Gear & Tackle

Home / Indiana / Patoka Lake

Lakes & Reservoirs

Patoka Lake Fishing Guide

Indiana

A southern Indiana reservoir with standing timber and good crappie and bass fishing.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Patoka Lake for largemouth bass and crappie. The best months overall are Feb to Jun, Sep to Nov. In October, largemouth bass and crappie are in season, and Soft Stick Bait, Bass Jig and Spinnerbait are a good place to start. There are 10 shops within 45 miles; the closest is Glendale Bait & Hunting Supplies in Montgomery, 26 mi away.

Best Months

Feb to Jun, Sep to Nov

In October

Largemouth Bass, Crappie

Methods

Spin, cast & bait

Season at a Glance

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

What You'll Catch

Patoka Lake Species

Largemouth Bass

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to Jun, Sep to Oct

Crappie

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Feb to May, Oct to Nov

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

9 picks for October. ● means in season that month.

  • Soft Stick Bait 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Largemouth Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Bass Jig 3/8 to 1 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Largemouth Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Spinnerbait 3/8 to 3/4 oz

    Lure

    Moving Bait · Largemouth Bass · Stained water.

    Shop This Lure

  • Bladed Jig 3/8 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Moving Bait · Largemouth Bass · Around grass.

    Shop This Lure

  • Squarebill Crankbait 1.5 to 2.5 in

    Lure

    Crankbait · Largemouth Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Lipless Crankbait 1/2 to 3/4 oz

    Lure

    Crankbait · Largemouth Bass

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Largemouth Bass · Low light.

    Shop This Lure

  • Crappie Jig 1/32 to 1/8 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Crappie

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Crappie, Largemouth Bass · Under a slip float.

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Largemouth Bass

Fly 9 ft 7 or 8 wt rod, bass-taper floating line, 12 to 16 lb leader for poppers and divers.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy baitcasting rod, 7:1 reel, 15 lb fluorocarbon or 50 lb braid around heavy cover.

Crappie

Fly 8.5 ft 4 wt rod, floating line, small jig flies and minnow patterns.

Spin / Cast 10 to 12 ft jigging pole or 6 ft ultralight spinning rod, 4 to 6 lb hi-vis line.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Patoka Lake

Reels

Abu Garcia Revo SX Baitcasting Reel

A reliable baitcaster for jigs, Texas rigs, and moving baits.

Check Price

Panfish Lures

Bobby Garland Baby Shad Crappie Jigs

A go-to crappie plastic on a light jighead, under a float or vertical.

Check Price

Reels

Pflueger President Spinning Reel

Light and smooth for its price. A favorite for finesse and panfish rods.

Check Price

Rod & Reel Combos

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo

Nearly unbreakable and sensitive enough for most freshwater fishing. A safe first combo.

Check Price

Rod & Reel Combos

Ugly Stik GX2 Ultralight Spinning Combo

Light enough to feel crappie bites and cast small spinners for trout.

Check Price

Rods

St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod

A sensitive, lightweight rod for finesse plastics and jigs.

Check Price

Line

Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament

Limp, easy-casting mono for spinning reels and general fishing.

Check Price

Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

Check Price

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Patoka Lake