Bass Spawning Habits On Dam Controlled Rivers

[AndrewVT]

I am looking for some insight on bass spawning on rivers below dams or river impoundments. I fish the Catawba River below Lake Wylie, which is a medium/large size river that can range from almost no current to having a very strong current depending on how much water is being released from the dam. I assume this is similar to many river impoundments including the Tennessee River and others. How do fish behave on rivers like this around the spawn (prespawn, during the spawn, and postspawn)? What types of structure should I be focusing on this time of year, and what lures? When there is little current I assume the techniques would be similar to that of a lake meaning jigs, lizards, brush hawgs up shallow and crankbaits and spinnerbaits at staging areas. How does that change when the current is up? Any help you would appreciated.

[roadwarrior]

My observation on the Tennessee River is that bass tend to congragate on and near gravel beds, but they do not

spawn there, the water level fluctuates too much. Rather than nesting in 1'-5' of water, I suspect the successful nests

are in 5'-10'. I have never actually seen a nest on the river itself.

The lures that are red hot right now are all "moving baits". Specifically: PopMax, Pointer & Vision110, Norman Fat Boy,

LC Rick Clunn 3.5, Red Eyed Shad, small swim baits (Keitech Swing Impact Fat, Shadalicious and Hollow Belly) and,

of course, The Rig. This weekend I will be adding the Rage Lizard and Swarming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad to the

mix.

[AndrewVT]

Roadwarrior, thanks for the help. On rivers with constant changing water levels, do you find the prespawn bass move up into the shallows when the current is moving and the water is up or do they typically stay around the spawning depths you noted?

[roadwarrior]

I think it's their nature to move shallow, but that doesn't mean they spawn there.

[I just wanna catch fish]

Hey I need some advice I've got a tournament on lake Cumberland KY I have fished this lake many times but never had much luck the lake is mainly deep where ever you go either 80-200 ft. I know that Bass will be spawning here soon but I have none to any idea for what I should look for in creeks specifically.

[cyclops2]

Small inexperienced females nest shallow.  In rivers that vary a lot.  Our SMB do go to about 20'  to make sure the nest is free of drought...............BUUUTT  that was before Gobies came around the nests.

A SCUBA diver friend said he has seen big SMB nesting TOGETHER in 15 ' to protect against Gobie attacks.  SMB eat Gobies a lot.  Stomach contents prove that in our fish.