Shallow Water Fishing, Caused By "drought"

[E. Guido Soda]

Relative noob (to the forum and bass fishing), so excuse any obvious questions!

 

So the lake I usually fish is curently down about 7' - 8' from full pool - it is generally a fairly productive lake, but it is just now getting back to where you can navigate the areas we fish (we fish from kayaks).  Optimally, the area we fish is only 10' - 15' at full pool - we usually fish the slews, creeks and inlets from the regional rivers.  This area is dissected from the main lake by a bridge; it is illegal to put your own boat / kayak / whatever into the main lake, as it is the original source of our drinking water...or maybe they just want to make money renting boats...who knows.  So truly deep fishing is pretty much out of the question unless we bite the bullet and actually rent a jon boat or pontoon...which is a possibility, I suppose.

 

Anyway, as I said, the area we fish is just now becoming navigable again due to some recent downpours.  It is still very shallow, maybe 6' - 7' at the deepest points.  My question is this - in near-drought situations like this, do the predator fish usually migrate into the deeper waters or is it easier for them

to forage in the shallows?  Water is moving into the area at a reasonable pace, so I would think the baitfish are active.

 

This summer I caught a five lb. largemouth in this area in less than 2' of water, FYI.  As the area fills back up, what should I anticipate in terms of production?  I went out last Friday (w/ no luck - used 1/8 oz jigheads and grubs, tried some poppers, and some shallow running cranks.  You can still see the bottom in most areas, but we are getting a monster rainfall tonight and tomorrow, with clearing on Thursday and Friday.  I'd like to try my luck again; any suggestions on what to try and what I might expect at this point?  Water temps are ~ 52* - 60* right now, ambient should be around 60* on Friday / Saturday. 

 

Thx,

 

EGS

[dragulagto]

Just out of curiosity, it sounds like you are referring to Lake Purdy. If so, message me please. I'm looking for places to kayak fish as I just started doing that.

[E. Guido Soda]

Yep, it's Purdy.  Where are you fishing at LM?

[dragulagto]

Yea I have a bass boat so I usually go to LM. But LM is not the safest place for a kayak. You'll get run over there. