(Un)official Hoosiers Thread

[Team9nine]

4 hours ago, BrianMRetter said:

I know I asked about a week or so ago, but didn't get any replies...Anyone familiar with Summit Lake Reservoir and Westwood Run? Both in New Castle. If the 15 day forecast means anything at all, it looks like there will be a nice warming trend next week, on into the weekend. I plan to hit both of those pretty hard then.

Jigs around wood and Rat-L-Traps everywhere else

-T9

[Josh Smith]

This rain is killing my river smallie action!

[HoosierHawgs]

That was some really crazy weather Central Indy had last night. I think it went through all 4 seasons in about 8 hours. Still snow on the ground this morning. That ought to mess with the fish patterns pretty good. I might get out this afternoon if I can find my winter hat and dig it out. I'm still trying to find a place where I can try on a pair of fingerless gloves or some sort of glove with a finger alot, that hopefully don't soak up water and get cold.

[tstraub]

It took a full 8 hours for you?  I drove threw all 4 seasons on my way home from work yesterday.  Started with rain and wind, switched to sleet then snow. By the time I got home it was calm and sunny for an hour of so.  Snow on the ground this morning.  This weather has been nuts.  I still haven't even bothered to renew my fishing licences.  Maybe I'll get out this weekend or maybe I'll just drive over a bridge and throw about $10-$15 worth of lures in the river to save the time.  That's how the spring fishing has been treating me so far.

 

Tyler

[IndianaFinesse]

Fished in for about two hours this afternoon, but hardly caught anything.  Last nights april snow cooled the water temperature down to 47 degrees.  Started out fishing a jerkbait on deep points thinking that the clear water might turn the jerkbait bite on, but didn't get anything on it.  Switched to the ned rig and caught three dinks and about a decent two pounder, unfortuanately I had to just deadstick it for as long as I could stand it before dragging it a few inches.  The few fish I caught were on steep shorelines in eight to fifteen feet of water.  Hopefully tomorrows warm rain will bring the bass up shallower to feed.

[Cole Richards]

Fished 3 days n southern Indiana , this weather really has them in a funk .  Caught all my fish on jigs and Ned rigs on wood cover in about 2-8 fow .   Was looking forward to some crankbait fishing but the cold fronts really shut them down . Best bass went 3 lbs , caught some monster gills on the Ned rig however , a few pushed the 2 lb range .  Pics soon .  It was nice to get my wife and son out for some fishing , can't beat family time on the water, even if the fishing could be better .

[Team9nine]

3 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Fished in for about two hours this afternoon, but hardly caught anything.  Last nights april snow cooled the water temperature down to 47 degrees.  Started out fishing a jerkbait on deep points thinking that the clear water might turn the jerkbait bite on, but didn't get anything on it.  Switched to the ned rig and caught three dinks and about a decent two pounder, unfortuanately I had to just deadstick it for as long as I could stand it before dragging it a few inches.  The few fish I caught were on steep shorelines in eight to fifteen feet of water.  Hopefully tomorrows warm rain will bring the bass up shallower to feed.

Water really changed overnight, didn't it? Fished 3-5:30 and managed 15 or 16. I had 49 degrees down on the lower end where I stayed. Jerkbait was best, but also caught a few on Ned and a blade bait. Many were pulled back well offshore. The rest were either hunkered down in shade or sitting in windblown pockets. Best fish went about 2-1/4 with several others pound and a half to pound and three quarters. About half were dinks.

-T9

[IndianaFinesse]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Water really changed overnight, didn't it? Fished 3-5:30 and managed 15 or 16. I had 49 degrees dow on the lower end where I stayed. Managed 15 or 16 today on a mix of baits. Jerkbait was best, but also caught a few on Ned and a blade bait. Many were pulled back well offshore. The rest were either hunkered down in shade or sitting in windblown pockets. Best fish went about 2-1/4 with several others pound and a half to pound and three quarters. About half were dinks.

