Patoka 9/16/06

I am planning to go to Patoka tomorrow for some bass fishing. I have not been these since May. Any input on the lake condition and what the fish are doing would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Bumblebee

[url]http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/wc/wq/prr.html[/url]

The temperature data looks normal for Patoka Lake at this time of the year. But, the DO data looks ABNORMAL. Note the black line is the DO readings on 9/11/06. The Green bars represent the high and lows readings over the past years at the different depths. The middle of each green horizontal bar is the average readings for that particlar depth. If you are following this you will soon see that the back line is way off the green bars. That shows a outlier reading. I ohter words I suspect that the YSI DO METER was not setup properly or had a bad probe. The probes are filled with KCL soln and are pressure regulated with a rubber diaphram. If the diaphram leaks then the KCL Soln can become diluted with lake water and or the pressure compensation of the probe can become compromised. Also the anode and the Cathod of the probe are covered by a semipermable membrane that allows oxygen gas though but not water. When you put on a new membrane and add new KCL soln you have to calibrate the meter slope and intercept using water saturaged with oxygen at know temperatures. I suspect that this procedure was not performed right and that the readings are in error. I hope that they get this problem corrected and that the readings return back to normal.

I would fish the edge of the underwater grass. That's were the fish will be. If you can find an area where there is a channel or drop off with wood, grass and various bottom types then that would be a good spot to fish.
Regards,

Moose1am

Thanks for the thoughts Moose, here is what happened. We took several fish off of a grass covered point and a couple in the back of the bays. Those on the point were caught with crank baits those in the bays with a small worm. Later in the day we picked up a couple around stumps in deeper water using a baby brush hog.

Thanks for the feedback.

We could use a lot more fishing reports on all the lakes in IN.

Glad you caught some fish.

I read a report based on Tim Gibson's experience this last few weeks and Tim said that the creek sections were turning brownish green in color. Not sure if they are turning over or not. I know that not all sections of the lake turn over at the same time. And that the creeks being shallower than the main lake will cool down faster and turn over sooner.

I will have to get up there and fish Patoka for crappie pretty soon.