miniature golf course. After a busy day at the park you can relax at Sandy Beach and enjoy the amazing view. Spending the weekend at Lake Shaffer is made easy with a variety of rental cottages and homes. There are several marinas offering boat and jet ski rentals. Water skiing is also a popular summer activity. Lake Shafer is full with boat traffic every weekend throughout the summer. The summer population more than doubles the year-round population of Lake Shafer, and tourism contributes an estimated 70 million dollars.

    Anglers come to Lake Shafer to compete in fishing tournaments and to take advantage of its diverse and plentiful fish population. Lake Shafer provides four public boat ramps along with several marinas. Lake Shafer hosts the annual American Bass Anglers Fishing Tournament as well as several other tournaments. With its abundant Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, White Crappie, and Bluegill, fishing on Lake Shafer is always a recipe for excitement. Whether you’re taking the kids for a family vacation or looking for a great place to fish, Lake Shafer is your destination.

    Things to Do at Lake Shafer

    These are some activities in the Lake Shafer, IN area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Fishing Tournaments
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Amusement Park
    • Miniature Golf

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Shafer?

    Lake Shafer has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Carp
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • Sunfish
    • White Bass
    • White Crappie
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Shafer

    If you’re considering a Lake Shafer lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Shafer Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Shafer lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Shafer Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: NIPSCO

    Surface Area: 1,291 acres

    Shoreline Length: 50 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 648 feet

    Average Depth: 10 feet

    Maximum Depth: 30 feet

    Water Volume: 12,910 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1923

    Water Residence Time: 3 days

    Drainage Area: 1,732 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Lake Shafer Map
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