Went to Patoka today. Sucks!

[cevans]

Can't say I will ever go back. Caught about 100 crappies and yellow bass,, trolled spinners and jigged for walleye where I had previous past years had caught one here and there on main lake hitting alll the points, the dam, the islands over 8 hrs. Burnt up 4 doz night crawlers then switched to crank baits of all types. Never caught a walleye or a keeper crappie or a large enough blue gill to keep. Only saw 6 other boats fishing, 2 house boats, 1 pontoon boat, and 1 jet skier. Had the entire lake to myself. Big thing I noticed is not a weed growing in the lake anywhere. Every weed bed is gone and that is a tremendous loss of cover especially for the hatch or spawned fry. Lake is only up about 4 ft. Over summer pool. I have no idea where it all went. I stopped at Patoka Marine and chatted with the guys there and they didn't know, but heard others complain also. They also said they haven't heard of any wallleye caught either. I'm done with Patoka, it's all yours.

[Locator79]

No thanks, take it back

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[gone_fishing]

Cold front. Talked to MRDUX he said it was real tough yesterday too. Even on a day I think it may be a good fishing day it's hard for me to get motivated to go to Patoka.

[HoosierSlabs]

Patoka is where we camp so I fish there as well. This is only my 2nd year trying to crappie fish & it has been a struggle. By no means do I know enough to be at the level of Mr. Chuck, it just seems the reputation the lake used to have doesn't hold true anymore. Best of luck to those out fishing, hopefully one day I will be able to give out good advice on how & where to catch a good mess!

[cevans]

Without the weed beds, you will have to fish the timber, existing brush piles, downed trees, and structure fish the creek channels, flats, humps, intersecting creek channels, baitballs, and search for crappies. Long lining jigs and crankbaits would be the easiest search method and quickest if you fish Patoka. I will hit it again just because I am hard headed and wasn't happy with the looks of how it's changed. We will just have to change with the lake.

[Billbob]

find new ways

[raporter]

Most weeds have been gone for some time now. Still catch a few good ones real early. Very few and very early.

[toomanycasts]

The only weeds I've seen are deep. They didn't grow well with the lake so low in early spring. They'll be back.

[Lloakley930]

I agree with cevans, the fish are there. You just have to find them. Spider rigging wind protected channel drop offs with double minnow rigs has gotten me 40 fish per trip a few times this year after cold fronts where I'm from. Get a map of the lake or make one it's invaluable when the bite is slow and you have to rethink where they may be. Have fun


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[Inspector Mike]

What gets me is it's still and excellent green carp and catfish lake !