Need Info

[TNFISHIN]

I will be coming up from TN to stay a week @ Lincoln St. Park (7-1 thru 8) Just wondering about the fishing there @ the park? Also heard about some more lakes close by. Any and all info is apreciated. I have bass boat and alum jon boat just wondering which one to bring, about size of lakes, location (city), drive from park, is it even worth trying to fish around there, bass-crappie-catfish-northern pike I'll do it all. Thanks

[Moose1am]

There are a few good fishing holes closer to Lincoln State Park. Lincoln is where I use to camp a few years back. It's a nice park for and IN park. It even has a water hookup at each camp site. You won't find that at all the INDIANA state operated parks. Most like the Patoka campground have to share the water fountains with others. So you can hook your hose up to is unless you use a double fitting or something.

The lake at Lincoln is pretty small but it's right there. It's nice for a small two man boat or a small canoe. At the Boonville, IN Walmart I saw a new Fishing Guide Book for Southern IN. It even had a topo map for the Lincoln State Park Lake which impressed me. It also has all the Ohio River maps for most of IN where the IN has banks along the Ohio. That's real nice too. The book has a topo map of all the bigger and smaller lakes in Southern IN. Anything South of INDY will be there.

There's Patoka, Brookville and Monroe. Glendale, Huntingburg Reservoir and even Bogg's Creek in this book.

I'll bet that most of the newer super-walmarts will have that in the sporting goods dept. I live in Evansville, IN or near there and will try to check to see if they have the book too.

White River and the Patoka River also run through Southern IN.

The is Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife area in Pike County. There's French Island in Spencer County along the Ohio River. There's Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife Area and they have a very nice campground located just off the I-164 Bypass. Take I-64 south to Evansville and turn South onto I-164. Go to Boonville New Harmony Rd Exit and turn East and go about 2/10 of a mile. The parking lot for Blue Grass Pit is located on you left there on the North Side of Boonville New harmony Rd. The pit to the left as you going East is Blue Grass Pit. It's about 190 acres and about 60 ft deep in spots. The pit to the right as you go East on Boonville New Harmony Rd is LOON pit. It's about 210 acres in size. It's much shallower in general but also have lots of deep spots as well. The Eastern side and the Northern parts of LOON are shallower than the Western and Southern Parts of Loon. Then there is Otter Pit to the South of Loon Pit. It's just East of Euler Road, South of Kansas Gravel Road and North of Ayreshire Rd. All there of these bigger pits have concrete launch ramps but they are not very steep ramps. But they work well for a small john boat. There are 26 pits in this area most of which will require a small kayak or canoe to get into by water. But you can fish the banks easily enough on most of the pits in the Entire Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife Area. Be aware that this area is fished heavily by the locals and that most of the big fish have been caught a few time already. They are schooled and learned bass in this pits. LOL Fish are suspending off the drops about 10 to 12 ft below the surface. I caught a lot of 6" bass trolling minnows at this depth and a few 10" crappie as well. The lakes have bass, and other sunfish in abundance but there is a 18" size limit on Bass at the two biggest pits. Blue grass and Loon have the 18" size limit and you can only keep two fish that size. Any small bass have to be returned to the water immediately. Don't put them on a stringer or in your live well for that can get you fined big time. There are 3 or 4 conservation officers working Warrick County routinely and they do check your live wells and watch from a distance with binoculars. I have seen them ticket a lot of people for keeping small short bass. So be forewarned. I guess it's like that in all the other states as well. Follow the regulations and you will be OK.

Patoka is great especially during the middle of the week. Fish are going to be deeper and the end of points or at the deep submergent weed edge. That is about 10 to 15 ft deep depending on the water clarity and the part of the lake you fish at Patoka

You can find a Topo Map of Patoka at the two marinas at the lake and most of the bait shops have them too.

Regards,

Moose1am

[thompmd]

tnfishin,
You might also try West Boggs(westboggs.com) for bass. It's probably 30min from Patoka. Lots of bluegills but they run on the small side but if you have kids it will keep them interested and they have a nice beach area.

[TNFISHIN]

Alright boys, thanks for the great info so far. Now some more ?'s. 1. Patoka looks wonderful from the pics. Are all the ramps in pretty decent shape? or name the "do not try to put in here ramps" 2. Is there just one ramp @ West Boggs? 3. This is the kicker right here! I need some more details on actual spots to fish. I promise I am a 100% catch and release, I will not harm any fish or "yalls" water to the best of my ability. I am just into it for the fun and love of the game. I will not even tell anybody down here where these spots are. Thanks again for the info, when i saw the grass part I just about lost it. B/C there is nothing better than a hogg blowing up on a buzzbait or a popper on top of a grass mat. THANKS

[thompmd]

Tnfishin,
For Boggs I don't really bass fish there because my wife is with me and doesn't like to cast. The few times I did, with some success, I fished the riprap around the dam/restuarant and also in front of the ramp. I would think they wold also be schooling now which is always fun. I caught them on either a white buzzbait or white spinnerbait(hammered nickel willow blade) to match the shad,lots of shad in Boggs. You can probably get more accurate information from bassfishinghomepage under fishing reports under the Indiana section. There is another lake about 90min north that is red hot if you are willing to travel there???
Boggs is a small(600-700acres) so it is pretty east to run around and cover pretty quickly. There is some standing timber,some weeds and some docks as well.

[TNFISHIN]

I have a week to do nothing so 90 min is close if it is red hot. Is it Patoka or are you refering to another lake? thanks

[TNFISHIN]

What about the lake at Lincoln State Park? Thanks

[thompmd]

tnfishin,
you have mail.

[mikedaleo]

You are very near Patoka Lake which you would want a bassboat for. Very good fishing but can be tough in the summer. Be prepared for lots of grass. You can have a really good topwater bite early and late.