I've noticed that bass at this time on the year like to suspend out over the deepest parts of the lake at about15 to 20 ft depths. Use your depth finder and look for the depth of the thermocline if there is one at Patoka lake now. Fish above the thermocline or else fish the submerged vegetation. Both will have plenty of cool water or dissolved oxygen which all fish need at this time of the years.

Bass can be in both places. They move around. Early morning before the sun's full above the horizon fish the back of the bays in shallow water and look for bass chasing shad. Later in the day the bass will migrate out into the deeper waters to suspend. They are more in a neutral mood when out there but will strike at a fast moving lure if you get it near them. Reaction strikes they call them.

The last two years I've been trolling crank baits about 10 ft to 15 ft deep trying to catch some big crappie during the hot summer months but all I've been catching is bass in the 1 lb to 2 lb range. And I've caught a lot of them trolling cranks. I've only caught six crappie and they were caught this way back in April.


Quote Originally Posted by Thermodude View Post
Yes, I would have to agree that the quality of fish continues to be good, however the overall "fishing" aspect has suffered. Daily fishing pressure along with extreme water level flucuations, extreme surface temps..................over time this takes a toll. I live on the lake and have for many years, I try to fish at least 2-3 days per week. I do catch decent fish, however as I said earlier, paterns that have worked for a very long time arent near as effective this year and I was curious if anyone was getting a consistant bite.