May be moving to Indy area

[BassTaurus]

I might be taking a job at a company in the Indy area-moving from St. Louis, MO area. I know Indiana doesn't have a lot of big water, so what are some decent bodies of water around the Indianapolis area? Is Geist Reservoir any good, or is it beaten to death since it's so close to the city? Is the best big water KY Lake, which is over 4 hours away? Thanks for any help- the country is pretty much the same as where i grew up in MO, but the lack of a lot of big lakes is something I'm going to have to adjust to. Thanks...

[billius]

I've not lived in Indiana for 4 years, but I know the state quite well. Geist is good, or so I am told, even though it gets beat up pretty bad. Monroe reservoir is about 1.5-2 hours south, Patoka is another hour or so farther south. Both of those lakes can be pretty good. You can go north of Indy 2-3 hours and fish a lot of the natural lakes up there. Still north, but closer, are Mississinewa and Salamonie reservoirs between Marion and Wabash, Indiana. Mansfield reservoir is west of Indy, about an hour's drive on Hwy 36. It gets a lot of boat traffic on weekends, but through the week, is not a bad place to fish normally. Also I am told some fish the White River from a bassboat, right there in town. I've never done that however.

[catfishjn69]

sorry man I did the same thing 16 years ago I lived in southern IL and moved to indy. As for water geist is good it is expensive has a ramp fee of $26 I believe you get 1/2 money back if you come back b4 noon. right now the hot lake is waveland to the west lots of numbers but not huge fish. monroe is good but high right now and patoka is a drive but it is good but you could darn near be to KY lake for the same amount of time. I dont fish up north much.

when will you be in indy do you know where you are going to be living yet? shoot me an email and I can help you out some.

[bigmikeindiana]

There are 1000's 0f acres of strip pits in the Linton area about 1-1/2hrs from Indy that are full of bass and other fish if you don't mind fishing smaller waters (up to maybe 160 acres ) and the bass this year and last have been awsome, numbers of 5 & 6's and a few 8's and 2-9's that I know of. Boat ramps on a lot of the lakes will handle a bassboat but the lakes are restricted to trolling motors only. In the Dugger unit they stocked 3 pits with musky, bass lake has some 45 to 50" fish, we have a picture of a 45" in the store caught this March. Get in touch with me at Spurlin's Bass and Bucks in Linton (812-847-2333) and I'll help you all I can.
PS check out Newton Lake in Illinois fantastic fishery and not that far.

[BassTaurus]

WOW! $26 Ramp Fee for one day? I', used to spending $30 for a year long pass at any Corps lake in MO. I like fishing small waters as well and fished strip pits a lot when I lived in Columbia, MO- nice places usually and a good way to put the strip mining pits to good use. I would like to buy a place eventually in a community with a private lake, but that is far off-I'll be living in temp housing most likely if I get the job.

I'll check out the other lakes mentioned- thanks for your help.

[catfishjn69]

yeah there are 2 lakes in the indy area that have private ramps one is morse and one is geist both are good lakes the ramp fee is less in the off season. you dont run into many corp lakes over here thaty you need the corp stickers but for state controlled lakes you need a sticker and its is around $20 for the year. as for private lakes there are a few that you can put a boat on but i dont know much about them. we do have the white river down town that has good smallmouth action you just have to be careful there are some areas that have some skinny water. all in all once you get here it you will find that there is alot of pressure on the lakes way more the where I came from. it took me a few years to adjust to it but you start learning and things will come together.

[crawdadking]

There's also Brookville to the east about hour and half. This year has been fishing really well for large & small mouth. Just got to fight the crowds on weekends.

[201pro]

If you really like fishing, then look for work elsewhere...

