Patoka Lake Tournaments
Contest calendar and printed winners for Patoka Lake.
- 1upcoming
- 5results
- 18.5 lbavg win/day
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Indiana hosts post Patoka Lake contests on their own pages, and each row here was read there.
Formats posted for Patoka Lake: one day, Team/Solo; individual; high school two-angler team, one day, five-bass limit.
Host pages linked in each row; read November 2026.
How the Patoka Lake events are listed
Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Patoka Lake (May 2027) (2027-05-15): listed by Major League Fishing; format: one day, Team/Solo.
Phoenix BFL Hoosier Division Patoka Lake 2026, boater (Hoosier Division): Frank McClain, five bass, 19 pounds, 11 ounces. Release dated 18 may 2026; event date not printed in the release text
Details as posted on each host page linked in the tables; read November 2026.
Patoka Lake club and trail tournaments
Patoka Lake turns up in 1 scheduled event on the Indiana boards, 1 not fished yet, alongside 5 published results. Booking Patoka Lake: Indiana Bass Federation, Major League Fishing and Student Angler Federation. Hosts send boats out from Newton Stewart South and Celestine.
In 2 dated one-day five-bass events the winner averaged 18.46 pounds; 18.77 stands highest. Up first: Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Patoka Lake (May 2027), 2027-05-15.
Open dates ahead on Patoka Lake
| Date | Event | Organizer | Launch | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-05-15 | Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Patoka Lake (May 2027) | Major League Fishing | Crawford County |
Hoosier calendars as of November 2026.
Patoka Lake first-place names, as posted by Hoosier hosts
| Date | Event | Winner | Winning weight | One-day bag (lb) | Big fish | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-10 | TBF District 10 National Semi-Finals 2026 (Indiana), boater (pro) (District 10) | Brian Coleman | 10 fish, 29.07 lb (two-day total) | Crawford County | ||
| 2026-06-21 | IBF Trail 2026 #3 Patoka | Chris Martinkovic | 5 bass, 18.15 lb | 18.15 | Crawford County | |
| 2026-05-02 | Student Angler Federation Indiana State Championship 2026 | High school team (students not named) | 5 fish, 18-10 | 6-01 | Crawford County | |
| 2025-10-25 | IBF Trail 2025 Classic Patoka | Paul Jones | 9 bass, 32.36 lb (two-day total) | Crawford County | ||
| 2025-03-30 | IBF Trail 2025 #1 Patoka | Gordon Lamb | 5 bass, 18.77 lb | 18.77 | 7.02 lb | Crawford County |
Posted results; each row links out.
Bag weights that took Patoka Lake titles
For Patoka Lake, IBF Trail 2025 #1 Patoka (2025) holds the top bag at 18.77 pounds.
2 dated wins span 18.1 to 18.8 pounds.
Dated one-day five-bass winning bags only; two-day totals and high school results are not averaged.
Patoka Lake when the trailers are gone
On the map Patoka Lake comes to 8,800 acres in Crawford County, Dubois County and Orange County. DNR places it in DNR fisheries district 6. Owned by DNR State Parks and Reservoirs, per the DNR layer.
DNR access here: 11 access sites. Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Indiana DNR public lakes layer (county, owner, fisheries district number, location text), read November 5, 2026.; Acres as stated on the Indiana DNR property or lake page, read November 5, 2026.; USACE Louisville District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge PRLI3, read November 5, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).; Indiana DNR Fishing Access Sites layer; read November 5, 2026.
Patoka Lake bag and length limits
| Species as printed | Daily limit | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Redear Sunfish | 25 | no size limit |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in lakes) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in rivers and streams) | 5, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | No fish 12 to 15 inches may be kept, and no more than two fish over 15 inches may be kept |
| Black Bass: largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass (in Lake Michigan) | 3, any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass | 14 inches |
| Yellow Bass | Unlimited | no size limit |
| White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass | 12, any combination of white bass or hybrid striped bass | No more than two fish may exceed 17 inches |
| Striped Bass | 2 | no size limit |
| Rock Bass | 25 | no size limit |
| Crappie | 25 | no size limit |
| Walleye, Walleye-Sauger Hybrid (Saugeye), Sauger | 6, any combination of walleye, walleye-sauger hybrid, and sauger | For walleye: 14 inches south of SR 26; 16 inches north of SR 26 For sauger and saugeye: No size limit |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 1 muskellunge or 1 tiger muskellunge | 36 inches |
| Northern Pike | 3 | 24 inches; no more than one 30 inches or longer |
| Yellow Perch | Unlimited (15 only on Lake Michigan) | no size limit |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in rivers and streams) | Unlimited | 13 inches; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Catfish: Channel, Blue, Flathead (in lakes) | 10 | None; not more than one blue catfish that’s at least 35 inches, one flathead catfish at least 35 inches, and one channel catfish at least 28 inches or longer may be kept |
| Bullhead | Unlimited | no size limit |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | Unlimited | 25 inches (fork length) |
Guide rules written for Patoka Lake alone
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka Lake (Orange, Dubois, Crawford) | Largemouth Bass | 15-inch minimum size limit |
Special regulation waters as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
Statewide limits as printed, 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide (eRegulations, linked from the Indiana DNR), read November 5, 2026.
