Patoka Lake Drop

[Moose1am]

Normally Patoka will be on the rise during the second week in April. They bring the lake level down to around 533ft in March. By the middle of April the lake level is starting to rise up to 536 which is summer pool. Now if we get a lot of rain that will change. And if we don't get any rain the lake won't rise and will stay low.

If the lake rises the fish will have new territory to go into. By April the shallows will be much warmer and the crappie may be spawning.

This year is appears that spring has arrived about 3 weeks early. My neighbors Bradford Pear trees are in full bloom. When these tree bloom the crappie are in prespawn mode and very close to spawning. I am seeing dandelions popping up and the pussy willow trees have already bloomed and are starting to drop the blooms. The early yellow flowers have been in bloom for about two weeks now. They started popping out of the ground in early February before that last cold spell put them back into a dormant mode. Now the daffodils are in bloom.

This week it's going to be above 65 deg every day. Highs will be in the 70's with lots of rain predicted as well.

Spring has arrived early this year. And even though Feb had some record snow and cold weather the average winter temps were above normal for the year. Last winter and last summer were the warmest on record.


quote=lurer;291220]going to patoka at 4/8-13 what conditions are we lookin' at currently and any guesses on conditions then.[/quote]

[lurer]

Any hints on bass fishin' then? Also, are there any websites, phone#'s that I could use for lake levels and water release dates, and current water temps. etc.?

[Moose1am]

http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/wc/res...plots/prr.html

Note: Lake levels have been dropping since the Middle of March. The lake was high all last year and most of this past winter. The lake should be slowing allowed to rise to summer pool starting in April sometime. But the levels will depend on the amount of rain.

It's been flooding on the White River in recent days. I don't know what the rainfall levels have been like in the Basin that feeds into Patoka Lake.

Might want to give the rest of us a fishing report after your get back home. The more you give the more you will receive. Patoka has plenty of bass to go around.

And there is hardly anyway to catch all the crappie in Patoka Lake. They just breed to fast.

Any hints on bass fishin' then? Also, are there any websites, phone#'s that I could use for lake levels and water release dates, and current water temps. etc.?

[lurer]

Reports will follow for sure, and I appreciate any info. given.