Brookville Lake

[DSPCHAMY]

I could not believe the water clarity. You could see rocks and boulders in almost 18 feet of water. That may have been why they were not biting where I was. Plus the storm front that was coming in, I may have just missed the feeding frenzy before the weather moved in. We spent a lot of time up around the brickyard and the airplane area.

It got really rough in the late afternoon, got a couple of nice scratches in the gel coat on some of the stumps in the Brickyard cove thanks to some ski boats.

I have to say that Brookville has more than its share of idoits out there. Even fisherman would go flying by between the boat and the bank in 25 feet of water. I had a skier come by that I could have hit with an oar. What is Brookville's size requirment on Skiers? If I would have snagged him would I have had to throw him back?

Once again I appreciate all of your help in helping a brookville virgin out, unfortuantly I will have to wait to break my cherry down there. Hopefully I can get into a 20+ day like you had on Sunday.

Thanks again,
Jeff

[lov2fish]

Jeff, e-mail me on your next intended trip over. If I am off work or it's a weekend I will meet ya there and show ya around. It's alot easier to show ya spots then to try and direct you to em via e-mail.

[Fishhead]

Jeff, that same water clarity, rocks, boulders and its overload of pleasure boaters is what makes B-ville such a good night fishing lake, kinda a catch 22 LOL!

I have to agree with you on the lack of courtesy on the lake by fisherman and non-fisherman alike. I really try to be courteous to everyone. If theres a boat trolling I try to make sure I don't cross their lines, give other boats as wide a berth as I can, I don't put out a wake in the "No Wake" zone, basically obey all the laws regarding fishing and boating and give the other boaters and anglers as much courtesy as I would like in return. But truthfully I seldom recall getting that kind of courtesy in return.

I also beleive it won't be long until someone is killed out there. The adults pulling kids on tubes on the lower end of the lake going 20-30 mph with a 3-4 ft boat chop and cigarette boats running 90 mph its not a question of whether someone is killed but when. Its hard to see one of those little heads bobbing up and down in calm water never mind the boat chop at B-ville on a weekend afternoon. I see pleasure boaters pulling skiers and everyone in the boat looking back at the skiers, had to blow my horn 1 day as they were heading straight for my boat on the shoreline.

Some of the fisherman are just as bad, like you said I have had alot of fisherman that at least look like they should know better go between me and the shore, throw big wakes that practically thrown you out of the boat, etc. I had one boat pull up on the shoreline I was fishing, turn and come straight toward me on trolling motor. I was a little more than a good cast off shore and he tried to keep on fishing right where I was casting. I tried to ask him if he intended to go between me and the shore but he just ignored me and kept on fishing.

But I agree with Ray, if you take the time to learn this lake you will be hooked on it. Those smalljaws at night are absolutely addicting! And the lake produces some good greenfish to boot! Day fishing can be good too, especially before Memorial Day weekend and after Labor Day weekend. But this year, according to my logs, I have had more daytime success in the summer than in previous years. I think it has to do with the increasing weedbeds. The grass is increasing each year as is the fish population.

I heard a rumor from a trusted source that this years electro shock sampling of the fish population showed that the Smallmouth outnumbered the Largemouth for the first time at Brookville. I believe that is a direct result of the increasing grass. I also believe that when the grass beds reach a level in proportion to the acres of water, the smallmouth and largemouth populations are going to explode, similar to KY Lake in the 80's when the grass beds really took off. I want to know that lake like the back of my hand by then.

I'm heading to the lake Saturday PM and will fish straight through to noon on Sunday, even considering staying up there for Monday as well. I will post a report when I get back.

[idbefishing]

are the grass beds scatter all over the lake or is there a certain area? all the grass I've ever seen before were in the back of creeks. I've not been over there at all this year. Man, I would love to hook up with one of you gurus for a couple of outtings.

[Fishhead]

There are small grass beds at various spots on the main lake now. There are some beds in the lower section that are in 10-20 ft of water or more, they are mostly small but are growing each year. And there are a few spots where the beds first established themselves that are getting to be pretty good sized. I've seen some grass that is 4-6 ft long too!:9

Some are easy to spot and others, especially the deeper grass, you have to find on your sonar or pull it up on a lure. When I pull some up on my bait I always go back and check the spot with my sonar to see how big the grassbed is. And Ray is right, some of these beds hold some real toads. For the past couple years the grassbeds have been growing and showing up in spots that I didn't remember there being grass before, only a matter of time now until they really take off, unless the state decides to poison them.;(

[lov2fish]

Craig, the last couple years I have noticed grass in places where I had never seen it before. It is definetly a major bonus for the smallie lovers. I was pulling up chunks of live grass from 25ft. of water Sunday:7 I knew where a couple scattered grass beds were and they usually always produced fish under tough conditions, but now it's growing in alot of places, SWEEEEEEET!!!

