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Senior Member
So my son has roped me into camping out this weekend. He also said patoka lake. Crappie fishing is more his style right now. Since I have very little experience crappie fishing patoka I could use some help on locations. Or will we be wasting our time? And which campgrounds will be open? Also live bait or crappie tubes? Thanks for any and all help in advance.
Last edited by JustinM; 04-12-2010 at 10:22 PM.
Senior Member
I would go up to Walls Boat Ramp and fish upriver from there. Just go slow as there is a lot of submerged timber just under the water's surface. Head to Dumplin Branch and fish the North Shoreline at the Entrace to this area. Fish the trees and about 8 ft deep in 12 ft of water. Adjust your depth if the water level is up or down. You want to be about 2 ft off the bottom. Some big crappie hang out in this area this time of the year.
Also the Patoka Modern Campground is good. Or if you prefer primative you can camp at the fisherman's campground. But the modern campground has hot showers and better facilities. Both should be open now but it would not hurt to call the IDNR HQ at Patoka just to make sure.
There are some other areas where they have private campgrounds. One is up the road from Painter Creek before you get to Tony's Marine. It's on the West Side of the Highway that goes to French Lick. I think that's Indiana 145. There is another camp ground near the Osborn launch ramp. Never stayed there but you might ask people about it.
I'd call ahead after doing a google search for the camp grounds around Patoka Lake.
Oh yea. If you live near the Old Boonville Highway you can go to the Evansville Worm Ranch and buy minnow there before you go. Or check out the store that's on 145 just North of Eckerty but before you get to 164 and 145 intersection. They use to sell minnows at that little store. They always had good clean minnow water. I stopped at the bait store at Eckerty and their water was very dirty. I even pointed out to the lady at the store that the water was dirty and she didn't even care. So I never went back to them to buy minnows again. Clean water make the minnows last much longer.
Originally Posted by JustinM
Senior Member
After looking at the lows this weekend we may just rough it at the marina.But I could still use some help with locations.
Senior Member
Looks like A big bass tourny is there on Sat. watch out!
Senior Member
There's always a lot of crappie boats camping out on the timber fields in the Lick Fork areas.
Senior Member
Any weekend day you are going to have company on Patoka. Walls to Kings would still be the place to go though. Don't think there is any camping near Osbourn ramp, just cabins unless something has changed.
Senior Member
Is the tournament out of walls? I don't have any problem making a run across the lake. Not like it's a 50 mile one way trip like Kentucky. And thanks for the help. I'm not used to crappie fishing there so any help is welcomed.
Senior Member
Most of the big tourneys go out of the south ramp - next to Patoka Lake marina you can see them from Hwy 145. Usually just small club tournaments out of Walls.
Can't help with crappies - but see lots of them caught between Walls and Kingsbridge.
Good luck!
Senior Member
when is there not? lol
Senior Member
BFL is alittle bigger than most. Is it still really low. Has anyone been back in the quarry.
Senior Member
IMHO, the quarry is overated.
Junior Member
Upstream of Kings Bridge is normally pretty good about right now.
I have a brother that has been fishing the area, he plans a trip this weekend.
I have had good luck with red ear just down stream of Wall ramp on the north shore in the tall grass, about 12 ft of water. But that was a few years ago.
Almost across from the Walls ramp there is a finger that use to have beaver and fat rock bass?
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