Cold front...

[lroberts]

I don't know patoka all that well but Barkley I just use much bigger baits and slow wayyy down when there is a cold front. Start out a little more and go to it. If they have started prespawn I doubt they go far. But then again Barkley is a total different beast. Mostly all they will do is go down the closest ledge about 3' and hold there for a day or so. I'll throw a 10" culprit with a very light weight or no weight at all. Bring it over the edge and let it sink as slow as possible. If they are there they munch it. I don't know if it's me or not but Barkley is a lot easier to get a pattern going than patoka. Patoka seems much tougher to me. I guess I just don't like patoka.

Sounds like a good plan! I'm not sure anyone should like Patoka more than Barkely I mostly fish Monroe though....its a tough cookie too!

[SteveM4A1]

Sounds like a good plan! I'm not sure anyone should like Patoka more than Barkely I mostly fish Monroe though....its a tough cookie too!

i do, because it is closer. and i can catch the quality fish i can at barkley at patoka. now for numbers of qualities, thats a different story..but thats why they call it fishing.

and several more weeks? when i was up there last and the water was in the mid 50's they were in their spawning areas, just not bedding yet. the local lakes i've been to are spawning and some have even spawned out.

[idbefishing]

I mostly fish Monroe though....its a tough cookie too!

I agreed to that! If ya wanna find out how good ya truely is at figuring out fish. Monroe is a **** fine place to do that at. Me? I don't understand that SOB most of the times.

[taylor10loc]

so i am hearing patoka is high fifties temp, i have a tourney there later this month. i will prefish for one day, but i would greatly appreciate someone telling me where to start looking for the 3+ pounders, where will they spawn? i live in muncie which isnt very close, so i dont get to get down there very much.

[idbefishing]

and you can hear the pin dropped.................Look in the water, that's where you will find them.

Seriously, I'm not trying to be an a-hole but that is a wrong thing to ask.

[ron64emm]

We are planning a trip to Monroe on April 22-25. Never been there, new fisherman. If you don't mind I'd like to contact you later for a couple of tips.

[ClarkIR]

I mostly bank fish Farm ponds (10k square feet to 3 Acres). Red lipless cranks have been my go-to bait up until this Cold front hit. Im still probably going to tie it on first, And then maybe move to a jig if that presentation isnt working.

[SteveM4A1]

anybody go out today? was tough for me with only premature fish biting...the fish were off their beds but i couldn't get them to bite

[lroberts]

anybody go out today? was tough for me with only premature fish biting...the fish were off their beds but i couldn't get them to bite

The fish are not on their beds or even close to them at Monroe man. I would venture to say that they haven't anywhere....even in farms ponds. What do the rest of you think?

[JustinM]

There are fresh beds at bluegrass. Seems daily I am catching more and more with busted up tails.

[lroberts]

There are fresh beds at bluegrass. Seems daily I am catching more and more with busted up tails.

The bass are not spawning yet...anywhere!!!!! Up there shallow.....yes....but not spawning. The crappies haven't even finished yet!
Busted up tails are not the best/only sign of spawning. Steve (from other post) what makes you think they have spawned? I'm sure they are closer to spawning in ponds and smaller lakes though.

[ClarkIR]

The bass are not spawning yet...anywhere!!!!! Up there shallow.....yes....but not spawning. The crappies haven't even finished yet!
Busted up tails are not the best/only sign of spawning. Steve (from other post) what makes you think they have spawned? I'm sure they are closer to spawning in ponds and smaller lakes though.

I would say that they will be spawning soon in smaller ponds. Wed is a new moon. Good chance the females will be on the beds then. I caught a 2 lb female that I am assuming was near her bed for spawn.