Swim Jigs and Senkos - Summer Fishing The MidWest

We're fishing in a new state! Today we're breaking down Patoka Lake in Indiana. The lake is flooded with high water deep in the trees, the bass could be anywhere! With only a few hours to fish, we have to move quickly to locate the bass and develop a productive pattern to catch them. We begin by fishing offshore but quickly realize that's a big mistake.

Upon realizing the offshore bite was non-existent Matt headed shallow. He picked up a swim jig and began searching the backs of creeks. After getting his first bite and several additional followers he turned to the senko to complete his pattern. While Patoka Lake may not have an abundance of fish, the quality is excellent. Matt was able to catch a handful of really nice bass and is confident he could have caught quite a few more given another day or two on the lake.

Next Stop: Wisconsin! Matt, CC and Sierra are headed North to meet up with Tim's family as well as a few friends in search of giant smallmouth. Keep your eye out for our next video, its going to be fun! Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment Matt used on Patoka Lake.

Electronics...

Baits...

Swim Jig Combo...

Senko Combo...
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Equipment We Recommend...

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[thisislargemouth]

Matt, I must say I really appreciate you not shying away from the reality of Summer time fishing. A lot of times you can spend a whole day looking for them. I think a lot of new anglers get discouraged watching videos of guys crushing fish in the summer not knowing they spent hours or even sometimes days just finding them.

[TeamJesusOutdoors]

Welcome to the midwest. Tough fishing, with the exception of the Great Lakes.

[tomlangston]

I grew up fishing Patoka with my grandfather. Haven’t been there in 20 years. Very cool to see you there. Thanks

[pookie]

Its crazy that I am just now seeing this video, I grew up on this lake. the lake has gone through a lot of changes since it opened, and now can be a very tough body of water to fish. you made it look easy, wish it hadn't been flooded, but love seeing this lake broken down

[bartgrider]

Welcome to Indiana... Everything looks fishy but typically isn't lol

[nickdavis]

Its great waking up to a new tactical bassin video. Gets me pumped to go fish every time.

[jeromedwojak]

Matt, great job fishing Patoka Lake! It is a hard lake to fish! Our DNR could do a better job maintaining the bassfisheiers of that lake. But they refuse to make it a bass lake. They poured a bunch of walleye, wipers and strippers into it. A few years ago one of the D R managers told me if he had his way that their would be no bass tournaments on the lake. The board of directors will not work with the FLW or other organizations to build up the bass population for the lake.

[zacpetno]

Ol Patoka, that's about 45 min from me. Very tough lake to fish unless you can get down into those fingers. Nice video.

[BillJacksonDesign]

Best Channel to learn anything Bass related, and they keep pumping out new content like clockwork.

[fishdaddyd]

Fish this lake all the time! Everybody talks bad about our fisheries around here. But once you figure it out they are great! Love getting on patoka and tying on a secret lures stupid tube and loading the boat. Glad you got the chance to come and fish it!

[sunwukongmonkeyking]

#1 YouTube channel. Thank you Matt and Tim for everything! This video gave me the confidence for a early morning senko bass fishing.

[jaydizfishing]

That's mid-west bassin. There are some giants off shore but you have to hit them at the right time. Backs of pockets and creeks will always produce with a GY Senko or a frog if there are mats. Great to see you fishing near by. Hope you can make a stop in Illinois next time.

[huntercroak]

Patoka lake is 30 minutes from where I grew up! Awesome to see you guys fish it.

[kellycarr]

How awesome to see you fishing on one of my favorite lakes in my home state of Indiana!

[danielthebigo]

That was funny seeing you pull the trolling motor up so many times. I fish all the time on this lake and a lot of tournaments. You have to hit as many spots as you can !

[flannel]

Indiana bass are a little moody. Approach with aggressive tactics & moving baits first, switch gears to reaction lures, and finally drag/hop/BANG on the cover/bottom. Indiana bass will hug tight to wood/vegetation, cruise the hard/soft transitions, lurk in the shadows, or suspend over wood in the middle of a creek arm or old channel. Present with the wind or with the current, and be prepared to change up retrieves to find the trigger. Solid kicker fish, Matt & good luck in Green Bay.

[HoosierStateFishing]

Welcome to Indy! Should have brought your yaks and hit some of the rivers for smallies!!

[nursenick]

Welcome to my very flooded neck of the woods! You should see Patoka at the normal summer pool, and then at winter pool if you think there was a lot of standing timber! It’s a flooded forest of dead trees when the water is down! Makes for an excellent crappie fishery too. I have noticed the same thing this year though - with all the flooding, the bass have stuck to laying way back in the fingers instead of going deep, and I haven’t got a single deep bite this year at all. Thanks for the video on my home lake!

[davidhidalgo]

Love this video it is so telling the way you edited it. Pull the trolling motor, pulling the trolling motor, did I mention pulling the trolling motor. This is how I feel most days and I love to see that you do it also. You guys do the best videos hands down. Thank you again for all you do.

[darbysmith]

You guys are the best teachers on YouTube!! Bar none! I've learned more watching TB than anywhere else. Thanks guys!