How do you get to Patoka Lake?

[GotHooked?]

He bought the 797. We figured that 1K is enough to invest on new tech. If we like it then we'll probably buy one of the bigger models once the price goes down. We were graphing stumps and fallen trees in 45' of water. It is amazing how tech. could change fishing. My brother and I have a long way to go before we completely understand everything that this unit offers us. It's going to be a lot of fun aquiring this information though!!!!!!

[Lundy]

I take my truck, cause its to far to walk, and my moped won't pull the boat.

ha ha ha ha ha

[Tyme2fish]

I take my truck, cause its to far to walk, and my moped won't pull the boat.

That reminds of the blonde that had to call the fire department. They responded with, "How do we get there."

She said, " Ooh, don't you still have that big red truck?"

[bassmanic1]

Here's my 2 cents - going east on I-64 we take the Ferdinand exit , go up to 64 & head east - just past Mentor turn north on 1025 east which is a straight shot to 164 , turn left & go to 545 and follow the signs to Lick Fork . It cuts a lot of time off the trip .

[Moose1am]

Patoka has so much cover in the form of trees and stumps that it may take you guys a while to see it all with the 797.

I hope that one or two other depth finder companies figures out how to make a side scanner sonar unit for the regular fishing guys like us.

Perhaps if there is more competition the prices will drop and more people will be able to afford them

Until then those with the side scanning units have a tremendous advantage.

Have fun with the new tool. Humminbird guys frequent the www.crappie.com web site and answer questions in the electronics forum. And then there is a yahoo web site that deals with the side scanning sonar units. There are many knowledgeable folks on there that can answer questions.

I have three large strip pits in the Bluegrass F&W area that I would like to side scan someday in order to find the hot spots. These pits are typical of strip mined areas. Steep drops and very little cover other than submergent vegetation. No creek channels to speak of as Patoka Lake has. So if one can find a single underwater brush pile in these barren pits it can be a gold mine.

At Patoka you can find brush piles everywhere. Well I should say you can find standing timber practically over 50% of the lake. hehe. The trick is to find the timbered areas that have something else unique about the bottom. Such as a ditch that runs though the timber and makes a big turn where one back in undercut and the other is a shallow flat type area. The undercut area within the creek bend which is within the timbered area is where I would check out with the side scanner and make a way point. There are still tens of areas in Patoka lake that are like this.

If I ever hit the lottery like two of my friends did I will get me a 1197.

As for how to get to Patoka Lake. I am finding it interesting to find out that there are many ways to get there.

I myself prefer to stay on the interstate as long as possible. While I see that many others like to dive the other highways. My way is a bit longer (mileage wise) but I like to drive over 70 mph. hehe. Can't do that high speed on some of the two lane roads due to both traffic and the curves and hills.

I think that those that live in the New Albany area have a better route to the lake than we that live in the Evansville area.

I use to drive to Louisville, KY via the old 64 and remember those long trips. Thank god for I-64.

I wonder if the new I-69 will make the trip to Patoka Lake any faster? It may be a long time before that's possible.

He bought the 797. We figured that 1K is enough to invest on new tech. If we like it then we'll probably buy one of the bigger models once the price goes down. We were graphing stumps and fallen trees in 45' of water. It is amazing how tech. could change fishing. My brother and I have a long way to go before we completely understand everything that this unit offers us. It's going to be a lot of fun acquiring this information though!!!!!!

[Moose1am]

From the Evansville, IN area to Patoka lake try taking I-164 to I-64 East and then get off at Exit 79 or the new Highway 37 Exit.

I learned that this highway is not complete and it goes to the lake. There is a new wider highway that goes though Eckerty to the 164 State road where Newton Stewart is located. I am not sure but is the old 145 from Eckerty to 164 now part of the new 37?

I hear it's much faster and a muck better road now. I am going to drive a few more miles to the East and try the new 37 exit the next time I go up to Patoka Lake from Southern IN.

[raporter]

From the Evansville, IN area to Patoka lake try taking I-164 to I-64 East and then get off at Exit 79 or the new Highway 37 Exit.

I learned that this highway is not complete and it goes to the lake. There is a new wider highway that goes though Eckerty to the 164 State road where Newton Stewart is located. I am not sure but is the old 145 from Eckerty to 164 now part of the new 37?

I hear it's much faster and a muck better road now. I am going to drive a few more miles to the East and try the new 37 exit the next time I go up to Patoka Lake from Southern IN.

Moose the new road is finished and yes it turns into 145. It is a little confusing on what to call it but it works out real nice. 37 now goes right at Indiana 64 over to west of English then north like it always has. Milage wise it is a little longer for you but you will eliminate all the stops. It makes it very nice for us to go to Indian and Celina lakes. We are going over to Corydon this afternoon and will be going that way. Then on the way back will stop at Leopold and have some RIBS,,,,,

[Dakota Kid]

I come From Louisville, so I'm not sure as far as getting to I 64. I think it's 231 to I 64 and then take the Tell City exit. The lake is only 12 miles or so from I 64. I think the Tell City exit is #37.

[Moose1am]

I 64 = Interstate 64 or Indiana 64?

I am confused by your post. 231 is the highway that runs from Owensboro, KY up to Northern IN and runs though Huntingburg, IN and Jasper, IN.

If you are coming from Louisville, KY you would exit off Interstate 64 to Indiana Highway 37. That is exit 79 on Interstate 64.

Highway 37 runs North to the lake from Interstate 64 now from what I was told the other day. But I have not driven that roadway yet so I can't be sure I was told the right information. But the folks that told me about the new highway 37 seemed to be pretty smart folks.

Now if you are coming to Patoka from Louisville, KY or the Georgetown, IN area then the new highway 37 would be the fastest way to get to the lake from I-64.

There is the old Indiana State Highway 64 that also will take you to Patoka Lake from Louisville, KY. 30 years ago that's how my family drove to Louisville, KY from Evansville, IN.
----------------------------------

I come From Louisville, so I'm not sure as far as getting to I 64. I think it's 231 to I 64 and then take the Tell City exit. The lake is only 12 miles or so from I 64. I think the Tell City exit is #37.

[Moose1am]

The State Highway 37 from I-64 to Tell City is EXIT #79.

Just wanted to clarify that. Now I see what you are talking about Dakota Kid. Sorry for my confusion.

[98zr2]

Here's my 2 cents - going east on I-64 we take the Ferdinand exit , go up to 64 & head east - just past Mentor turn north on 1025 east which is a straight shot to 164 , turn left & go to 545 and follow the signs to Lick Fork . It cuts a lot of time off the trip .

i have been going to patoka lake for about 20 years from evansville and this is the quickest I've found ir you turn right off of 1025 you be at newton stewart in no time

[bassmanic1]

Glad to see we are not the only ones using this route . A few years back me & my 12 year old daughter were fishing Patoka when they weather started to turn bad . We were behind Lick Fork so I headed to the ramp to get off the lake before it got bad - some people in a pontoon boat were leaving and said they heard on the radio that a funnel cloud had been spotted by Marango so we double-timed it loading the boat . About the time we got to 1025 it was raining so hard I could hardly see and the lightning was crazy . We found out later that a tornado had hit Marango so this short-cut may have saved our lifes !