-T9

Sounds like I should have been on the lower end of the lake.  I usually stay on the upper end cause I know it better from when I was stuck in a canoe without a trolling motor ( up until two or three weeks before we bought the boat, then a neighbor kindly gave me one of his) so it wasn't real appealing to paddle down to the opposite side of the lake from where I live. 

I didn't think there would be that much difference in water temperature less than a half of a mile away.  Must be from the cold water coming in the rivers at the upper end, I just wish that I'd thought of that while on the lake.  Were you using a staysee or a medium diver jerkbait?  Hopefully I will be able to get out tomorrow after the crappie tournament guys get off the lake.

[Alan Reed]

12 hours ago, Cole Richards said:

Fished 3 days n southern Indiana , this weather really has them in a funk .  Caught all my fish on jigs and Ned rigs on wood cover in about 2-8 fow .   Was looking forward to some crankbait fishing but the cold fronts really shut them down . Best bass went 3 lbs , caught some monster gills on the Ned rig however , a few pushed the 2 lb range .  Pics soon .  It was nice to get my wife and son out for some fishing , can't beat family time on the water, even if the fishing could be better .

What lake were you fishing?

[Team9nine]

11 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Sounds like I should have been on the lower end of the lake.  I usually stay on the upper end cause I know it better from when I was stuck in a canoe without a trolling motor ( up until two or three weeks before we bought the boat, then a neighbor kindly gave me one of his) so it wasn't real appealing to paddle down to the opposite side of the lake from where I live. 

I didn't think there would be that much difference in water temperature less than a half of a mile away.  Must be from the cold water coming in the rivers at the upper end, I just wish that I'd thought of that while on the lake.  Were you using a staysee or a medium diver jerkbait?  Hopefully I will be able to get out tomorrow after the crappie tournament guys get off the lake.

The temperature readings on the depthfinders are usually close but not perfect. Seems like no two read the same, so it may or may not have been 2 degrees warmer down that way. Would make sense though as the larger deeper water area toward the dam has the most thermal mass and would take much more energy to cool down than the shallower water upriver toward your end.

Tossing a Megabass 110 in a pretty clear color - just a normal diving jerkbait. The blade bait fish surprised me...they came from 10'-15' of water. Radar looks a bit questionable, but I'd like to sneak out for a couple hours myself before the rain hits. Will have to wait and see. 

-T9

[Midwest Fisherman]

Had a good afternoon today, 2 fatty's just over 4 pounds & 3 under 4 pounds. Uncle Ned with a Hula StickZ. 

[Cole Richards]

7 hours ago, Alan Reed said:

What lake were you fishing?

Mt. Saint Francis lake , electric only lake maybe 10 acres , tons of wood cover 

[Alan Reed]

I know I'm new to fishing but today was a frustrating day. Went to a new small lake close to the house.

As advised in another post I was fishing Texas rigged 7 inch curly tail in black, motor oil, and green pumpkin. I tried points, shallows, deep, around downed trees basicly every thing I could find for 4 hours and got nothing before the rains came.

 

[Midwest Fisherman]

45 minutes ago, Cole Richards said:

Mt. Saint Francis lake , electric only lake maybe 10 acres , tons of wood cover 

Great job, that's a huge crappie 

[Alan Reed]

1 hour ago, Cole Richards said:

Mt. Saint Francis lake , electric only lake maybe 10 acres , tons of wood cover 

Nice fish, looks like everyone had a good time.

[IndianaFinesse]

2 hours ago, Midwest Fisherman said:

Great job, that's a huge crappie 

I think it's a bull bluegill.

[Cole Richards]

2 hours ago, Alan Reed said:

I know I'm new to fishing but today was a frustrating day. Went to a new small lake close to the house.

As advised in another post I was fishing Texas rigged 7 inch curly tail in black, motor oil, and green pumpkin. I tried points, shallows, deep, around downed trees basicly every thing I could find for 4 hours and got nothing before the rains came.

