Call District 5 at (765) 342-5527, or the Brookville Reservoir office at (765) 647-2657 for more information.

Tourism information is available from the Franklin CVB at (866) 647-6555, or at www.franklincountyin.com.

PATOKA LAKE
Eventually, just about any conversation about bass fishing comes around to Patoka Lake. The bass fishing is among the best that Indiana has to offer.

According to fisheries biologist Dan Carnahan, bass anglers are now hooking big bucketmouths instead of the hordes of smaller bass that once overpopulated the lake. Regulations throughout the years have been adjusted to manipulate the size structure of the largemouth bass. The results have been outstanding.

Bass in Patoka are topping the 20-inch mark. Tournament results last year included several bass measuring from 19 to 20 inches. During the spring of 2007, even bass topping the 22-inch mark were taken that weighed in at 6 and 7 pounds.

Jeff Bailey of Uebelhor Bait and Guns in Jasper has fished the lake and been riding high on the wave of success.

"The best bass I've caught was over 9 pounds," Bailey said. "I've also landed two bass that were 8-pounders."

Early spring is the best time to target true trophies on Patoka, Bailey said. Lily pads and grassbeds draw in the big spawners to soak up the sun while lying in the weeds looking for an easy meal.

Standing trees in the creek inlets and the shallower bays are bass magnets as well. The cover can be so dense in these areas that getting back into fishable waters can be a tough assignment. The Walls Ramp and Southwick Fork areas are great places to start.

There is a 15-inch minimum length limit in effect on Patoka for bass.

Patoka covers 8,800 acres in Crawford, Dubois and Orange counties. Access is from state routes 545, 145 and 164 about 13 miles east of Jasper. A dozen ramps serve the lake. The Newton-Stewart Recreation Area charges an additional entrance fee to get through the gate. Bank-fishermen have plenty of access anywhere a road borders the water.

For additional information, contact District 7 at (812) 789-2724, the Patoka Lake office at (812) 685-2464 or the Uebelhor Bait and Guns shop at (812) 482-6672.

Call the Crawford County Tourism Office at (888) 846-5397 for tourism information, or visit online at www. crawfordcountyindiana.com.

Find more about Indiana fishing and hunting at: IndianaGameandFish.com