Patoka 3/20

[DaveH]

Took the day off and went to Patoka for a little R&R, walking the shore since I don't own a boat. Arrived and started fishing the tailwaters around noon and was rewarded with about a 2.5 lb buffalo. It hit on a 2 inch pumpkinseed tube jig with a chartreuse tail. Stopped off at Hoosier Hills Marina and fished the stump fields west of the docks. Nada. Decided to try a place I'd never been to and hit Walls Lake ramp area. I intentionally looked for steep shoreline with some sort of cover, and it paid off, sorta. First place I tried was east of the ramp, and I caught 3 dink crappie on a 1.5 inch purple tube jig with a white tail fished 12-18 inches under a bobber. Also caught a keeper white bass 3 feet from shore on the same jig I caught the buffalo on earlier. Tried the other side of the ramp and found a beaver lodge set on a steep bank; caught 2 more dinks there on the bobber set up before I had to leave.

The trick was to find steep shore line structure with some sort of cover, out of the wind and receiving plenty of sun to warm the water. Sorry, don't have a thermometer anymore, although I thought the water in the areas I caught fish was noticeably warmer than other areas I tested.

Not a bad day, just nothing the bring home (released the bass). The Hoosier Hills Marina restroom was the only one I found open today. FYI, the seats are cold this time of year

[Hoosier Crappie]

Nice post!

[usafret99]

Enjoyed the post sounds like a good relaxing day

[danwalleye]

sounds like a good time

[DaveH]

Thanks, it was a nice day. First time I've been able to consistently catch fish in quite a while, even if they were small. I'm going to take off work a little early and hit Monroe this afternoon. I'll let you know how things go.

[cevans]

Thanks for the report,,,hope you do well at Monroe/

[brandon812]

I had plan on going to Wall lake ramp this evening but got held up at work. Thanks for the report.

[DaveH]

Well, Monroe was a bust. Stiff breeze out of the SW kept the water rough. I was able to find a few spots near the Salt Creek ramp with steep shoreline and some sort of wood cover, but there were no fish to be had. Water was pretty cold wherever I went thanks to the wind mixing it up. The tailwaters beneath the dam were unproductive, too; there's very little wood in the water that I can reach from shore. Just a few years ago there were lots of trees in the creek I could fish and find crappie in this time of year. Also tried Hardin Ridge, but the wind was blowing directly onto shore, and I just gave up after about 1/2 hour. Maybe next time!

[danwalleye]

tough on these cold days try docks too