[GRR884]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 201pro &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">If you really like fishing, then look for work elsewhere...</td></tr></table>

+1

You're gonna have a long drive to fish any lakes and you'll have to deal with crowds. Anyone moving to Indiana likely has better fishing where ever they came from. Geist is a very good lake but as other have said high ramp fee. Lemon is also decent but has a $15 ramp fee. I like fishing Michigan

[cubswin]

Right around indy about all I really like to fish is the white river. Waveland can be good, but crowded on the weekends to a unreal amount. Racoon gets mixed reviews. Buddy of mine loves to go there, but most people don't. Also have Eagle Creek, which I think still has a hp limit.

Monroe is about 45 minutes south, to the north you can get to the mississenwa and salamonie in about 1 hour 20 minutes if you are on the north side.

2 1/2 hours north you get into a lot of lakes, most of them under 1000 acres but there are enough of them to keep you busy.

[BassTaurus]

Actually, there seems to be more water around Indy, than I thought-thanks everyone for your help. It is hard to tell what "crowded" is relative to what I'm used to. The lakes are smaller, but the closest big lake I have is just over an hour and a half drive and it is 18000 acres. It is the closest big water to St. Louis, so it gets a lot of pressure as well-plus the bass fishing is very tough. Lake of the Ozarks is 2.5 hours from where I live, and it is too dangerous to be on in the summer (big boats, drunks and hostile dock owners)- plus the drive is a killer.

I'm making my decision based on the job first and foremost (if I get it)- decent fishing will be a bonus.

[billius]

You will find some decent fishing. Like myself and others have said, you will have to drive 1-2 hours, but Indiana has some good lakes. I'm planning to move back there later this summer.

[GRR884]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">You will find some decent fishing. Like myself and others have said, you will have to drive 1-2 hours, but Indiana has some good lakes. I'm planning to move back there later this summer.</td></tr></table>

Bill..what part you moving too?

[usabassin]

USA Bassin next tournament this Sat. July 9. Come catch large and/or small mouth. Pass the word. http://www.usabassin.com

[RangerQuazi]

Geist and Morse are great lakes. Yes they are not very big but it always takes a big sack. Early this spring for over a month it took 20lbs or better to get a check. My partner and I had 21lbs in one tourney and we got 4th. Over 27lbs won. There are some downsides, the lakes are only a couple thousand acres so you will be fishing near someone most days. It's one of the richest areas in Indy so there are plenty of pleasure boaters and now the ramp fee at both lakes is $30 on weekends. It is only $13 if you get off by 11 am. There is a midnight to 8 am tourney at either lake every other weekend and those ramp fees are only $13. There are many state park lakes under and hour drive away that are good too that are free to $5 to launch. Enjoy.

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by GRR884 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Bill..what part you moving too?</td></tr></table>

Gary...I'm going to move back to where my wife and I lived before moving down here, Richmond, Indiana. I know there are better places for fishing, but I lived in that area longer than I lived anywhere else, 26 years or so. It just feels like home to me. I used to fish Brookville a lot as well as Monroe. Also take many trips up to the northern part of the state too. Wawasee, Tippy, Webster, Mississinewa, Salamonie, etc.

[catfishjn69]

Bill I was hoping you were going to Avon I need someone on the westside to fish with if you can believe it I belong to a Greenfield bass club(long story)

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by catfishjn69 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Bill I was hoping you were going to Avon I need someone on the westside to fish with if you can believe it I belong to a Greenfield bass club(long story)

</td></tr></table>

Jeremy, we could probably work something out sometime. One of my daughters and family live in Avon, on the west side just off of 36 to the north. I kind of imagine I will be headed that way quite often. My other daughter lives in Brownsburg. Greenfield is a bit far to drive from Avon for bassclub meetings isn't it?

[BassTaurus]

Greenfield is actually the town where the company is where I've interviewed. Good to know it has a bass club. That being said, you probably know the company I'm talking about, since it's a big employer for the size of the town.

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BassTaurus &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Greenfield is actually the town where the company is where I've interviewed. Good to know it has a bass club. That being said, you probably know the company I'm talking about, since it's a big employer for the size of the town.</td></tr></table>

Could it be Eli's place?