Any fellow Hoosiers been yet this year? 2024

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

I tried out a new local pond yesterday and didn't do a thing, not a nibble. But I was tickled to even be out trying after this long cold winter ;D.

I seen a little activity, a few gills and a ball of baitfish in the shallows. I seen a bunch of some type of shells laying around in shallow water, opened up, oblong shaped, any idea what these are?

I'm so glad the weather is finally breaking, man this winter seemed brutal, and long >

Has anybody been out and how did you do?

Rand reply :

Haven't been out yet Skillet. I hope to get out to Turtle Creek as soon as the boat gets back from the shop. Just a little TLC for her. Although I may take a pond trip if this warming trend continues.

Rand

GunnyBass reply :

Yes, but not in Southern Indiana...Yet. In North Carolina. I know, doesn't help but you did ask for "hoosiers" been fishing!! ;D Will be fishing Southern Indiana again in April after I relocate back home. Will be hitting Hardy Lake first more then likely.

Blade-Runner reply :

We were catching smallies on the W. Fork of the White up until the water level got too high. From shore at annual wintering holes, mostly jigs and crankbaits.

Found the first pond in my county to thaw and caught a 13" largemouth 2 days ago. LC-78 with pull-pause.

Good luck, the thaw is on.

keepinsane reply :

Yeh I was desperate on Sun afternoon a buddy and I borrowed a boat and motor went to the st joe river in fort wayne No real fish but my friend Snagged a nasty old 5lb carp by the tail w/ a crankbait not excactly productive but I will say that I wish I would have snagged that dang thing...LOL oh yeh and a guy at the ramp had actually caught 4 carp on worms he was releasing them as we went in. Boy was it nice to be out!!!!

IN.fisherman reply :

I live in anderson just got my boat fixed,went to aqua gardens didn' get abite yesterday.It was fun crankin the boat down though.Anyone ever fish patoka this early,if so maybe tell me some good areas to bass fish. Me and my dad are going down the 20th of marchfor the weekend.

nashontheriver reply :

i hit white river last weekend. no luck near downtown muncie. tomorrow i'm heading to new castle to try summit lake and a couple other spots. i'm going to try out some new craw lures from BPS. hope it doesn't rain all day. also, white river is way to high to fish right now. i plan to try it again next week. i will update on this thread if there isn't a new one already.

TheOriginalFishaholic reply :

I'll finally be getting out on the 16th & 18th...

Lake Michigan a nice brown was taken last week by a guy from Hobart - 27.28 lbs.

The Steelhead are in the streams, but with the heavy rain that hit yesterday it'll be a couple of days before it clears.

I'm hoping to hit some feeder ditches along the Kankakee in search of walleye and pike.

Cabin fever is drivin' me nuts and I'd a gone yesterday, but the lightning was fierce - opted to stay home.

Northern Strain reply :

It doesn't help that the rain keeps coming and that it is 10 degrees colder this weekend. I was hoping to get on the white river today, but that wasn't gonna happen. Tomorrow I am definintaly trying a friends pond, rain or shine. The weather is looking good this upcoming week also and with no rain coming till next sunday, saturday on the river could be very productive... hopfully.

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

Quote
Yes, but not in Southern Indiana...Yet. In North Carolina. I know, doesn't help but you did ask for "hoosiers" been fishing!! ;D Will be fishing Southern Indiana again in April after I relocate back home. Will be hitting Hardy Lake first more then likely.

How do you do at Hardy, many keeper size and nice ones? I haven't fished Hardy in years.

keepinsane reply :

Went to Webster lake today 3 of us and didnt catch a thing bit it was nice to be out and about on the water tried everything too those bass on webster are a tough bite anyway and 39 degree water wasnt helping oh yeh and 25 mph nne winds wasnt making em jump in the boat hopefully get on james this coming weekend.

nashontheriver reply :

i went to Summit lake near new castle on friday. i had called down there thursday and they said no boats because there was still some ice on the lake. i thought that meant there would be some open water....not so. needless to say there was no chance for a catch.

Northern Strain reply :

ice... wow, unbelieveable.

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

Quote
I live in anderson just got my boat fixed,went to aqua gardens didn' get abite yesterday.It was fun crankin the boat down though.Anyone ever fish patoka this early,if so maybe tell me some good areas to bass fish. Me and my dad are going down the 20th of marchfor the weekend.

A buddy of mine fished a tourney at Pakota last Sat. and caught one fish, a little over 5lbs. on a Berkley chigger craw green pump., not sure where he caught it.

