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JE Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area

Address
517 N Warren Road
Huntington, IN 46750

Link to this page
on.IN.gov/roushlake

Admission
Free

Time zone
Eastern

Hours
Office:
Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. ET

Property: 24/7. Some activities may have specific open times, especially if there is a draw. Please call property for questions.


Description

J.E. (J. Edward) Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area provides quality outdoor recreational opportunities while maintaining 7,347 acres of land, 900 acres of lake, and 350 acres of impoundments. The property, which is approximately 15 miles long, is a long narrow band along the Wabash River.

J.E. Roush Lake, also known as Huntington Lake, was constructed in 1967 and is one of the three Upper Wabash Valley lakes, along with Mississinewa and Salamonie, operating primarily as a unit to control floodwaters along the Wabash River basin. J.E. Roush Lake also works secondarily with other lakes downstream to reduce lower Wabash and Ohio River floods. The lake provides benefits to nearly 60,000 acres of agricultural land and general recreational activities associated with hunting and fishing. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partners with the DNR under a lease agreement. The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife operates and maintains the recreation facilities and wildlife areas at the lake. J.E. Roush Lake was operated by what was then the DNR Division of Reservoirs until 1998 and then by the DNR Division of State Parks until 2010.

Most revenues used in land acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of J.E. Roush Lake FWA are derived from the sale of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses. Funds are also derived from the federal Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson programs to aid fish and wildlife restoration. These funds are derived from taxes levied on sport hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment. Indiana hunters and anglers are proud to provide this property free for the enjoyment of all.

View other properties managed by this office

J.E. Roush Lake FWA contains a reservoir that frequently experiences flooding when the property undergoes extensive rain in a short period of time. Recreational areas such as the campground, boat ramp, and some roads may be closed during flooding seasons. Contact the property for the most up-to-date closure information at 260-468-2165.

All hunters, range users, and dog runners are required to sign in and obtain the appropriate one-day access permit before entering the field at this property. The one-day permit card must be completed and returned to a self-service booth, drop box, or property office before you leave.

All other visitors are encouraged to obtain a miscellaneous one-day access permit before entering the field. The one-day access permit should be kept with you while visiting, then completed and returned to a self-service booth, drop box, or office before you leave. The information you provide will help us identify ways to improve Indiana’s FWAs for all users. We appreciate your patience in taking the extra time to complete the permit. Your feedback and comments are valuable to us.

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Map

Other properties managed by this office

  • Wilbur Wright FWA comprises 1,070 acres of river valleys and associated uplands in Henry County. The Big Blue River is the western boundary, and the dark, organic soil floodplain occupies approximately one-third of the property. The remainder of the property is the adjacent uplands and the Little Blue River valley. The property has areas of mature woods, fallow cropland, prairie grasses and forbs, and other areas of early to mid-successional habitat. The property also has areas of annual and perennial wildlife food plots. There is a small wetland near the Big Blue River. A trapping draw is held at Wilbur Wright FWA on the first Saturday of October at 10 a.m. ET. You must have a trapping license and be signed in before 10 a.m. ET to participate.
  • Province Pond Wetland Conservation Area is a 210-acre public property with a concrete boat ramp, bass, bluegill, and catfish fishing. This area also offers upland game, woodland, and waterfowl hunting. It has a self-service check-in station on-site and a mandatory check-in for hunting. No check-in is required for fishing. A draw is held online for opening weekend of waterfowl season and, for only those two days, waterfowl hunting is restricted only to drawn waterfowl hunters.
  • Randolph County Wildlife Management Area is a 519-acre public property that offers upland, woodland, and waterfowl hunting.
  • Modoc Wildlife Management Area is a 167-acre public property that offers upland and woodland hunting.
  • Dog training is not allowed on the above properties; dogs can only be used for active pursuit of game.
  • To learn more about the location and types of activity on these properties, view the Where to Hunt map.

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