Lance, give me a call sometime, i'll be your Huckleberry........

[DSPCHAMY]

I was impressed with the structure and the grass. The lake really excites me, and Ray I would love to take you up on your offer sometime. I have the ability to cut out of work if nature calls, so let me know when you want to give it a run, I would prefer to hit it on a weekday if that works for you.

I ran into grass beds where I did not expect grass to be, i.e. 20-25 ft of water on steep banks. You don't see that at Monroe or Racoon, the lakes I fish most often.

[lov2fish]

I prefer weekdays as well. My schedule is extremely flexible. I fish Geist on Tues. nights and the White on Weds. nights If we went one of those days I would have to be back in time for the tourneys to start. If we go Mon.,Thurs. or Fri. I can stay sunup to as late as I like.



Ray Rigby

[Fishhead]

Same here Ray! I have a couple spots that have grass that is 2+ft tall in water 20+ft deep, what an awesome combination, rock, wood and deepwater grass! Definately a recipe for big girls!:9

Now you've gone and done it! I'm all worked up for B-ville smallies and can't go until Saturday. Its gonna be a long 2 days. ;(

Ray let me know when your planning to go next time and we can try to hook up. I have somethig for you to look at regarding Brookville, a little project I've been working on.

[Cullin]

I'd say the idea that the smallmouth are outnumbering the greenies is right on. There have been more brownies weighed in this year in our tournaments than ever before. You guys are right on about the grass over there too. This lake is only gonna get better and there are some real toads over there. All worked up just thinkin about it. I still remember a tournament a few years back when we were checked by DNR and they asked if we had any fish. When I pulled out my 4 1/2 lb. brownie, the guy almost !@#$ his pants-and I quote " I didn't know there were smallmouth that big in this lake!" Amazing.

[dac]

I too agree this lake is improving. The smallmouth are really taking off, and it does really seem like the smallies are outnumbering the greenies. I think the number of quality keeper fish is up, but I think I used to see more 4 pound/5 pound plus fish(greenies and brownies) in years past, but there are definately plenty of hogs still in there now. I am sure the number of toads being caught will come back soon, as it is all cyclical. What really gets me is the number of quality smallies showing up in the northern part of the lake, from fairfield causeway to dunlapseville causeway, in relatively shallow water. I like the fact that I can get away with fishing a bit shallower in water slightly less clear during the dog days of summer and still get a mixed bag. Lets just hope the powers that be let the grass do its thing.

[Fishhead]

Your right the smallies are showing up in the North end of the lake more frequently. While I wasn't surprised that they are up in the shallower end of the lake since the water temps in the upper part are still relatively cool and deep water can be found up there, I am surprised at the numbers that are being caught up there. I fished the No Wake zone 2 weeks ago and caught 6 smallies off the rocks up there, again more smallies than greenies.

Not sure about the numbers of bigger fish though. I've kept a log for the last 4 years at B-ville and so far this year is pretty close to prior years. However, the late summer/early fall night bite has been pretty good to me that past couple years and that big bite in the late summer/early fall hasn't started yet, well at least for me it hasn't started. Hopefully the last couple of nights with the cooler temps will turn them on, I'll find out Saturday night!!!

But the big fish are still there. However, I think the bigger fish can stay deeper for longer periods than they had to before. With the increasing grass in the deep water the bass can stay out in that deeper water longer and perhaps do less roaming. The smallmouth can suspend over and around the deeper grass beds, then come up to hit schools of shad or move in to the shallows at night. Before the grass started to expand and increase those bigger fish had to roam more and move into the shallows more often to feed.

Another thing I try to keep in mind is that before the weeds started to increase most of the deep water fish I was catching came off of creek channels, steeper rocky dropoffs and points, flats where the creek channel ran close, etc. Now with the grass showing up in other areas some of the fish may be re-locating to these newer areas and not frequenting my old haunts as often as they did before. That’s why I try to keep my eyes open for new areas, like when I pull up grass on my bait in an area that did not have grass before. I check it out, see how big the grass bed is, how tall the grass is growing and look for other types of structure within the grass like brush piles, wood and/or rocks. Never know when your going to stumble on a new honey hole!!!