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The Indiana Slab Masters is looking hard at putting these lakes on the schedule next year. I was wanting to come up sometime mid to late summer and see what kind of fish these bodies of water can produce. I would be interested in getting with someone closer to the area to fish with. Anyone have any interest or input?
You can call Jim or I and we would be happy to inform. pm sent
Thanks Brad
Shafer can be a real busy lake cause of Indiana Beach and the pleasure boaters for the size of it. Freeman was always a great smallmouth lake. Haven't fished either since the late 80's but Freeman was always my fav. even tho its lined with cabins. Has docks and canals. I would think spring or fall would be awesome fishing. Good luck and keep a tight line.
It looks and sounds fishy. The club certainly takes into account things like boat traffic, because I don't think anyone likes being bounced around all day. Being farther north, we have the advantage of cooler water, but the water lice and their wetsuits still can drive a fisherman crazy.Quote:
Originally Posted by cevans
I would suggest waiting until after Labor Day due to the pleasure boaters. If you're looking for someone to fish with let me know. These lakes are basiclly in my back yard and I have never fished them due to access, boat traffic, and the banks being lined with cottages and homes. Contact 10 point, he fishes them quite often. These lake are heavily fished and you don't here of them producing much.
Both lakes produce a lot of 12/14" fish, and trust me there are some 16"/17" fish also. Spawn time will produce the best fish, and on these lakes spawn is very late may or early june.. Parking/launch on Shafer either at the trailer park @ the Monon or Indiana beach. If you need phone numbers to both areas we can give them to you. Freeman ramp , the old pearsons marina that has been bought out by Tall Tembers. You can launch 4 boats on this ramp and plenty of parking. There is a $10 launch fee for both lakes.
...Motel wise, Best Western in Monticello is the nicest one. There is a mom & pop motel west of the BWern. There are 2 other motels on 24W.
Bait shops would be Breazy Hill or Twin Lakes.
Shafer can be muddy looking from the boat traffic most of the summer time..Freeman water looks tons better for fishing all tannic acid and clear like. Lots of sand and rock areas on Freeman as well as weeds in both if yu have never fished them. More bottom type structure fishing as you will not find a lot of blow down type wood to fish or cover also. Years ago,,,parking was also always a bit of pain. I always caught good fish out of both when I used to fish them. You just never hear much about either,,but walleye also there.
duplicated,,sorry about that.
Both lakes during the summer have about the same water color,,stained. The monon on Shafer can get pretty clear.
Haha, I haven't really been fishing it because I do better going down to Eagle Creek. I've had a few good days fishing docks at Shafer. As mentioned lots of pleasure boaters and people swimming in the water. It would be interesting to see what kind of fish you all would get out of there.Quote:
Originally Posted by foolfishin
I think an early May tournament would be good there. I am all for it next year. With over 2000 acres of water to fish and prespawn females, it could be a good tournament!
Why don't a few of ya's just get together and do a fish test on them...go fish them and see if you want to hold a tournament on them? I would think that would answer your questions.
And,,,have been thinking,,,you might want to check with DNR,,,don't know anymore about the permit process for fishing tourneys...I do know Indiana Bass quite a few years ago had to quit fishing these lakes cause they had too many boats (entries) to hold a tournament there on Freeman and it may also been do to complaining of the cottage owners also as well as the problems of launching and parking that many contestants. I don't remember,,and I am sure its all different rules now,,, holding tournaments here and there,,than when I was affiliated with IBF. As your club grows, you may encounter rules as to when, where, and what waters the DNR can allow you to fish. Good luck and enjoy your fishing.
There is some good fishing on Freeman, but it can be hard locating the schools. The DNR does not control the two lakes, NIPSCO does. However they do patrol them heavily. If you are worried about boat traffic, stay off of Shafer as they rent boats and there are morons running them. There is a public access point on Freeman, but it is up in the river section.
wow! it dont look like anyone like morons, water lice & pleasure boaters... lol
Freeman only 190 miles from ohio Shafer 200...sounds like a hoot...
I did a quick scan of the bass tourneys held on these 2 lakes and only saw 4 small club tourneys for the entire fishing season being held. The clubs and IBF used to pound them in the 70's, 80's and early 90's. Don't know why they don't now. See for yourself. I still think your better off to go up,,check out the launches,,and the lakes,,and the fish and see if you want to hold a tourney up on them. Good luck in your endevours.
http://indianabass.com/?s=tournaments&search_404=1
Seems like there is a tournament out of the Big Monon ramp on Shafer about every weekend. Freeman has a bass tournament every Wednesday night. Twin lakes bait and tackle would be the people to talk to.Quote:
Originally Posted by cevans
good to know..I figured there has to be bass clubs hitting these waters as they are too good to miss out on especially Freeman for the smallies. It was always my fav. of the 2 for that reason. And I always like the color of the water too not to mention the lake bottom of sand, rock and other structure to fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by 10point
The actual plan for the Indiana Slab Masters and it is still in the works is to fish Freeman, and the tournament would proabably be held in April due to the boat traffic. I have been working with "A Jewel in the Woods" in Lafayette. They have worked out a deal with Tall Timbers to give our club members a free launch on tournament day. We only have to have permits for state owned and operated lakes. Tall Timbers has boat parking for at least 35 trailers which is a minimum requirement for our club.
I know nothing about the crappie fishing there, but have been told that it is very good. We are always loooking for something to mix up the tournament schedule as we have become kind of redundant with our schedule. We are also looking at Glendale (Dogwood) in southern Indiana and possibly a natural lake such as the Barbi chain or one of the other large natural lakes that have the parking requirements required. If anyone out there knows of a lake that is popular, has a decent population of crappie, and can handle our parking requirements please let us know as we are always interested. Prairie Creek is another lake that is on our radar too. Thanks for the information everyone on this board is sharing! It is very much appreciated!
Good fishing to all of you!
Jim,
I know your wanting to miss most of the traffic on shafer in april, but I think it will be in the 5 pound class for a win. Mid May would be closer to the spawn and thats when the big girls will move up, and I think you would be mid to upper 7 to win.
Just trying to give you the best weigh-ins.
Maybe you better go up and read this posting about DNR's new rule about fishing within 200' of private shoreline. I want to hear what you think about this, and maybe someone in your organization can get a response from someone in DNR to explain this new rule. Is this as bad as it sounds?
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/showt...ing-near-shore
all the fish pics i see posted on line from there are mostly of like 12"ers. boats are thick as fleas but the bays are fishable. plenty of parking for you guys at the ramps. lots of bass tourneys from what i have seen. they are the only large lakes in a huge area, so they get pressured very very hard. typical reservoir structure with stained to muddy waters. cant think of any other info that would pertain to your quest. good luck and have fun guys.