High water in the spring is nothing new for many lakes. But in summer? That’s an odd one. And yet, that’s exactly what Hoosier Division anglers will face for the upcoming Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine doubleheader on Lake Monroe, with the previously scheduled June 28 event followed by a makeup tournament the following day.
And in case you’re thinking “high water” meant a couple feet, think again.
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What to expect
While it’s been a wet spring for many areas, it seems the state of Indiana has been hit harder than most. Much of the state has seen record or near-record rainfall; so, needless to say, the reservoirs in the Hoosier State have swelled. That high water is the reason the April Rough River Lake event was canceled and rescheduled to piggyback on the Lake Monroe event on June 28.
While the venue and month has changed, it seems the high water is still hanging around.
“Last I checked, the lake is more than 11 feet high and actually came up another foot last week,” says local Nick Uebelhor. “That’s definitely going to impact things.”
For starters, it’ll change where anglers fish.
Uebelhor says Monroe has a “fast side and a slow side.” Anglers who take a right leaving takeoff at Cutright State Park are heading up the river, where it’s all idle speed (hence, slow side). That’s typically a shallow, power fishing plan, and it probably still will be. But covering water and targeting stumps, laydowns and other hard cover is certainly going to be more difficult with all the extra water.
Meanwhile, a typical summer derby on Monroe sees plenty turning left and heading to the “fast side” of the lake to fish offshore. But offshore spots that used to be 10 feet deep are now covered with 20-plus feet of water, which could throw a wrench in that plan.
Throw in the fact the high water has definitely hurt any vegetation in the fishery, and Uebelhor says the lake should certainly test anglers more than usual.
“I think anglers are going to be able to spread out and fish however they want to catch fish,” Uebelhor said. “They’re just going to really have to adapt.”
Baits to bring
Will there be anglers fishing offshore with forward-facing sonar? Of course. So, Carolina rigs, jighead minnows and other offshore baits will play to some extent.
Yet, if you ask Uebelhor, he figures both derbies this weekend will be won up shallow.
“I see a lot of pros fishing shallow, flipping Texas rigs or covering water with spinnerbaits, buzzbaits or swim jigs,” Uebelhor said. “And you could definitely see some good fish caught on a frog.”
What will it take?
If these were a typical summer Monroe derbies, Uebelhor says it’d be easy to predict a winner with around 17 pounds. Yet, as stated earlier, the conditions are far from typical. Meaning, he wouldn’t be surprised if someone came in with a bag either day over 20 to take home the win.
“Especially anglers heading up the slow side, there are a lot of big fish up there,” Uebelhor said. “Plenty of 6- to 7-pounders. The lake has bigger fish than people realize. I mean, the state-record smallmouth (an 8.23-pound giant) was caught here last spring. Though, I think in all my years fishing here I’ve only caught one smallmouth.”
Sign up to Fish 4 Free!
The second event of the doubleheader will mark the fourth event of the season for the Hoosier Division, which is notable because every Phoenix Bass Fishing League angler fishing the fourth event in each division this season will receive an Abu Garcia gift pack valued at $230 for boaters and $180 for co-anglers – a value that exceeds the entry fee. It’s like Fishing 4 FREE! Plus, participants will receive a code for 25% off an order at AbuGarcia.com. Click here to sign up for the Abu Garcia Fishing 4 Free promotion, or call 270-252-1000 to take advantage of this offer. Anglers will receive their gift pack at the event.