Loss of weedbeds on Patoka

I know we have had many discussions about the diminishing crappie populations in Patoka but one thing I have noticed is the lack of weedbeds. No doubt the shad have made a
mess of the lake and destroyed a great panfishery. Loosing the weedbeds seems like a throwback to Turtle Creek when all the weeds were lost and turned it into a catfish lake.
Friday a friend and I decided to look for some gills and weeds. We found lots of gills but none over 7 1/2 inches. I did catch 11 channels on my little bluegill jigs tipped with gulp alive.
Did not find any of the large weedbeds that we have fished for years.

Weeds are under 9 ft. of high water. All the weed beds are there in Painter Creek on south side all way to point. Weed beds on south side of Osborne all the way to little Patoka and up around the bend in the island. Then all way up on south side and parts of north side to Walls for sure. I found weeds above Walls also all the way to Kings Bridge trolling cranks. They are deep this year. I even found weed beds around the 2 islands very deep in front of the swimming beach out in main lake. There's still very decent weed beds where I been fishing. You find them 10 to 12' deeper cause of high water still. have feeling we will be complaining about weeds once water goes down to normal pool if that ever happens. I have even snagged quite a few bass in those deeper weedbeds moreso this year on cranks.

That is good to know. I fish mainly Lick Fork and the weeds in that area are pretty much gone.

And,,,weed beds are all around Dam Area and on Dam itself,,but,,,under at least 9 ft of more water cause its high.

I cannot say if there are less or more. With high water they would definitely be deeper and if some weeds are too deep and don't get enough sunlight they would die prematurely. I can say if you stop at the marina at Newton Stewart There is a spot in the marina by the pizza hut that is absolutely full of carp. Someone working there said they were grass carp. Whether they were or not I don't know but I thought they looked like ordinary carp but no specialist when it comes to carp. They hang there waiting for a handout. My wife started tossing some morsels in the water and they started swarming like piranha. I do remember in the early years of Patoka there was coon tail all they way to the top of the water in 15 to 20 feet of water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gone_fishing

I cannot say if there are less or more. With high water they would definitely be deeper and if some weeds are too deep and don't get enough sunlight they would die prematurely. I can say if you stop at the marina at Newton Stewart There is a spot in the marina by the pizza hut that is absolutely full of carp. Someone working there said they were grass carp. Whether they were or not I don't know but I thought they looked like ordinary carp but no specialist when it comes to carp. They hang there waiting for a handout. My wife started tossing some morsels in the water and they started swarming like piranha. I do remember in the early years of Patoka there was coon tail all they way to the top of the water in 15 to 20 feet of water.

---

When the water comes down, there may be some nice inside edges to fish. I've found the grass everywhere also. It's just deeper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by raporter

I know we have had many discussions about the diminishing crappie populations in Patoka but one thing I have noticed is the lack of weedbeds. No doubt the shad have made a
mess of the lake and destroyed a great panfishery. Loosing the weedbeds seems like a throwback to Turtle Creek when all the weeds were lost and turned it into a catfish lake.
Friday a friend and I decided to look for some gills and weeds. We found lots of gills but none over 7 1/2 inches. I did catch 11 channels on my little bluegill jigs tipped with gulp alive.
Did not find any of the large weedbeds that we have fished for years.

---

Was plenty of weeds in July when I was there.