We all have our favorites. When it comes to places in Indiana where I seek solitude and time just being outdoors, Yellowwood State Forest is at the top of my list. It’s a place I greatly enjoy fishing, but also just observing nature, mainly because of beauty and remoteness of the land and water. The property is now home to a High Conservation Value forest area, where its namesake yellowwood tress will be managed.
Yellowwood trees are endangered in Indiana. They are native, but only found in Brown County. They occur in greater numbers in Kentucky and southern Illinois.
According to a press release issued by the DNR, John Seifert, director of the Division of Forestry, said, “Careful implementation of these practices will allow existing yellowwood trees to remain healthy, and the additional sunlight made available can result in higher flower and seed production, allowing new trees to develop,”
The public is encouraged to continuing using the new High Conservation Value forest area for recreation, which will hopefully lead to an increased awareness of and concern for these special yellowwood trees.
Allen Pursell, director of Forest Conservation with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), said, “Because Indiana’s yellowwood trees are located so far from any other yellowwoods in the United States, scientists at one time wondered if they might be genetically distinct from all other yellowwood trees.”
Fishing Yellowwood is enjoyable for many reasons, but what I enjoy the most is the ability to camp right by the shore, making fishing real convenient. All of the sites are primitive (class C). This means there is no electricity or shower houses. There is drinking water and vault toilets. Being a primitive campground not only keeps the number of campers and fishermen down, it generally limits campers to tents and small trailers. So if you’re a tent camper, it doesn’t feel like your staked out in a fancy subdivision. There are two playgrounds for kids and nice, paved roads for bike riding in certain areas of the campground.
Yellowwood Lake is a popular fishing impoundment located within the forest. Surrounded by beautiful hardwoods, the scenery and the solitude of this 133-acre lake speaks to the mindset of many anglers. Yellowwood Lake and Jackson Creek provide opportunity to fish for bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill and even stocked trout at certain times of the year. While all of these species are capable of being caught in fair numbers, it’s the bluegill in Yellowwood that draw anglers from near and far. Bluegill can be caught just about anywhere on the lake, as well as in Jackson Creek below the dam.
Remember to respect the resource of these muscular panfish. It’s not hard to over fish a lake the size of Yellowwood.
The Hoosier Fly Fishing Club of Bloomington has adopted Yellowwood Lake as its home water. The members of the club find enjoyment in spending time at the picturesque
lake and fishing in the solitude of the forest. Boats are permitted on the water, but only electric motors are allowed. The lack of swimming and especially the lack of outboard motors ensures the water remains rather undisturbed for fisherman. This is great lake for jon boats, canoes, kayaks, and float tubes.
Yellowwood State Forest is located between Nashville and Bloomington, just off Highway 46. The forest consists of 23,326 acres of public land that is popular with campers, hikers, hunters, fisherman and horseback riders. In the summer, the dense forest is cool and inviting of exploration. In the fall, the canopy of foliage covering this rolling Brown County land is breathtaking.
See you down the trail.