Patoka Lake
Indiana's second-largest lake, in the southern hills. It's known for crappie, bass, muskie and catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Muskellunge
Big baits along weed edges and rock bars, best in fall.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Muskellunge | ||||||||||||
| Channel Catfish |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the Indiana DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Patoka Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Indiana Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Patoka Lake MarinaNearby2991 N Dillard Rd, Birdseye(812) 685-2203Directions ↗
Local tips
- Standing timber in the coves holds crappie.
- There's a 10 mph speed limit on parts of the lake.
- A good lake for kayaks in the quiet coves.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Patoka Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.