Patoka info??????

[Moose1am]

Years ago Pre 1996 when they first discovered Gizzard shad in Patoka Lake during a IDNR fish survey the blue gills grew really big and were more abundant. The gizzard shad compete for the same food as the bluegill and have driven the bluegills numbers and size down. Gizzard shad make up a huge biomass in this lake according to IDNR fishery survey reports by Dan Carnahan.

I hear that the bass fishing is excellent now as the largemouth Bass can utilize the gizzard Shad as food. Gizzard shad grow to be up to 12" or even 18" in length which is way too big for a bluegill to eat but just right for a huge Largemouth Bass. Gizzard shad eat the plankton which the bluegills feed upon in the summertime. So the bluegill are more stunted now than pre 1996. But there still are some big gills in this lake. You will find them in the depths at this time of the year. Even during the spawn the bigger females will spawn deep. As deep as 10 ft or maybe even down to 15 ft depending on the water clarity. I have seen big gills spawning as deep as 25 ft in the Dawson Springs rock quarry. But that water was crystal clear and you could see rocks on the bottom in 50 ft of water on a calm sunny day. Underwater the visibility was over 200ft. I use to scuba dive in this rock quarry back in the early 1970's. Today it's a scuba diving resort and it's all cleaned up. Back when I dove there is was a trashy place and off limits to people. I only dove this quarry two or three times but it was some of the best water in the tristate for scuba diving. If I was still diving I would go there again. It's a huge rock quarry with very clean water today. Cerulean Springs is what they call it now days.

Bass can also be found in the standing timber at Patoka Lake and Upriver in the shallow water stump fields in the very early spring. Late Feb and March you will find a lot of the fish in the warmer waters at the headwaters of the Patoka river area of the lake.

One thing about Patoka Lake is that it's suffers from LOTS of Fishing Pressure. This is especially true during the weekends of summer.

The good thing is there are plenty of 10 mph speed limited areas for the fisherman to spend time in without being run over by Water Lice (Jet Skies or water skiers).

You can still catch bass along the 10ft contour levels or drop offs on main points too. There is a lot of Largemouth Bass in Patoka as well as some Small Mouth bass. And yes the stripers are an under fished resource or they were in the past. You will also find white bass in Patoka Lake. There is a good white and black crappie population along with lots of different catfish too.

The main State Campground is located at Newton Stewart. You can make reservations on line if you wish or just register when you get there. And there are many other private resorts near the lake with plenty of nice cabins to rent. They are not cheap. You can even rent a one the lake house or floating barge that will let you tie your boat right up next to your bedroom. Check out the Two Marina Web sites. Hoosier Hills Marina is the name of one of these two. It's located on the Lick Fork Section of the lake. It's upstream on Lick fork about 3 miles from the **** on the Western Section of the Lake. The other marina is located by the North Launch Ramp at Newton Stewart. This is the one that has the house cabins right on the lake. They are not cheap but they would be the way to go if you want to get up and just have your boat parked right next to your cabin on the lake ready to go fishing.

I lived in Indiana for some years. Fished a lot of tourneys there on Patoka Lake. If you like fishing ( Grass ) then this lakes if for you. I wish the lakes here in Ky had the grass in them that Patoka & Monroe has in them.

The 35.00 bucks is well worth the money to spend to fish Patoka. Plus now they have gotten the Stripers going in full swing now. The Bluegill and Red ear in this lake are huge. Have caught them as big that you have to open your hand up as wide as it will go in order to just hold the fish to remove the hook from their mouth.

Good Luck and enjoy the Rat fishing across the grass mats.....

[Moose1am]

You will have to purchase a "Lake Enhancement Permit" also to be legal to fish on Patoka or Lake Monroe in IN. It cost in state people $20 for the year. This will be in addition to the fishing license that you will have to buy for out of state people.


This new permit was required for the first time just in 2006. This is the second year that I had to buy one for my boat in order to fish Patoka Lake.

Thanks, I did not see any grass but have heard that later in the year in will be very present, I just may purchase that out of state.

[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.

[wkerber]

Those costs aren't too bad compared to other states. A non-resident Tennessee license is $41 and it cost $40 for an annual pass to launch your boat at State/TVA ramps. Kentucky's non-resident license is $50.

[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.......