How Is The Bass Fihsing on Patoka Lake

[Moveon]

One thing I leaned this year is that bass like to suspend out over the deepest water in the lake. I'm not sure why they do this but they do. I'm seeing them on my Humminbird 898 C Si unit in both SI, DI and regular Sonar Veiws. I'm catching them anywhere from 10 ft down to 18 ft down over 50 to 60 ft of water. A lot of the bass I catch are off the points that drop off sharply into the deeper water.

I'm figuring that the bass are staying at a constant water level and after they feed in the 7 to 10 ft deep shallow water areas they simply move HORIZONTALLY out over the deeper water to rest and digest their meal. It's hard to catch these fish when they are already full of shad and in a neutral mood. Sort of like me when I'm taking my afternoon nap after lunch.

Appreciate all the info. I plan on fishing Patoka heavy in 2013. Patoka will be a fun puzzle to figure out and hopefully add some skill. Good luck to all who are still fishing 2012 and those for 2013.

[augertail]

has anyone been to the lake recently?
are the bass biting?

[Embrey]

has anyone been to the lake recently?
are the bass biting?

was the dead sea for me last week

[augertail]

I did not want to hear that Embrey, my brother will be in town for Holiday weekend and was going to try and sneek up there. Would like to get him on a few for his trip. As long as the weather is nice might still make the trip.

[nofearengineer]

lots of sun and sweat

We must be fishing the same areas. I always get a full bag of these.

[drjochum73]

Appreciate the info. I was planning on throwing a spinner bait first thing and see if I can get some reaction strikes. After about 7:30 am I was planing to pitch a beaver or 5" chigger craw aroung wood and rock. If that did not work I was going to find some deeper ledge or steeper banks and cast a 10" worm. I let every know how my day went tomorrow. Good luck to everyone fishing this weekend.

Dan

[AllBoutBass]

Threw a Popin Image as soon as it was light enough to see Thursday morning at Patoka...Caught two 5 lber's within a half a hour and lost a third...Buzz baits are good, but dont disregard a bait that sits still for a few seconds..the strikes I got were explosions...

[AllBoutBass]

Threw a Popin Image as soon as it was light enough to see Thursday morning at Patoka...Caught two 5 lber's within a half a hour and lost a third...Buzz baits are good, but dont disregard a bait that sits still for a few seconds..the strikes I got were explosions...

PICS

One didnt make it home...sorry, became table fare...the other ended up in my pond...

[Embrey]

you ate that?

[peter]

PICS

One didnt make it home...sorry, became table fare...the other ended up in my pond...

Nice catch!

[drjochum73]

Yesterday was horrible. I threw a Pop R, Frog, deep crank, craws, and shallow cranks and caught nothing. This lake gives me a love hate to even go there. Being in Evansville it is equally close to go to Barkley were I normally fish. But I want to figure Patoka out.

[Moveon]

It takes me 1.5 hours to get to Patoka Lake's launch ramp. How long does it take to drive from your house to the launch ramp at Barkley or KY lake? Anyone can answer this.

It takes me only 10 minutes to get to the local fish and wildlife lake. With gas prices over $3.30 a gallon I'll be doing much less fishing at Patoka or Barkley. But I do miss fishing these lakes. If I were to go there I'd have to go for a week or two at a time to make it worth the long drive and the gas I'd use.

When I went to Barkley it was never just for a day as I always rented a cabin and spent the weekend or at least 6 days there. But I'd often drive up to Patoka and fish and then drive back home. Actually I'd let dad drive home as I was always falling asleep on the way back home. It makes for a long day when you drive up to Patoka and drive back home all in one day. Just being out on the water in the hot sun makes me tired.

Yesterday was horrible. I threw a Pop R, Frog, deep crank, craws, and shallow cranks and caught nothing. This lake gives me a love hate to even go there. Being in Evansville it is equally close to go to Barkley were I normally fish. But I want to figure Patoka out.