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Launch ramps on Patoka Lake
- Fishermen Campground Ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Lick Fork boat ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- South Lick Fork boat ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- South Ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Jackson boat ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Newton Stewart Ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Osborn Ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, fishing pier, courtesy dock, ADA access, restrooms, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Painter Creek Ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Little Patoka Rampconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Wall's Lake Ramp on Patoka Lakeconcrete ramp, courtesy dock, restrooms, lights, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
- Kings Bridge Ramp on Patoka Lakegravel ramp, fee: Lake Permit Required, French Lick
Who schedules Patoka Lake contests
Indiana county links for Patoka Lake
- Crawford County
Rigging a boat for Patoka Lake
Jigs and chatterbaits
For lily pads and docks
Casting rods
For natural-lake weedlines
Copolymer line
For clear glacial lakes
Fish care
For summer weigh-ins
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Indiana contest pages beyond Patoka Lake
- Brookville Lake3 events
- Cedarville Reservoir1 event
- Crooked Lake (Steuben County)1 event
- Dallas Lake1 event
- Dewart Lake1 event
- Hamilton Lake3 events
- Lake Freeman1 event
- Lake James3 events
- Lake Manitou2 events
- Lake Maxinkuckee5 events
- Lake Shafer4 events
- Lake Wawasee9 events
- Lake of the Woods (Marshall County)6 events
- Monroe Lake7 events
- Nyona Lake1 event
- Ohio River10 events
- Palestine Lake4 events
- Pine Lake (LaPorte County)2 events
- Sylvan Lake2 events
- Tippecanoe Lake3 events
- Waldron Lake5 events
- Webster Lake5 events
- Winona Lake1 event
- Worster Lake3 events
Hoosier lakes and creeks near Patoka Lake, on camera
Photo: Kyle Hartshorn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bart Everson, CC BY 2.0
Coves and docks near the Patoka Lake weigh-ins, in pictures
Photo: Deana Hunter, CC BY 2.0
Photo: William Alden, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Scott Weingart, CC BY 2.0
Photo: William Alden, CC BY-SA 2.0
What Indiana anglers ask about Patoka Lake contests
How many events does Patoka Lake carry in Indiana?
1 printed dates, 1 still to fish, plus 5 published results.
When is the next Indiana field on Patoka Lake?
Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Patoka Lake (May 2027) on 2027-05-15.
What bag wins a Hoosier event on Patoka Lake?
Plan on about 18.46 pounds for a one-day five-bass win here (2 events); the mark is 18.77.
Which trails come to Patoka Lake?
Indiana Bass Federation, Major League Fishing and Student Angler Federation.
Which DNR ramp do Hoosier Patoka Lake fields leave from?
Launches named by the Indiana hosts: Newton Stewart South and Celestine.
Who tops the newest Patoka Lake results?
Brian Coleman won TBF District 10 National Semi-Finals 2026 (Indiana), boater (pro) (District 10) (2026-10-10) weighing 10 fish, 29.07 lb (two-day total).
Which Indiana license fits a Patoka Lake event?
Anglers 18 and older carry an Indiana fishing license ($23 a year for residents, $60 for nonresidents).
Where does a Hoosier angler send a Patoka Lake entry?
Entries go straight to the host, reached through the linked event name.
Can a bass club send in a Patoka Lake date?
The Add a tournament button above is open to any Indiana host.
Spend a day learning Patoka Lake
Every ramp in this list also appears on the water page.
Know a tournament that is not listed?
Send it here with a link to the organizer’s event page or schedule. Weekly and monthly ones only need to go in once. If that page shows the name and the date (or the day of the week), it goes on this page right away. If not, we check it by hand within a week.
We keep what you send so we can check the event. Your email is never published.