Sympsons Lake (Bardstown, KY)

[CrankBaitKilla]

I have been there many times and have caught like 2 BASS out of the place. My parents live in Bardstown and the people in the area and others swear by this place talking about how they tear them up. You're suppose to have a permit to be on the lake, which my dad purchased last year however we didn't get one this year. In the summer the lake level gets so low that you can barely get your boat in the water and a lot of people out there say they aren't paying $50+ for a lake they can only use a few times out of the year. Just wondering if anyone here on this board BASS fishes out there, if so what types of baits are you using and what area of the lake are you fishing? My dad works on Outboard motors on the side (Old and New Motors charges 40 an hour) and a guy who's motor he worked on a few weeks ago said that Sympson is a great lake and he catches a lot of bass out of there and that it is a white bait lake.

[CrankBaitKilla]

WOW no one on this board fishes there or has fished there? Or do I get no replies cause I'm the new guy?....LOL

[OneShy]

Its been several years since I have fished there, so this may not be accurate. I did not think it was worth the money for the permit. I did catch fish/bass most of the times I went, but nothing I couldn't catch at a different lake without having to purchase a permit. My go to spot was a point up towards the dam where the lake turns to the right. Used c-rig and deep diving cb's out off the bank a good ways. If I lived right on the lake it might be worth it to buy the permit just for the convience factor but thats about it. If I'm not mistaken the permit cost different amounts if you lived in a different county. I did it one year just to try it out and have not been back. Hope this helps.

[first2fish]

I have fished there 5-6 times--biggest i have caught is 2 pds-but i have heard of up to 6 pdr being caught. From what i have seen it is loaded with bluegill. I fished mainly texas rigged worms and crankbaits but when fishing with texas rigged worms i get tons of what i assume is bluegill hitting my plastic worm. This small lake can also have pleasure boaters on it tubing and skiing. Best time to fish it is early in the morning or late evening or at night. I also heard last year that there was a new rule for the lake that you couldnt have a boat on the lake at night. But i cant verify that. It is a very pretty lake though. Well thats all i know. Tight lines and good luck jc

[CrankBaitKilla]

Thanks for the replies guys. We don't buy the permit anymore because it's not worth it in the summer when the water gets down really low. Usually no one is even there checking to see, I have been there one time when a guy at the ramp was checking passes, he was just turning people away who didn't have a pass. I caught one bass over there off a Black and Blue pig and jig, and about a 2lb+ crappie on a spinner bait. I was just wondering if anyone fished there and if they have had any luck. People swear all the time that it's a great lake, but everytime my dad and I go it's like fishing a dead sea. It's maybe 10 minutes from my parents house, and instead of just riding over there we'll just take a 30 minute drive to Taylorsville.

[terryt33]

its worth every penny. my buddy and i fish it 10 to15 times a year .catch some hogs.we use jigs pop r s frogs 8.5 is the biggest weve caught but well worth the money by the way we fish at night there.

[CrankBaitKilla]

TerryT you must know the spots then. I have fished that whole lake, only place I had much luck was in the cove on the left hand side right before you get to the dam, has that water inlet sticking half up out of the water. I was there one day fishing the bank against the road that goes over the dam, was use a Norman deep diving crankbait and had what looked like a pretty big one follow it back to the boat but that was it. Where are the hot spots on that lake cause I'd like to find at least one of them.

[dc chopper]

I used to fish it before they started robbing folks that don't live in Nelson Co. Never fished it at night. I have caught 2 over 6lbs there and have seen a few more caught that were bigger. I used strike king pumpkin jigs (5/16 oz.) , zoom swim chunk trailer same color. Did see 1 over 7lbs caught on a old white creme worm which really shocked me. Never caught good numbers but always seem to have a good fish everytime we went, but I can get better fish and alot better numbers at T-ville and don't have to pay the $115 they wanted this year. It's a good little lake to waste some time if it was free but no way worth what they charge when it's dry 3 months out of the year.

[CrankBaitKilla]

Right on thanks for the bait ideas, I'll have to try a few things next time I decide to ride over there. You know I have never seen anyone out on the water actually checking for the permits. They had a guy one time parked at the ramp checking people before they tried to put there boats in. Yeah Nelson County is pretty messed up, I guess they are trying to keep a lot of traffic off the lake which is good cause it's not that big and a lot of people would try to "Pleasure Boat" on it. They could though make a nicer boat ramp, that ramp is awful and make like a small marina and make more money then they are trying to charge people to use the lake. My dad feels the same like I said if we want to go fishing a few hours we just make the trip to Chowning Lane (Taylorsville) and stand a better chance at catching a few fish. By the way I have heard that Sympsons is a white bait lake I myself have never tried any white colored baits over there. To me I still think the place is a dead sea...LoL

[dc chopper]

This is the first year they charge senior citizens full price for a permit too. My dad usually gets the permit for us but this year it was full price.. thanks but no thanks. Give it a shot, you may have something on white baits, there are lakes that different colors seem to do better but white worms was a real kick in the backside.

[gocards40]

If your going to fish it better get a permit. They are checking for permits this year. They want you to put those stupid non waterproof stickers on your boat also. What a joke.

[kc]

Do you have to have a permit to put it a non-motorized boat like a canoe or jon boat?