 

This time of year is not great for ribbon tailed worms , when the water is cold less is more in terms of action on a lure.  I fish three or four baits before the fish spawn , jig with a trailer that has little to no action , jerk bait  clear colors in clear water , solid colors in off colored water , a rattletrap in red craw , and a Ned rig or grub .  Start with horizontal presentations like the jerk bait or trap , no takers go to the jig and Ned rig .  Places to fish this time of year, any 45 degree bank close to a bank protected from the north wind . Wood cover holds fish this time of year always pitch a jig at any wood that you see as it usually holds fish in cold water.  As the water warms fish will move progressively shallower . Once the water hits 50 pick up a spinner bait and a crankbait like a shad rap or wiggle wart and you will light them up on shallow flats or weedlines before they move into spawn.  You were probably fishing to fast this last trip out , they wanted a slow drag on the jig where I was fishing.  Where do u fish at . I know the Columbus area well .  

[Midwest Fisherman]

47 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

I think it's a bull bluegill.

Ah, I must have looks at it to quick. Nice size though. 

[Alan Reed]

1 hour ago, Cole Richards said:

1 hour ago, Cole Richards said:

This time of year is not great for ribbon tailed worms , when the water is cold less is more in terms of action on a lure.  I fish three or four baits before the fish spawn , jig with a trailer that has little to no action , jerk bait  clear colors in clear water , solid colors in off colored water , a rattletrap in red craw , and a Ned rig or grub .  Start with horizontal presentations like the jerk bait or trap , no takers go to the jig and Ned rig .  Places to fish this time of year, any 45 degree bank close to a bank protected from the north wind . Wood cover holds fish this time of year always pitch a jig at any wood that you see as it usually holds fish in cold water.  As the water warms fish will move progressively shallower . Once the water hits 50 pick up a spinner bait and a crankbait like a shad rap or wiggle wart and you will light them up on shallow flats or weedlines before they move into spawn.  You were probably fishing to fast this last trip out , they wanted a slow drag on the jig where I was fishing.  Where do u fish at . I know the Columbus area well .  

This time of year is not great for ribbon tailed worms , when the water is cold less is more in terms of action on a lure.  I fish three or four baits before the fish spawn , jig with a trailer that has little to no action , jerk bait  clear colors in clear water , solid colors in off colored water , a rattletrap in red craw , and a Ned rig or grub .  Start with horizontal presentations like the jerk bait or trap , no takers go to the jig and Ned rig .  Places to fish this time of year, any 45 degree bank close to a bank protected from the north wind . Wood cover holds fish this time of year always pitch a jig at any wood that you see as it usually holds fish in cold water.  As the water warms fish will move progressively shallower . Once the water hits 50 pick up a spinner bait and a crankbait like a shad rap or wiggle wart and you will light them up on shallow flats or weedlines before they move into spawn.  You were probably fishing to fast this last trip out , they wanted a slow drag on the jig where I was fishing.  Where do u fish at . I know the Columbus area well .  

I appreciate your input, below is the link to a previous post I had put up.

So this is where I was directed to fish with a Texas Rig to become really good at it before moving to all the other lures. So is this other post wrong?  I have the other lures but I have put them away for the past couple weeks after the previous post suggest keeping it simple.

Which direction should I take?

[Cole Richards]

On 4/10/2016 at 7:41 PM, Alan Reed said:

I appreciate your input, below is the link to a previous post I had put up.

So this is where I was directed to fish with a Texas Rig to become really good at it before moving to all the other lures. So is this other post wrong?  I have the other lures but I have put them away for the past couple weeks after the previous post suggest keeping it simple.

