(Un)official Hoosiers Thread

[The Bassman]

I was really looking forward to getting away some Thur. but they keep pulling back on the high temp. Sun. supposed to be 50 before another cold shot. I know the fish can be caught. I've caught some the past few days(no real size) but I really don't enjoy being cold. Fishing with gloves doesn't work for me.

[IndianaOutdoors]

Went out yesterday afternoon.  Was hoping for a walleye or some crappie but i ended up getting a few dink largemouth on a silver buddy.  I then lost said silver buddy, my only silver buddy, jigging around a lay down tree.  This is the latest in the year I've ever had the boat out and I'm really struggling with boat control.  Can't work a slow presentation if the boat won't stay put.  I guess I should probably get a longer anchor rope so I can anchor out deeper where the fish are holding.  Anybody else still at it?

[The Bassman]

18 hours ago, IndianaOutdoors said:

  Anybody else still at it?

I used to just assume that early Nov. was it until next March. It's all a head game. I caught a few on a wacky Senko this afternoon. Just fished slower. The wind was an issue, though. Granted, I fish from shore so I can imagine boat control is a real challenge. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice but windy again. I'm going for it because next week is supposed to get cold again.

[BigBassLoveSenkos]

On 11/30/2018 at 9:10 PM, IndianaOutdoors said:

This is the latest in the year I've ever had the boat out and I'm really struggling with boat control.  Can't work a slow presentation if the boat won't stay put.  I guess I should probably get a longer anchor rope so I can anchor out deeper where the fish are holding.  Anybody else still at it?

Had a decent day Saturday afternoon with a ned and a pointer 78.  It was extremely windy but the ultrex did a pretty good job fighting the wind for me.  Went ahead and winterized on Sunday.   C'mon spring!

[RipzLipz]

Hi guys,

 

I'm from around central IN, 20 min. south of Indy - mainly fish strip pits around Brazil and Linton areas.  Would have been posting here more frequently but didn't know this thread existed until today.  Have been mostly lurking for the past couple of years.

 

2018 was mostly a down year for me - a few 3-4 lbers on jitterbugs but nothing on jigs during prespawn this year.  Lost access to a 20 acre private strip pit - owner passed away - but waiting to see what happens with the property.  Not putting much faith in that panning out but one never knows.

 

A week-long smallmouth trip in June to Waterfalls Lodge around Spanish, Ontario resulted in a dozen or so 2-3 lbers but nothing about which to really brag.  I was recovering from corrective laser eye surgery so that made things a bit more difficult than usual and impacted most of my fishing season.  PRK surgery isn't fun when you're over 40 to say the least.

 

My dad & I went in together on a 2008 Ranger 198VX with a 200HP Merc Opti about a year ago and didn't use it much this past year - went to Patoka once after the water got back down and completely struck out due to fish still not settling down from early high water levels - but is always nice to get out in the big boat when we can.  Just got new Solix units installed & working around October - looking forward to using those and learning how to chart private lakes/pits if I decide to mess around with that - can fashion an out of the box transducer into a portable one fairly easily just not sure if I want to drop the $500 on the 'ducer, software/chip, etc.

 

Just returned from a trip to Lake Seminole in GA - weather wasn't in our favor and of course the damage from Hurricane Michael was still affecting things - fishing was slow for us.  Fished mostly deep divers in the wood and caught 6 total (in about 3 days total of fishing - dad is getting up there in age and can't handle sitting around just fishing - they have to be biting) but managed to stick 3 at 3-13, 1 at 4-5 and dad had an 8-0 grab his crank.  I don't hear much about Seminole and it's full of wood, at least in the area where we were, and is full of hydrilla that received a "haircut" from Michael and overall, I was quite impressed with the quality of the fish we caught.  Sure, we could have had better numbers but not bad compared to what I'd expect from a public lake in IN.  Seminole is not for the novice boater - one of the more potentially dangerous lakes I've been on.  If you got out of the marked running lanes, you'd probably be getting a shiny new lower unit due to all the standing timber under the surface and that timber stands right at the old channel edges (along the running lanes).

 

Anyway, will try to contribute to this thread a bit in the coming season - have a bit more than 2 weeks off starting on the 22nd so might have time for a quick trip down south somewhere maybe.  Will post some pics of this past year if I get the chance - particularly from the Seminole trip.  That 8 was a pig.  At work right now and need to get back at it.

 

Take care all.

[The Bassman]

33 minutes ago, RipzLipz said:

Hi guys,

 

I'm from around central IN, 20 min. south of Indy - mainly fish strip pits around Brazil and Linton areas.  Would have been posting here more frequently but didn't know this thread existed until today.  Have been mostly lurking for the past couple of years.

