Yes the bass fishing is much better because of the shad and yes according to the DNR the shad did hurt the bluegill/redear fishing and one other thing you mentioned hurt it as well, people loading their boats with as many as they could get. My best redear this year was a 10 1/2" with plenty over 9". Caught everyone of them tightlining for crappie or casting very small jigs when I found some. Redears are generally bottom feeders from my experience. Try a carolina rigged outfit with a small hook on the end with a chuck of night crawler or wax worms. I use 6lb line with a 1/8th barrel sinker and about a 24" leader on a 6'6" UL rod with alot of sensitivity.(St.Croix) The edge of the grass is a good place to start and there is at times plenty of grass in Patoka. The fish are there...There are people near our camp who fish for bluegills and redears all the time and do very good. I didn't keep one of them year and after the 4th of july I didn't keep any crappie either. Released them all since I already had plenty of crappie in the freezer. I going to try and make it up there sunday since the weather doesn't look to bad. Going to take our pontoon to rough river for winter storage sat. Gotta work today and fix a underground leak on a fire protection main....Gonna be a little chilly for sure.

Take care......Larry









Quote Originally Posted by bassmanic1 View Post
Mike ,
I have a question . The few times I have been to Boggs I had to pay at the gate to get in . How do the people who illegaly stock shad get past the gate without getting caught ? If the ranger at the gate checks each truck really well they should be able to find anything holding water by rocking the boat and listening for a sloshing sound { except for the fuel tank } which they would have to have to keep the shad alive . Every tournament Ive been in they check livewells to cut down on cheating . Also , if the gate isnt attended at night and anyone can come and go as they please then you will never stop this activity from going on .
Larry , the shad at Patoka have really help the bass fishing { remember the dead sea in the 80's ? } but the bluegill fishing is all but gone because of them , wouldnt you agree ? Used to be if you got on a school of gill you could load the boat . Anyway , Happy Thanksgiving everyone !