Hardy lake - In Indiana

[catdaddy75]

anybody out there ever fish hardy lake or know anyone who does

[gargoil77]

I've bluegill fished there years ago but that's it. I'm supposively going there this weekend to camp. Thought that I would throw a line or two off the dock just to see what happens. My boat isn't really big enuff for that lake. Usually just go to Deam's.

[G3Morton]

I live about about 2 min. from Hardy lake, on the east side. Actually I think it takes me longer to hook my boat up that it does for me to drive down to the boat ramp. I have catfished it a few times with so-so results, but no big ones for me yet. I was told though that last week a guy down the road caught a few nice cats.

Gargoil, when you coming up? And where are you camping? If I have time this saturday maybe we can get together and fish for awhile. Don't worry about the boat, I got one we can use.

Let me know, and I will thaw out a bag of skips, or get some bait of some kind.

[catdaddy75]

me and the wife went there this weekend was bassfishing though.caught a nice 3lber largemouth.it was a little cool was surprised to see all the boat traffic.do they always hammer up and down the lake like that?do you know any good crappie spots?seen alot of grass shoul be a good bluegill lake anyways

[gargoil77]

Bob I'm either going down or I guess I should say up there either Friday night or Saturday afternoon. If I go up Friday then Saturday we can maybe fish. If I go up Saturday I'll be w/ a friend and she will probably complain that it's too cold to go on a boat. She hasn't camped in cold weather before.
We drove up there Sunday cause she's never been there before and didn't know where it was. There was no one camping so it probably won't be hard to find me. Red truck. BOC logo in window.:) Hopefully TSS aroma lingering in the air. Stop in and say hello and drink a beer with me. Or soda. Be nice to meet another BOC memeber.

[G3Morton]

Gargoil -

I was informed last night at work that I have to work Saturday, 2nd shift. So I probably won't beable to go fishing, but if I get a chance I will drive over to the park side and look you up. Depending on my time schedule maybe I can bring my boat and give you and your lady friend a quick tour of the lake. If you don't mind camping in the primative area, the camp sites that are at Wooster ramp are really nice, due that they are right on the water, and if you have a boat you can pull it up on the bank in front of your camp site.

I haven't fished this lake as much as some folks do around here. But they claim to catch some bluegill and some crappie. The bass fishing ain't the best, but if you hook into one it seems like it is either really small or a 2-3 lbs. plus fish.

The open area of the lake gets hit pretty hard with boat traffic, but most of the lake is idle zone. If you have a small boat/motor and want to stay away from the boat traffic, I would suggest you put in at the Wooster boat ramp.

If anyone has anymore Q's about Hardy Lake, just let me know and I will do my best to keep you informed...

[gargoil77]

We will be staying in a electric campsite. Probably around the ampitheater. She'll probably won't be there til close to midnight or she might not come til Sunday.
I haven't fished Hardy for some time now. Got a few good bluegills outta there but that was it. For as close as it is to me it seems that I would fish it more.
I rekon I'll need to get a boat launch sticker here soon. Fishing licenses too. Can't forget them.

[G3Morton]

Well it looks like there won't any fishing for me for a couple of weeks. I was informed at work to plan on being at work for the next two or three weekends. At least it might be warmer weather by the time I get to go.

[mperry]

Good morning guys. I live about 2 miles from Hardy and fish there often. Mostly for bluegill and crappie. The best place to fish is probably ceder cove for crappie. Full of stumps so be careful in the boat. I was out last weekend and the warmest water I could find was 53 degrees so it's not quite there yet. Hardy has good size bluegill and the best places to fish these are around about any of the lilly pads. I know a couple of places that they bed and would be more than happy to point them out. I have not really fished for catfish but they are there and I have seen some good stringers come out. The DNR has also stocked stripers and wipers but I have not really fished for them. I have caught some of the stripers when I was trolling for crappie. Hardy also has Tiger muskie. Don't see a lot of them caught but the ones that you do see are pretty good size. I am out camping at Hardy almost every weekend so I would be more than glad to give out any secrets I know. I drive a tan colored Chevy Silverado 2500. I have a red Triton fish and ski and a Sunnybrook 5th wheel camper. Stop by and have a drink if your out there.
Mike

[gargoil77]

Mike I'll probably look you up sometime. I'm really needing a freezer full of fish. I've been promising a lot of people a fish fry for years and haven't done it yet. Haven't fished Hardy for years but ready too now. I need to know were the hotspots are.
I camped there last weekend and loved it. Except for the temperatures at night. Too cold.

