Patoka Crappie fishing

[hunt2r]

I am going to Patoka the first weekend in May. I would appreciate some advice on locations on the lake and jig colors as well as any other advice for that time of year.

[Bumblebee_1]

Put in at Walls Landing. Head toward the main lake fish between the edge of the timber and the shore. Fish with 2" jigs white, white/silver glitter or clear/silver glitter. Tip the jig with a live minnow. You can also try the minnow under a sliding bobber.

Leave a few for me!

Tight Line to All!
Bumblebee

[JBehr]

Road Runners make an excellent search lure as well. Use 1/16 oz unless very windy or fishing deep, then go up to 1/8. 1"-1.5" white twister tails will work most of time. Once I find active fish, I will sometimes switch to small cranks to get bigger fish. Try casting "open" areas to see if there are any hidden brush piles. These will often hold better fish and aren't fished as often. Good luck.

[hunt2r]

>Road Runners make an excellent search
>lure as well. Use
>1/16 oz unless very windy
>or fishing deep, then go
>up to 1/8. 1"-1.5"
>white twister tails will work
>most of time. Once
>I find active fish, I
>will sometimes switch to small
>cranks to get bigger fish.
> Try casting "open" areas
>to see if there are
>any hidden brush piles.
>These will often hold better
>fish and aren't fished as
>often. Good luck.

What type of crank baits?

[JBehr]

I usually use small (no more than 2") Bombers but any brand will do as long as it is shad colored. One exception is I like a chartreuse belly with a blue back. These lures need to dive anywhere from 4-8' on 6# line. I personally do not like using a split shot to get the lure deeper. I don't seem to get as many bites although some people swear by it. I plan to try some Yo-Zuri snap beans this year to get a little deeper with a small bait (they are not floaters). A 1/4" Rat-L-Trap lure works well as do the smaller Rapala-type minnow baits. If you want to eliminate small fish, up-size to a regular bass-sized crankbait. You will get fewer crappie bites but they will usually be slabs. I try this after I have already found fish in a given spot. The bigger lure will go a little deeper and give you a different look.

Good luck.

Joe

[hunt2r]

Thanks. I will leave plenty I'm sure. I saw where last year there were alot of little crappie. Is the crappie in pretty good shape at Patoka. We had been going to Reelfoot but the last few years the size and numbers have been down but it could be a cycle.

[Bumblebee_1]

That is a good question. Fishing the general area I referred to I had a couple of days that would have averaged 100 fish last spring. I think I fished Patoka four times in the spring. 10%+ of those were greater that 9". I fished Patoka today and often do reasonable in the winter but so far this year winter fishing has been poor.

See you on the water,
Bumblebee

[Moose1am]

Hey Bumblebee:
I am curious about the winter fishing for crappie at Patoka. Would you mind answering a few questions about this?

What is the water clarity like in that area in the wintertime? Is is stained like it is in the Springtime?

Thanks for the report on the crappie fishing.

I fish Patoka just a few times a year. It's a 140 mile round trip for me and I just can't make it up there many times in my old truck. I sure wish I lived much closer to that lake. It would be a good place to retire to someday.

Regards,

Moose1am

[Bumblebee_1]

The water clarity is similar to what you find in the spring in the Walls area. In the winter I tend to fish the Lick Fork area. This is due to who I fish with in the winter. There are a lot more fair weather fisherman as you well know. My winter time partner prefers Lick Fork.

Bumbelbee_1

[Moose1am]

Thanks for the information. to try their luck.

Regards,

Moose1am

[hunt2r]

Thanks for the info and Good luck!