Team9nine reply :

Ice came off my local reservoir on Thursday. Needless to say, after this long winter I was on the bank for half hour fishing Friday night after work. Saturday was a rain out. Got 3 more hours in on Sunday and another hour in on Monday after work again. Caught 2 on Friday, 9 on Sunday and 4 more on Monday No skunks yet ;D

Have the boat ready to go and will be hoping to increase those numbers a bunch this weekend after all this warm weather.

-T9

TheOriginalFishaholic reply :

Looks like my Spring fishin' is shot...managed to get a serious allergic reaction in both feet along with a nasty infection...being primarily a shore fisherman, this means I'll be lucky if I'm pitchin' any baits by Summer.

Rand reply :

Thats awful man. Hope things get better fast.

TheOriginalFishaholic reply :

Thanks! All prayers on my behalf for a speedy recovery are welcome and greatly appreciated...I've been itchin' all Winter to be roamin' the banks and backwaters of the Kankakee.

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

Quote
Thanks! All prayers on my behalf for a speedy recovery are welcome and greatly appreciated...I've been itchin' all Winter to be roamin' the banks and backwaters of the Kankakee.

I sure you get better soon for you can get out and do some fishing. Good luck

Blade-Runner reply :

Summit is ice-free as of last Thursday.

Water temperatures were in low-low 40's.

Most of the bass reports I've been getting in this area have still been on small ponds/pits.

Some action being reported on crappie on the area reservoirs, but water is still cold & muddy.

keepinsane reply :

Went to James today caught 5 but man the big fish would not bite water was 44.4 degrees in the flats. got any tips for cold water fishing?

Blade-Runner reply :

I've been having most luck on jerkbaits, even with the poor water clarity. Haven't really slowed down much with the jig because I'm not finding concentrations in the usual prespawn hotspots yet.

Fish seem spread out more than normal. Right now I'm trying to get as much coverage as possible before the heavy pressure starts and before vegetation starts choking the small-acreage locales.

Dave P reply :

Got out this weekend and caught 4 in a short while. Found some warmer water and they were in about 5 feet of water. Wild Eye Swim Shad on the bottom

TommyBass reply :

Where did you go dave? Seen your from Farmersburg.

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

My brother and I hit John Hay lake today. We caught 6 keepers between us with the largest 17". All but one caught on rattletraps and 3 different brands of them. Not a great day, but its a start and was fun getting out. Water temp was 50. All of the fish caught in 3-5'

Dave P reply :

Quote
Where did you go dave? Seen your from Farmersburg.

Green Sullivan...

Bass-N reply :

My brother and I hit the White near Muncie a few weeks ago...nut'n! Talked to guy that fishes the river a lot and he hasn't been catching anything either. Once the water goes back down, I'll be back at it. Felt good to stretch the line though.

nashontheriver reply :

hey bass-n, i fish the white near muncie as well. what do you like to use during early spring?

Bass-N reply :

Hey Nash,

To tell the truth, I've never fished the river this early in the spring. Usually, we like to watch for signs of crayfish (crawdads) and fish similar lures. I always like jigs with a grub or mister twister tail. How about you?

nashontheriver reply :

i need to check into those mister twisters, never used one. i didn't fish it quite so early last spring either. although the black 5" zoom worms wroked pretty well around may-june last summer. this year i have added a BPS flippin craw kit to my arsenal. i like to think they will tear em up. we will soon find out.

Bass-N reply :

Have you heard of a blog site smallmouthinyoursoup?

He's a real river fishing nut...fishes the White river somewhere around Indy. A lot of great info here.

nashontheriver reply :

that blog has all kinds of good info, thanks.

keepinsane reply :

here is what happened on james chain yesterday

keepinsane reply :

the winners on james

keepinsane reply :

3lb 10 oz after the tourney

TheOriginalFishaholic reply :

Nice little pike...keep...try Webster, Tippiecanoe, or Wolf for a giant one now.

Blade-Runner reply :

I caught four 14-15" LMB in 2 hours at a local city pit yesterday in the rain. 3 on swim jig, 1 on spinnerbait.

Only one other guy on the water and he just happened to hook and land a 10-15 lb. wiper on a Trap...Lucky guy - it fought real good.

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

We hit John Hay lake yesterday for 5 hrs., still kinda slow, we managed only one keeper and 6 smaller ones. The water temp is still 50-52, but should start climbing some this week. The lake looked good, it was up 1-2', and had some color to it from the rain.

TheOriginalFishaholic reply :

Supposed to reach 80 tomorrow...things are gonna heat up real fast.

BTW, wtg on early season success.

13016

Any fellow Hoosiers been yet this year? 2024

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