Local guides reveal the coves holding trophy largemouth this season.
By mid-July, the largemouth on Patoka have finished their spawn and moved deep into the shade. That’s exactly when the lake gives up its biggest fish of the year — if you know where to look.
Where the Bass Hide in July
Local guide Marcus Hale points to three coves on the southern arm where standing timber meets 14 feet of water. "They’re not chasing," he says. "They’re waiting. Pitch a Texas-rigged worm past the wood and let it fall. The bite is a soft tick — not a thump."
“The fish that eats your bait at noon in July is the one you've been dreaming about all winter.”
Hale recommends a 7-foot medium-heavy rod, 15-pound fluorocarbon, and a green pumpkin creature bait. Work the shady side of the timber, and don't be afraid to fish the heat of the day — that's when the giants move.
