Patoka info??????

[bullrdr6]

As mentioned earlier the best time for Patoka has already passed this year. There are a few individuals at Patoka that always do well in every tournament.

My personal opinion: I live 45 minutes from Patoka but will/do gladly drive 2 hours down to Barkley and KY Lakes. Patoka is a very clear lake, due to the grass and I don't like fishing clear water. Because of its location it gets a ton of pleasure boat traffic and is not big enough to handle all the pressure it gets.

Some people really like Patoka and other can't stand it. My biggest gripe is the $20 motorized boat permit you must buy to fish Indiana State owned lakes. I refuse to give the state any more money since they do nothing to improve the fisheries, ramps or facilities. I'll stick to fishing the county owned lakes, rivers and going to other states.

Charlie

[mhall]

As mentioned earlier the best time for Patoka has already passed this year. There are a few individuals at Patoka that always do well in every tournament.

My personal opinion: I live 45 minutes from Patoka but will/do gladly drive 2 hours down to Barkley and KY Lakes. Patoka is a very clear lake, due to the grass and I don't like fishing clear water. Because of its location it gets a ton of pleasure boat traffic and is not big enough to handle all the pressure it gets.

Some people really like Patoka and other can't stand it. My biggest gripe is the $20 motorized boat permit you must buy to fish Indiana State owned lakes. I refuse to give the state any more money since they do nothing to improve the fisheries, ramps or facilities. I'll stick to fishing the county owned lakes, rivers and going to other states.

Charlie

You know me and my buddy thought that was awfully steep too, do they not want people using their lakes or what?? 35 dollars for out state license then another 27 dollars to splash the boat, ouch. I think the 27 dollars covers you all year though but you would have to go a bunch to get your money's worth.

[Moose1am]

They added this fee to help collect money from all the big boats that would be tied up to the buoys at the Marinas. Since they only launched one time per year if that often they never had to pay the launch fees at the ramps very often. So now they pay $20 a year just like everyone else from IN State.

But yes I think IN just wants more money. Not sure if they are deliberating trying to keep out of state people from using the lake. Lots of people from the Louisville, KY area have boats on Patoka Lake and fish this lake all the time. They like to use the Little Patoka River area of the lake since that's closer to home for them. Many people from all around have cabins or trailers at the lake and go to the lake on weekends all summer long.

I like to retire on Patoka Lake some day but KY lake would be a better retirment home IMHO. Patoka is too small of a lake for the number of fisherman that fish it. When it first opened up in 1977/78 there was a boat in every cove at times on the weekends. It's still busy like that today.

You know me and my buddy thought that was awfully steep too, do they not want people using their lakes or what?? 35 dollars for out state license then another 27 dollars to splash the boat, ouch. I think the 27 dollars covers you all year though but you would have to go a bunch to get your money's worth.

[fishNnut]

My biggest gripe is the $20 motorized boat permit you must buy to fish Indiana State owned lakes. I refuse to give the state any more money since they do nothing to improve the fisheries, ramps or facilities. I'll stick to fishing the county owned lakes, rivers and going to other states.

Charlie

It is nice that now they not only get you for $20 to launch, but they also get you for $25 extra when you register your boat. "Lake Enhancement Fee"

[Moose1am]

Yea and don't forget to fill up the SUV cost almost $100 for gas and not to mention about 50 bucks to fill up a boat with a big gas tank these days.

Fishing is gettin a lot more expensive in IN these days. I still go fishing but just don't take the long trips anymore. I fish closer to home. I still had to pay the money to register my boat and I still purchased the $20 permit sticker for Patoka Lake even though I only fish it a few times each year in the spring and fall. Now if the price of gasoline would drop down I would go a few more times. My little truck only has a 12 gallon gas tank and it costs me about $35 bucks to fill it up with over 10 gallons of gasoline these days. I can get to Patoka and back on one tank of gas in my little truck and that's hauling the boat there and back. It helps to have the tires air up to the correct air pressure and to check the air filter and change the oil in the truck. My little truck gets about 20 mpg still and it's got over 167,000 miles on it. It still pulls my boat ok.

It is nice that now they not only get you for $20 to launch, but they also get you for $25 extra when you register your boat. "Lake Enhancement Fee"

[VMAXX]

Yes it seems pricey but honestly have you looked at the ramp facilities and State parks in Indiana? Ky could take a lesson from them, I wont be exact Im guessing but I think Painters creek at Patoka will launch 8-10 boats at once,Newton Stewart(south) will too, bathrooms, decent parking lots.Monroe cutright ramp is nice also,These ramps put almost all the state parks on Ky and Barkley to shame. Bass fishing past it's peak? Took 20lbs to win last Thur. nights 3 hour tourney.Food for thought

[Chubminnow]

As for me, this is what I'm taking into consideration...I live in Louisville, I paid 3.08 per gallon for gas this morning which came to a whopping total of $90.00 dollars for a fill-up. Patoka is between one hour to one and half hours drive for me...gosh, even though I'd rather go to Cumberland or Dale, Patoka is starting to become more appealing to me all the time.

[RoadToad]

Me too, especially after Moose's nice little summary of the amenities.

[mhall]

As for me, this is what I'm taking into consideration...I live in Louisville, I paid 3.08 per gallon for gas this morning which came to a whopping total of $90.00 dollars for a fill-up. Patoka is between one hour to one and half hours drive for me...gosh, even though I'd rather go to Cumberland or Dale, Patoka is starting to become more appealing to me all the time.

Chub, I'm starting to think that way also......

[MsgMills]

Aw, nuttin like fishing Patoka Lake and the grass beds.......