 

2018 was mostly a down year for me - a few 3-4 lbers on jitterbugs but nothing on jigs during prespawn this year.  Lost access to a 20 acre private strip pit - owner passed away - but waiting to see what happens with the property.  Not putting much faith in that panning out but one never knows.

 

A week-long smallmouth trip in June to Waterfalls Lodge around Spanish, Ontario resulted in a dozen or so 2-3 lbers but nothing about which to really brag.  I was recovering from corrective laser eye surgery so that made things a bit more difficult than usual and impacted most of my fishing season.  PRK surgery isn't fun when you're over 40 to say the least.

 

My dad & I went in together on a 2008 Ranger 198VX with a 200HP Merc Opti about a year ago and didn't use it much this past year - went to Patoka once after the water got back down and completely struck out due to fish still not settling down from early high water levels - but is always nice to get out in the big boat when we can.  Just got new Solix units installed & working around October - looking forward to using those and learning how to chart private lakes/pits if I decide to mess around with that - can fashion an out of the box transducer into a portable one fairly easily just not sure if I want to drop the $500 on the 'ducer, software/chip, etc.

 

Just returned from a trip to Lake Seminole in GA - weather wasn't in our favor and of course the damage from Hurricane Michael was still affecting things - fishing was slow for us.  Fished mostly deep divers in the wood and caught 6 total (in about 3 days total of fishing - dad is getting up there in age and can't handle sitting around just fishing - they have to be biting) but managed to stick 3 at 3-13, 1 at 4-5 and dad had an 8-0 grab his crank.  I don't hear much about Seminole and it's full of wood, at least in the area where we were, and is full of hydrilla that received a "haircut" from Michael and overall, I was quite impressed with the quality of the fish we caught.  Sure, we could have had better numbers but not bad compared to what I'd expect from a public lake in IN.  Seminole is not for the novice boater - one of the more potentially dangerous lakes I've been on.  If you got out of the marked running lanes, you'd probably be getting a shiny new lower unit due to all the standing timber under the surface and that timber stands right at the old channel edges (along the running lanes).

 

Anyway, will try to contribute to this thread a bit in the coming season - have a bit more than 2 weeks off starting on the 22nd so might have time for a quick trip down south somewhere maybe.  Will post some pics of this past year if I get the chance - particularly from the Seminole trip.  That 8 was a pig.  At work right now and need to get back at it.

 

Take care all.

Glad you're on here. We've lost a few guys since I've been here. (That didn't sound good, did it?) I love hearing local guys' experiences and find it beneficial. I'm still fishing locally and can't wait for the weather to warm up next week. I hope the ice doesn't get a toehold in the meantime.

[Team9nine]

51 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Glad you're on here. We've lost a few guys since I've been here. (That didn't sound good, did it?) I love hearing local guys' experiences and find it beneficial. I'm still fishing locally and can't wait for the weather to warm up next week. I hope the ice doesn't get a toehold in the meantime.

Woke up this morning and figured it wouldn't be good. Most everything I saw today up to 50 acres was at least partially skimmed over, and much of that stayed all through the day.With lows between 16-20 for the next 4 nights, I don't see much hope for the smaller waters. Hoping the big reservoirs stay clear into next week when we finally get a slight warm up.

[The Bassman]

 

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Woke up this morning and figured it wouldn't be good. Most everything I saw today up to 50 acres was at least partially skimmed over, and much of that stayed all through the day.With lows between 16-20 for the next 4 nights, I don't see much hope for the smaller waters. Hoping the big reservoirs stay clear into next week when we finally get a slight warm up.

Remember this past Jan. when we were in the minus teens?  I was fishing open water less than 3 acres by months end. I actually stood on the bank as half the pond which had refroze the night before broke free and passed in front of me. It was like waiting on a slow train. That was Jan. 31 and I caught a few that afternoon. This was the first year I can remember catching bass in each month. 

[Team9nine]

Still need my Dec. bass, but got every other month this year covered. Not usually that lucky

[Alan Reed]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Still need my Dec. bass, but got every other month this year covered. Not usually that lucky

I caught a fish in every month of 2017. I missed January of 18 because the water wasn’t open.

[The Bassman]

Weather forecast is encouraging. I'm noticing the ice on ponds is already getting dark. I'm guessing it was still under two in. even with a full week of teens and twenties. Hoping to get back at it this weekend after the rain. Anybody else have plans? 

