Indiana’s Blue Grass Pit Bass Fishing Improves Under New Rules
OutdoorHub 02.24.12
The 195-acre Blue Grass Pit at Blue Grass Fish & Wildlife Area in Warrick County has become one of the best largemouth bass fisheries in southwest Indiana. DNR fisheries biologists credit the pit’s success to regulations enacted in 2003, including a two-bass bag limit and an 18-inch minimum size limit
The latest fisheries survey at Blue Grass Pit was conducted in 2011. The bass electrofishing catch rate was near the pit’s record high at 150 fish per hour. Also, the number of mature bass caught was significantly higher than prior years. Twenty-four percent of the bass sampled were at least 14 inches and 4 percent were at least 18 inches. The largest bass sampled was nearly 23 inches. Currently, bass take seven years to grow to 18 inches, so it is important for anglers to practice catch and release to help preserve the fishery.
The first noticeable increase of larger bass at Blue Grass Pit occurred in 2008. Better fishing was also documented in the 2009 angler creel survey. The angler creel survey documented an explosion of big bass being caught and released as the number of bass at least 18 inches long increased from 66 in 2006 to 713 in 2009. The total number of bass caught of all sizes also increased over that same time period from 6,282 to 17,905.
Both Blue Grass Pit and Loon Pit, which is also at Blue Grass FWA, were identified as having the potential to produce big bass based on their habitats and forage base. The special regulations were enacted at both pits. The number of larger bass has also improved at Loon Pit, but not to the same degree as at Blue Grass Pit.
Much of Blue Grass and Loon pits is open to bank fishing, and there is an ADA accessible concrete ramp and a gravel boat ramp at each pit. Outboard motors must be operated at idle speed. The pits also offer crappie fishing and are two of the few lakes where the Division of Fish & Wildlife stocks muskie. A map of the property and other information can be viewed at fishing.IN.gov/3099.htm.
