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Indiana DNR records confirm at least seven fish species in Patoka Lake: largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass, walleye, white crappie and black crappie. That is a documented list of examples, not a complete 2026 inventory. Patoka Lake covers about 8,800 acres, and Indiana DNR lists both open-water fishing and ice fishing among its activities.
Fish officially documented at Patoka Lake
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identifies these species in Patoka Lake records. The evidence comes from a current property page, a catfish species page and supplemental surveys conducted for selected species, so the table should not be read as an exhaustive lake checklist.
| Species | What the DNR record establishes | Evidence date and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Documented in the Patoka supplemental survey and identified as a “Best Fishing” opportunity. | Supplemental survey; historical report, not a current abundance estimate. |
| Channel catfish | Documented in the Patoka supplemental survey and identified as a “Best Fishing” opportunity. The DNR catfish page also lists Patoka Lake for channel catfish. | Survey evidence plus DNR species page; dates and conditions vary by source. |
| Flathead catfish | The DNR catfish page lists Patoka Lake as a lake where flathead catfish occur. | DNR species-page listing; no current population comparison was provided. |
| Hybrid striped bass | Included in a Patoka-specific supplemental survey. The report describes hybrid striped bass stocking after striped-bass stockings were scaled back. | Sampling conducted in October 2016; report approved in 2017. |
| Walleye | Included in the same supplemental survey. The report discusses walleye fry stocking and survey catches. | Sampling conducted in October 2016; report approved in 2017. |
| White crappie | Covered by the DNR’s Patoka Lake crappie supplemental survey. | 2016 survey conditions; not a statement about the present population. |
| Black crappie | Covered alongside white crappie in the Patoka Lake crappie supplemental survey. | 2016 survey conditions; not a statement about the present population. |
Which fish does Indiana DNR highlight for fishing?
The Patoka supplemental survey specifically labels largemouth bass and channel catfish as “Best Fishing” opportunities. That wording comes from the older supplemental report; it is not a current seasonal forecast, catch-rate guarantee or ranking of today’s fish abundance.
What the walleye and hybrid striped bass survey found
Indiana DNR sampled Patoka Lake in October 2016 for hybrid striped bass and walleye. The report recorded 42 hybrid striped bass and 8 walleye in that sampling effort. Those are survey-sample counts, not estimates of how many fish are in the lake or the odds of catching one now.
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Historical stocking details
The report says striped-bass stockings had been reduced in 2014 and partly replaced with hybrid striped bass, which had then been stocked annually. It also says Patoka had received walleye fry since 2008, with a target of 6 million fry per year at the time of the report. Stocking practices can change, so these historical details should not be treated as a current annual commitment.
Across its 2008–2016 time series, the report gave an average age-0 walleye catch rate of 6 fish per hour. This is a historical survey statistic and should not be used as a present-day catch expectation.
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What the crappie survey says
The DNR’s 2016 Patoka Lake Crappie Supplemental report covered both white and black crappie. It described many small, slow-growing fish while noting that larger crappie were also present. That observation applies to the 2016 survey period; it does not establish the current size structure or abundance of either crappie species.
Patoka Lake bass regulation to know
Indiana’s current bass regulations page lists a 15-inch minimum length for largemouth bass at Patoka Lake. Other species may have different seasons, size limits, possession limits or exceptions. Check the latest Indiana fishing regulations guide before your trip, because rules can change after an older survey was published.
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What these records cannot tell you
- They do not provide a complete, current species inventory for the entire 8,800-acre lake.
- They do not support ranking the seven documented species by present-day abundance or catch probability.
- The 2016–2017 survey results do not describe conditions in 2026.
- Historical stocking targets do not confirm current stocking numbers or schedules.
Practical planning for anglers
For a general trip, anglers can plan around the species that DNR explicitly identifies, especially largemouth bass and channel catfish, while treating hybrid striped bass, walleye and both crappie species as documented possibilities rather than guaranteed catches. Bring gear suited to the species and season, confirm access and ice conditions locally, and review the current Indiana regulations before keeping fish.
If you need a complete, up-to-date species checklist or a current abundance comparison, the most reliable source would be a newer full Patoka Lake fish survey or an updated DNR inventory. The records summarized here establish presence for the seven named species but do not claim completeness.
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