| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bass- Largemouth and Spotted Bass | Excellent | Fish 10 to 17 inches dominate the population | The edges and drop offs, especially off the pier ends are good places to fish, bass habitat has been placed there. Use spinners, plastic baits, crankbaits. Some fish are in deeper water breaks. The water is pretty clear. |
| Bluegill/redear sunfish | Good | all sizes | Nice bluegill and redear sunfish are available by slow fishing along the piers with jig, worm under a float. |
| Walleye/Saugeye | Slow | varies | Fish drop offs and at the head of the inflow areas using crank baits, jigs and or minnow |
| Channel Catfish | Excellent | 12-22 inches | Use just about any catfish bait, cut bait, stink baits, chicken liver, worms, the fish feeders are ON. After hard rains fish the south end where the water comes in. Fish the creek mouth where the fresh water comes in and the fish are stacked up. We recently restocked channel catfish so the density is really high. Remember the length limit is 15 inches and the creel limit is 2 per person |
| Crappie | Fair | 8 - 12 inches and up | Try using minnows, jigs under a 5ft float, along the piers. |
| General Comments | |||
| Zebra Mussels have recently been found in Hillsdale Lake, and Linn Valley, Linn County, (Private Lake Development), we'd like to remind you to " Clean, drain and dry" Water level management at Bourbon State Fishing Lake is an important fisheries management tool. By partially draining some of the lake water, in the fall, small fish are forced out of the shallows into deeper water where predators can harvest them, preventing some stunting, improving growth of crappie, bluegill and improving bass and walleye/saugeye growth and condition. This tool improves energy flow and growth producing better fishing opportunities for anglers. Fish attracting habitat have been placed along the shoreline to attract fish and improve shoreline angling. This lake produces some nice crappie each year. Recent sampling indicates that there are many good crappie to catch. The bass population at this impoundment consists of spotted and largemouth bass. Spotted bass tend to hang near rocks and the dam, whereas on the south end of the lake your more likely to catch only largemouth bass. The lake was just recently restocked with channel catfish. | |||