[mperry]

I just got my camper out of storage and still have to get it ready to go. Right now we are planning on going to Patoka Easter weekend. Tried to make reservations but they don't start taking them until May. Don't know if I want to drive all that way and not be able to get a spot so may wind up staying at Hardy. When I was out last weekend the water was still pretty cold and somewhat muddy. Supposed to start raining today and storms tomorrow so not sure what that will do to it yet. My wife and I are usually at Hardy at least once on the weekend and most of the time both Saturday's and Sunday's. Look me up and I'll tell you what I know. Have 3 spots where the bluegill bed. A little to early yet but be more than glad to show you where they are.
Mike

[catdaddy75]

ive fished hardy one time,went about three weeks ago.caught a decent 3#lm bass.will probably spend alot of time there this summer.where exactly are these spots you are talkin about.i put in over by the docks,was cold the day i was there so only fished that side never seen the whole lake.any tips will greatly be appreciated,hopefully will see ya there.ill be going up sunday for sure,red ext-cab ford f150,tracker boat.

[mperry]

One of the spots is over by Sunnyside ramp. Just follow the bank around a couple of hundred yards until you come to some lilly pads with an opening near the bank. The nest is right at the edge of the pads. Another one is near the point of the idle zone. It's also just inside some pads. Still at least a month away before the gills will be on these.
Mike

[G3Morton]

Fished about 3-4 hours about two weeks ago on Hardy. Ended up with one channel about 6-8 pounds and was caught on skip jack. Hit my rod pretty hard several times.

[gargoil77]

[quote=G3Morton]Fished about 3-4 hours about two weeks ago on Hardy. Ended up with one channel about 6-8 pounds and was caught on skip jack. Hit my rod pretty hard several times.

How deep were you fishing? Close to the bank?

[G3Morton]

I was up in a cove and was fishing water probably around 10ft deep.

Going to Patoka next weekend (23rd), I am going to try and maybe hook into a catfish while I am there.

[creek_fisher88]

well it has been a couple years ago but i was with one of my buddies and his uncle and they set out several trout lines earlier that week back in some coves and we went there one night to check on them . we had about 10 or 15 cats. couldnt tell you what kind

[mperry]

I'm planning on being at Hardy Friday after work and staying until Sunday. I have not been in a couple of weeks due to all of the rain. Anyone catching anything or any updates on the water temps. I assume that with the cool nights the bluegill have not started bedding yet. Going to try to catch some cats for the pan also. Might even try to scare up a few crappie.

[gargoil77]

Mike I fished Indian/Celina Lakes last weekend. Water temp was low 60's I think. Bluegill fishing sucked. Used redworms and rooster tails. Didn't see any beds. Fished Celina Saturday night in a tournament. Not a lot of fish caught. Biggest I think was around 10lbs. It was a channel. More mudcats than anything. They were hitting chicken livers.
Let us know how you do at Hardy.

[mperry]

I'll be sure to give a report. I was talking to a friend that fished a tournament last night and the water temp was 65. 2 weeks ago it was 69 to 70 degrees. Not sure what this is going to do to the fishing.

[gargoil77]

Tournament partner fished Deam Lake two days ago and said the temp was 63. He caught a few crappie and bluegill. Filet size.
It's nice outside and I'm thinking about leaving work and hitting a lake somewhere. I feel like cleaning some fish today.