[RipzLipz]

Was pretty nice out yesterday and yet again today though a bit more chilly.  Saw a couple of guys fishing a high dollar neighborhood main lake in Columbus yesterday while driving around after lunch.  Would have liked to have been out there hitting it with them - some monsters in those lakes.

 

No immediate plans for me unless dad and I get a wild hair and take off down south while I'm off during Xmas shutdown.  Pretty nice - we usually get a full week off paid and I always roll over 5 unused days to tack onto the end of that.  Depending on how the holidays fall, I might end up with somewhere around 12-15 days off.  Won't have to be back until the 10th this year.

 

Booked a June trip up to Rainy Lake this year so will have that to look forward to in 2019.  Hope to put a beatdown on the smallies and hope the fishing warrants several return trips.  Always used to do a week-long canoe trip in the BWCA/Quetico lakes back in the 90's - definite bucket list trip if you've never experienced it.  Lots of work but defintely worth it in the end.

[The Bassman]

Since my 12/12 post I've been out several times. I've actually had some of my best fishing in a good while these past few days. Have totalled close to fifty bass and a few crappie. Nothing real big but several between two and three lbs. (not the crappie). I guess I'm at an advantage in that I'm fishing small waters and especially during cold water I focus on the smaller ones so fish location is pretty much out of the equation. Still have to make em bite, though and MWF techniques have really shined. I keep joking that this is going to last all winter but at some point reality will certainly set in.

[Team9nine]

On 12/18/2018 at 3:26 PM, RipzLipz said:

Was pretty nice out yesterday and yet again today though a bit more chilly.  Saw a couple of guys fishing a high dollar neighborhood main lake in Columbus yesterday while driving around after lunch.  Would have liked to have been out there hitting it with them - some monsters in those lakes.

 

No immediate plans for me unless dad and I get a wild hair and take off down south while I'm off during Xmas shutdown.  Pretty nice - we usually get a full week off paid and I always roll over 5 unused days to tack onto the end of that.  Depending on how the holidays fall, I might end up with somewhere around 12-15 days off.  Won't have to be back until the 10th this year.

 

Booked a June trip up to Rainy Lake this year so will have that to look forward to in 2019.  Hope to put a beatdown on the smallies and hope the fishing warrants several return trips.  Always used to do a week-long canoe trip in the BWCA/Quetico lakes back in the 90's - definite bucket list trip if you've never experienced it.  Lots of work but defintely worth it in the end.

 

Been to Quetico twice, both back in the 80s. Enjoyed the heck out of those primitive canoe trips. Would be neat to go back and see what has changed after 40 years

 

40 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

Since my 12/12 post I've been out several times. I've actually had some of my best fishing in a good while these past few days. Have totalled close to fifty bass and a few crappie. Nothing real big but several between two and three lbs. (not the crappie). I guess I'm at an advantage in that I'm fishing small waters and especially during cold water I focus on the smaller ones so fish location is pretty much out of the equation. Still have to make em bite, though and MWF techniques have really shined. I keep joking that this is going to last all winter but at some point reality will certainly set in.

Nice job. Finally picked up the bass stick tonight for the first time in 2 months after all that crappie fishing. One pond seems to have died - Not sure what is going on yet. Moved to a different one and missed a couple but landed a few. That was a relief. Ready to hit a couple more either tomorrow or Saturday. Bass bit through sunset until dark

 

[Team9nine]

Hit several more subdivision lakes today. Managed 12 bass between the three of them along with a couple big hybrid gills and a free Wiggle Wart 

 

 

[The Bassman]

23 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Hit several more subdivision lakes today. Managed 12 bass between the three of them along with a couple big hybrid gills and a free Wiggle Wart 

 

 

That wind got vicious as the temp was dropping.  Finished a paint job at a customers' house and fished his lake for about 45 min. before I had enough. Caught 8 with one decent one around two lbs. 

[FishTank]

On 12/28/2018 at 6:38 PM, Team9nine said:

Hit several more subdivision lakes today. Managed 12 bass between the three of them along with a couple big hybrid gills and a free Wiggle Wart 

 

 

Nice.  I wanted to get out the past two days but was unable to, too much to do.  

 

50+ degree weather in January, how did I not get out?     

[The Bassman]

Got out this afternoon just before the cold front and had the best action in recent memory. On a whim I decided to go power instead of finesse, (The wind played a big part in that). Three days of 50+ temps got me thinking that the fish might be a bit more aggressive. Used a white 1/4 oz. chatterbait with fluke trailer slow rolled on the windward side and caught about 15 with half over three lbs. and two pushing five. No pics (I know, no pics or it didn't happen.) because it was so bright my flip phone camera was about worthless. We're going cold for a while with snow Sat. but I can't think of a better way to leave it for now.

