BFL at Patoka

[Frenzy]

I have always wondered if there are smallmouth in Patoka. The main marina's website doesn't list them as one of the fish stocked there. Maybe a few have made it in from the river but I'm not so sure about the abundance. Anyone have any light to shed on the subject?

[lov2fish]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-05-06 AT 09:52PM (EST)[/font][p]Patoka has quite an abundance of Smallmouth. I won't however tell anyone on a public message board where or how to find them. I will tell ya this, they ain't Largemouth and you ain't gonna find em pitchin a jig to wood.



Ray Rigby

[JRB]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-06-06 AT 09:55AM (EST)[/font][p]AND WE DON'T TARGET THEM CAUSE YOU AIN'T GOING TO WIN ANY TOURNAMENTS DOWN there RELYING SMALLMOUTH EVEN IF THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF THEM. I JUST SEEN PICTURES of a 5lb smallmouth at Monroe, it was a pig!

[indylux]

Can you share the smallmouth pic?

[Topwater2004]

I found it on a club tournament weigh in's picks.

http://members.evansville.net/eddier/patoka_er.jpg

I believe there are more.

[lov2fish]

My personal best smallie from Patoka is 4 lbs. 3 oz. I never target them during a tournament, as pointed out, they just don't weigh out the same as a Largemouth. I will admit though that I did target em once to try and fill out a limit and managed to do so. I still only finished 5th.

When I am just down there fun fishing I target nothing but smallies and the occasional crappie :)


Ray Rigby

[TI]

http://www.whiteriverbass.com/copper...album=12&pos=8

We've been catching them more readily this year too.

Chigger, they're by that spot where the two trees criss cross over that big rock! You know, where you was bustin' 'em up Van Dam style with that there Lucky Craft.

TI

[Chigger_Brumbalow]

Yes, TI

I remember the spot. We GPS it into my cell phone.

That was not just a Lucky Craft either, it was a special Moonsault CB 350 in light blue chartreuse color.

Thanks for buying dinner and drinks and everything, that day. Sorry I forgot my wallet again.

I got your back next time tho bro!

Do you like Glen Campbell? Swing on by Monday, we can listen to my new Glen Campbell and go over to Golden Corral. I won't forget my wallet this time.

Chigger

[Topwater2004]

Hey Lov2,

I have seen pictures of smallmouth from Patoka Lake, so I am sure the species is under the radar as that goes. I doubt too many people actually target them because they are more difficult to catch than a largemouth, and in a tournament largemouth will weigh out more usually.

I will give you guys a lake that is choke full of smallmouth, if you ever want to go to Wisconsin. Its up north and called the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage.

Rest assured the lake is not over pressured and most anglers are going for walleye.

The smallmouth are huge and the average football type body, and they can be caught in many areas of the lake.

Very few boats at all on this lake even in June when the smallmouth are spawing. It also has great campsites on islands and on the shoreline, so you can spend days out there without leaving.

The lake has good largemouth too, find shallow weeds in June and you found the largemouth.

Except for gas being 2.50 a gallon, I can't wait to get up there first week in June.

[idbefishing]

I have caught a few myself as recently as the first IBF tourn this year. They're out on the main lake and in the quarries.

[raporter]

I know there are some in there. Caught a few but wasn't targeting them when I got them. Hope someone can enlighten us on this.

[basser78]

I have caught several smallmouth up near the dam area. About 3 years ago I caught one that was about 3 pounds, other than that the rest that I have caught have been between 12-16 inches