PATOKA LAKE – Anglers at Patoka Lake have reason to celebrate, as significant improvements to the lake’s fish habitat are on the way, funded by a prestigious national grant.
Indiana’s chapter of B.A.S.S. Nation has been awarded a conservation grant through the highly competitive AFTCO x B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Grant Program. The funds, provided by the American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO), are dedicated to enhancing the underwater environment at Patoka Lake.
The primary focus of this project is the purchase and deployment of MossBack Fish Habitat structures. These artificial, long-lasting structures are designed to mimic natural cover, such as brush piles and sunken trees, providing essential spaces for fish to spawn, feed, and hide from predators.
Deployment Timeline and Public Access
The new structures are scheduled to be placed in the lake by the end of 2025.
Once deployed, the exact GPS locations of these new habitat structures will be made public and posted on the Indiana DNR’s Reservoir Habitat Enhancement Program webpage, ensuring anglers can easily locate these new “fishing sweet spots.”
This latest effort builds upon years of conservation work at Patoka Lake. To date, 416 artificial fish habitat structures and 355 shoreline trees have already been added to the lake. The addition of these new, professionally designed MossBack structures is expected to improve the health of the fishery further and, consequently, enhance the overall fishing experience for local anglers.