[KLoell]

On 12/7/2018 at 3:41 PM, RipzLipz said:

Hi guys,

 

I'm from around central IN, 20 min. south of Indy - mainly fish strip pits around Brazil and Linton areas.  Would have been posting here more frequently but didn't know this thread existed until today.  Have been mostly lurking for the past couple of years.

 

2018 was mostly a down year for me - a few 3-4 lbers on jitterbugs but nothing on jigs during prespawn this year.  Lost access to a 20 acre private strip pit - owner passed away - but waiting to see what happens with the property.  Not putting much faith in that panning out but one never knows.

 

A week-long smallmouth trip in June to Waterfalls Lodge around Spanish, Ontario resulted in a dozen or so 2-3 lbers but nothing about which to really brag.  I was recovering from corrective laser eye surgery so that made things a bit more difficult than usual and impacted most of my fishing season.  PRK surgery isn't fun when you're over 40 to say the least.

 

My dad & I went in together on a 2008 Ranger 198VX with a 200HP Merc Opti about a year ago and didn't use it much this past year - went to Patoka once after the water got back down and completely struck out due to fish still not settling down from early high water levels - but is always nice to get out in the big boat when we can.  Just got new Solix units installed & working around October - looking forward to using those and learning how to chart private lakes/pits if I decide to mess around with that - can fashion an out of the box transducer into a portable one fairly easily just not sure if I want to drop the $500 on the 'ducer, software/chip, etc.

 

Just returned from a trip to Lake Seminole in GA - weather wasn't in our favor and of course the damage from Hurricane Michael was still affecting things - fishing was slow for us.  Fished mostly deep divers in the wood and caught 6 total (in about 3 days total of fishing - dad is getting up there in age and can't handle sitting around just fishing - they have to be biting) but managed to stick 3 at 3-13, 1 at 4-5 and dad had an 8-0 grab his crank.  I don't hear much about Seminole and it's full of wood, at least in the area where we were, and is full of hydrilla that received a "haircut" from Michael and overall, I was quite impressed with the quality of the fish we caught.  Sure, we could have had better numbers but not bad compared to what I'd expect from a public lake in IN.  Seminole is not for the novice boater - one of the more potentially dangerous lakes I've been on.  If you got out of the marked running lanes, you'd probably be getting a shiny new lower unit due to all the standing timber under the surface and that timber stands right at the old channel edges (along the running lanes).

 

Anyway, will try to contribute to this thread a bit in the coming season - have a bit more than 2 weeks off starting on the 22nd so might have time for a quick trip down south somewhere maybe.  Will post some pics of this past year if I get the chance - particularly from the Seminole trip.  That 8 was a pig.  At work right now and need to get back at it.

 

Take care all.

A group of friends and me make a trip to Linton/Dugger every spring.  I usually make a return trip in the fall.  Love it there. 

[lonnie g]

On 1/9/2019 at 8:50 PM, KLoell said:

A group of friends and me make a trip to Linton/Dugger every spring.  I usually make a return trip in the fall.  Love it there. 

hey ,glad you are here. I am about 20 mile south of greensburg, fish a lot of small lakes around here, have a brother and cousin that live on lay lake in bama, so go there a lot. full of spots ,great fun. we are taking a trip to either central or north fla,. this late feb or early march. have a great 2019. oh I just realized I thought I was responding to ripzlipz ? hope you have a great year as well, maby he will see this too!

[The Bassman]

Noticed yesterday we lost the Gander store in Castleton. Sensed it happening since it opened last year. Hope Greenfield stays open.

[bayvalle]

I live in Ohio but I fish Brookville lake and the Ohio River in Indiana. Anybody doing anything now in this weather?

[CroakHunter]

We just finally got a layer of ice on the ponds. May be hitting up turtle creek reservoir shortly. 

[Csadams17]

Hi folks, anyone know of a good club, that’s looking for new members in the Fort Wayne area, or NE Indiana?

 

have looked sound on line and tried to contact a couple but not much luck.

 

appreciate any info!!

 

thanks

[The Bassman]

Glad to have you aboard. I'm in Indy so quite a ways from you. Not sure where to steer you. I may be wrong but I don't think clubs have as big a presence as they once did. Hope someone can correct me on that. You're real close to a lot of natural lakes that have produced reports from at least one of our members.  Good luck and looking forward to your input.