How Do You Fish Channel Swings?

[mattk22]

Do you usually find channel swings to be more productive on the inside swing or the outside of the swing? 

[BuckMaxx]

For me it depends on the time of year. I fish the flat side pre spawn and the drop off side post spawn when the females are out there pouting

[jhoffman]

I think it depends on whats going on where the swing is happening. Theyre not all equal. An outside swing that smashes into rip rap isnt the same as an outside swing that smashes into a mud flat. Look at a creek, on the swings everything gathers on the outside.

[Wayne P.]

I check along the creek channel path:

 

 

 

 

When I see fish in the creek or relating to the creek, then I fish for them.:

 

 

[boostr]

What are chanel swing? Just wondering?

[daiwaguy]

Just google search Creek Channel swings boostr. The first few images show good examples. I tried to load it into this post but would not work for me.

[Wayne P.]

What are chanel swing? Just wondering?

There are 6 channel swings (changes in direction) in this image.  

 

[jhoffman]

Best way to describe it is think of what it looked like as a creek before the dam was built. When the creek was flowing by itself it carved a channel, the bends in that original creek are channel swings.

[WRB]

Look at the definition of "meander".

The discussion is on rivers that have been dammed and the river bed covered with water.

The bend is the S curve; top of the S is inside bend, bottom of the S is outside bend for sake of discussion.

The base of the inside bend generally will have more undercuts when the river was flowing, the outside bend acts like an underwater point and that is where most active feeders will locate; on the top of the outside bend.

Tom

[mattk22]

I check along the creek channel path:

 

 

 

 

When I see fish in the creek or relating to the creek, then I fish for them.:

 

 

Great images. Are those yours?

[Wayne P.]

Great images. Are those yours?

Yes, but a couple are not very sharp. Those were done while I was learning to use the equipment.

 

I am sort of used to getting good images now.

This is a recent one done with the unit the last image was taken with. It doesn't have a channel bend though, just the channel. The lines on the bottom are vehicle tracks made during lake construction.

 

[WRB]

That is amazing detail!

Tom

[Todd2]

That is unreal..what keeps those vehicle tracks from silting in?

[RoLo]

Do you usually find channel swings to be more productive on the inside swing or the outside of the swing? 

 

With respect to channel bends, the adjectives 'inside' & 'outside' can be confusing, which technically depend on your vantage point.

For the sake of clarification, an 'inside turn' in a stream (river, creek or brook) refers to the lesser radius,

while an 'outside turn' refers to the greater radius.

 

'Outside turns' have faster water current that typically results in a faster bottom taper due to substrate carved out over the centuries.

The best rock bluffs are generally found on outside bends. In contrast, 'inside turns' which have slower water currrent, are typically

accompanied by a slower bottom gradient. In addition to lower current velocity, inside turns normally include a 'back eddy',

which includes a rotary low-pressure cell. Back eddies provide an area of neutral current where eroded sediment is deposited,

what we refer to as a 'delta'.

 

Though I've encountered conflicting scenarios, the following is the rule-of-thumb:

> During the warmwater seasons when bass are most active (higher metabolism), 'inside bends' (deltas) are generally favored.

> During the coldwater seasons when bass are least active (lower metabolism), 'outside bends' (drop-offs) are generally favored.

 

Roger

[boostr]

There are 6 channel swings (changes in direction) in this image.  

 

 

 

 

Ah, Gotcha