Which direction should I take?

keeping it simple is fine within reason .  U need to consider conditions and how that effects fish behavior before going technique specific .  A Texas rig can work all year , but what you Texas rig should change with the conditions .  It's called fishing the moment , you base how you fish on a day based on the conditions and mood of the fish that day.  Let's take a look at how I would have fished your situation the other day.  Windy and overcast day , cool but not cold .  I would have hit the windy side of the lake first .  Wind drives bait fish bait fish drive bass , windy side is better.  I would start out fishing a horizontal presentation first so I  could cover water and find fish.  Either a jerk bait in clear water or a rattle trap in murky water.  As I worked along the bank I would then take a Texas rigged craw (havoc pit boss if I had my choice not a lot of action better in cold water ) and hit any hard cover on that bank as I worked down it. Making multiple casts to each piece of cover on each side and in front and behind it. 

I fished the same day that you did and caught fish doing exactly what I described , only difference is that I fished a jig instead of a Texas rig.  As soon as I stated catching fish on cover I new where they were and could pretty much call my shot when I came to a new piece of cover .  

Limitting yourself to one technique is good and bad , let's say you want to learn how to drop shot .  It is not going to do you any good to take a drop shot to a lake covered in Lilly pads .  A drop shot will catch fish no doubt but you can't hamstring yourself by using it in the wrong situation.  

I would suggest getting on YouTube , watch some bassresource videos , fishing the Midwest. Both will let you see what I just described .  Watch some of the videos that are on this site from mike iaconelli he talks about fishing the moment.   

 

[Alan Reed]

57 minutes ago, Cole Richards said:

 

I appreciate the response.  Your explanation makes sense, and goes along with the research I did over the Winter.  I suppose I need to look at it in two categories, search baits and then the other baits once I find the fish. And then within those two categories, there are the different options. but have to find the fish first.

I forgot to answer your question about which lakes.  Yesterday I was fishing Eco Park (Off Highway 7), caught some good size ones on Cypress couple weeks ago (Junction of 65 and 11 almost to Seymour), Live about 5 minutes away from Grandview and Grouse Ridge. Those are all smaller and close to home but I want to learn to fish Lake Lemon as a bigger lake.

 

[Midwest Fisherman]

Used my LTB lure I received this month for the first time today, first cast slammed it. Made me happy, roughly 3 pounds, didn't weight this one. 

[IndianaFinesse]

Got out this evening for an hour.  I tried the area where they were on Saturday, but only got one bite.  Then with only a half an hour left, I went back to where I caught the 8.2 a few weeks ago and caught a couple of nice fish.  Five fish between the weights of 1.4 and 3.8 pounds on vertical concrete in two to five feet of water next to a small inlet stream.  I was surprised at how fast the bass had moved up shallow again, they seem to be getting a little more determined after each cold front.  As usual all of the bass were caught on a half zinkerz (until recently I used a trd, but now I'm finding that the half of zinkerz has a better action) on a 1/16oz. homemade mushroom head jig fished with a drag and deadstick retrieve.  Can't wait till next week when the water temperature should be in the mid to upper fiftys if the weather forecast stays the same.  Water temperature is 49 and the water clarity is only about a foot thanks to the heavy rain.

[neocrunch]

Is anyone else here participating in the Indiana Kayak Anglers' tournament at Geist on April 23? It's my 1st tournament & 1st time at Geist (although I might get down there for some pre-fishing this weekend). I don't have much experience fishing from a kayak but I'm pretty excited to put my (very limited) skills to the test.

[tstraub]

I have not made it out in a few weeks.  Still haven't even bought a fishing licence for this season.  This weekend is opening weekend at the campground so I'll be fishing this weekend.  I went up there yesterday but didn't wet a line just looked at a different lot for the camper.  The lot looked great so I took it.  Tomorrow after work we'll head up there and get the camper moved and set.  If that all goes well I'll launch the boat and park it at my new on site pier.  Supper excited to have a site with boat parking this year.  In the past I always had a to walk to the boat.  It was not far but when I had to carry the trolling motor battery with me it felt like miles LOL.  

I did look at the lake water visibility was about 2 feet and no sign of any fish up shallow or any bedding activity yet at least not in the sections I looked at.  The park owner said that the crappie bite was on last week but didn't have any report on the bass.  

Tyler