[mperry]

Went to Hardy this weekend and nothing was biting. Water temp still around 63 to 65 degrees. I don't know if the colder weather has them turned off or just my lousy fishing skills. Tried night crawlers and some dip bait for cats and never got a hit. I was lucky to get a bluegill to bite. Most of the gills I caught still had eggs so they may not have spawned yet. Might try it again next weekend. Supposed to be in the 80's here around the middle of the week.

[gargoil77]

Were the gills good size?

[mperry]

Nothing big this time. We usually catch bluegill at least hand size. 9" or more but these were smaller 7 to 8 inches. Did catch one pretty nice redear. Probably around 10 inches. Someone that fishes Hardy a lot told me he thought the bluegill had already spawned but I'm not so sure. Most of what we caught had eggs. I'm leaving for Ky. Lake in a couple of weeks. Like to get into some cats and bluegill there. My wife caught the biggest redear I have ever seen out of there a couple of years ago.

[gargoil77]

Hardy Lake is known for it's redear. My ex-brother-in-law had a redear mounted that he caught there. I don't fish it enough to tell for myself. Someone also told me that bluegills have already spawned, but I don't think they have. The couple of times I've been out, I haven't seen any beds.
Good luck at Ky Lake. I think I'm going to Tucker this weekend. Ever been there? It's near Paoli.

[Brushy Bill Roberts]

My dad & mom lives not 5 minutes from Hardy.
He has caught more redear & bluegills there than you can imagine.
( he has fished it for 25 years )
He says that since they introduced the wipers, the bluegill population has seemed to decline.
They just don't seem to be as plentyful as before.

[mperry]

Yeah, I've noticed that to. Seems like they are harder to catch than they used to be. I thought maybe it was because of all the grass in Hardy. You can't run the trolling motor anywhere except the main lake without clogging it up with weeds. Where does your Mom and Dad live at Bill. I only live about 5 minutes away also.

[Brushy Bill Roberts]

Greetings mperry,
My parents live not far from the conservation club, down the street from I believe it used to be called "terry's bait". or "terry's corner" just off of 256.
My dad passed away last october, he is in a cemetery on slab road.
I didn't grow up there, ( my girlfriend says I still haven't ) my partents moved there when dad retired from allison engine 27 years ago.
Both my dad's and mom's families settled around austin & scottsburg when they came up from kentucky.
I spent alot of time in those parts growing up.
If our family was not camping and fishing somewhere, we would come down there and dad would take my granpa fishing.
I got relatives all over that area.
The roberts, whites, barger. we are all related.
I will be down that way on the 29th to decorate dad's grave, and few other relatives graves.
I plan to leave work this friday and take my canoe and camp & fish somewhere, either on the west fork of white river or possibly lake monroe
friday & saturday night.
My dad wanted me to have his boat, it is a nice little alluminum v-bottom that my granpa bought back in 1952, its in great shape.
I was going to get it last weekend, but my mom just can't stand to let it go yet, I think it would be too hard for her to go into the garage and not see it sitting there. Just have to give her time.
Would like to hook up with you and gargoil sometime, maybe I can come down and camp there at Hardy. I can get the boat for the weekend, or bring my canoe.
keep in touch

[mperry]

Hey Bill. I pretty much grew up in Austin. I probably know a lot of your relatives. I live about 2 miles from Terry's corner on Hardy Lake Road right off of 256. If your down this way let me know when. I'm always ready to go fishing.

[dg775577]

I am planning on hitting Hardy sometime this year. I live fairly close, Nabb. Is there any good places to fish from the shore there? I was going to try to get up there soon and scout it out. Was planning on checking out the North side up by the dam.

[mperry]

You can fish off the dam and I have caught a few cats there. The water is around 35 feet deep there. This should be where the stripers and wipers hang out also. There is also some shore fishing at the modern and primitive campgrounds. About anywhere else there is weeds around shallow in the coves. Fishing off the dam you should be able to get into something. When the water warms up you can also catch crappie there but need to fish deep.