Thread: Anyone have luck on Patoka?

I really think you call it fishing pressure that has screwed our big waters up. I have watched and participated in causing the fishing on Monroe and Patoka going to the dogs as on Patoka, we had a couple of years of 1000 lb weigh in of bass in Indiana Bass Fed. tourneys in the early days of the lake,,but never again,,or ever will there be those kind of weigh ins for bass. Same for the blue gills on Patoka,,we had 4-6 yrs of fill the cooler with big gills,,but what were we doing without thinking was raping the fishing beds of the big gills thinking it was a endless resource of which our DNR backed every move the fisherman made. DNR put Northern Pike in the lake and even tho they didn't reproduce, I always attributed the introduction of them cause the Smallmouth population to die out as both fish competed for the same food and cover. 2 yrs ago on high water,,we slayed nice crappies with cranks, but absolutely after catching limit after limit, nothing over 14 inches,,then last yr,,dry and lake normal to low,,nothing over 12 inches as well as no big numbers. 2 seasons ago,was the last time I took a bass at 5lbs and it had been several years I had even caught one at 5. I catch maybe 6 walleyes a year out of Patoka at 4 lbs as well as maybe 12 smaller ones and have to fish my butt off to nail them even tho DNR has dumped about 25 million in the lake, and by mid June,,,the best fishin is over with for the year anymore so I end up on the river rest of the time,,not wasting my resources on Patoka or Monroe for that matter. I personally think DNR doesn't have a clue or really cares how it manages our resources as now they are even considering baiting deer for deer hunting and the herd is decreasing of which that is their primary intentions. I really think,,we have seen and experienced better days, but we will see as soon as the ice goes out and weather warms,,won't we?

I live in, and fish at Brookville and like most crappie lakes it goes thru cycles. some years are better then others. the reason I say thin the heard is because if you have that many small fish there isn't going to be enough food for them to get bigger.

I've got a crappie tournament on Patoka in June so I'm sure I'll be coming up to fish. Just hope I can find some of the better fish. Haven't tried pulling cranks in it. It would be the right time of year for it. I used to go up there with my dad and he's not with us anymore however, I have a lot of good memories from goin to Patoka growing up. I definitely agree about not being enough food in the lake with all the little ones I catch. The DNR told me up there they wish there wasn't even a limit on the crappie so they could thin them out. A Kentucky lake crappie that measures 10 inches is probably around 2 years old a 10 inch crappie at Patoka might be over 6 years old. That's rough for a die hard crappie fisherman.

I am positive there are bigger crappie in that lake. usually you have to get out of those crowded coves and fish something new.

ever since I got my hb1198 I spend 75 percent of my day trolling around and staring at the screen until I find that special piece of structure that I am looking for. it seems like wasted time but it has worked so far.

I catch a few big ones down by walls and other spots by water tower once in a while and walleye are certainly a rare treat but many days they are small I spent 3 days searching for walleye only, with harnesses and cranks and only got catfish and yellow bass

what time of year were you fishing the walleyes? the water on Brookville has been getting clearer so it seems like the night bite is better in the summer. I am not a big walleye fishermen but did good the end of may trolling flicker shads thru standing timber. right now is a good time to go out and mark your trolling lanes if at summer pool most of the timber is under water.

I catch all my walleye in Monroe and Patoka while crappie fishing trolling flo. green twister tail jigs, flo orange jigs, and bright colored bandit crank baits as well as a few other types of crank baits over points, mud flats, rock wall areas, sandy and rocky areas,,next to deep water,,as well as weed lines next to deep water down by the dam at Patoka also. Have caught them as far up as across from Walls boat ramp and the rip rap at the bridge out from Lick Fork launch also. Trouble is, never in a school as always singles scattered. Sometimes can catch more than one when fishing at Monroe in the same area. I'm not too much of a live bait fisherman on walleye as I mostly use artificial. I have used crawlers tho,,but not much success. When trolling for them,,I find 0.8 to 1.4 mph is the speed they seem to like the best depending on the bait. Cranks alittle faster than the jigs with the jigs working the bottom moreso. Anything faster and its a no go for me. Time of the year,,as soon as the ice goes out to mid June is best...after that,,they go deep.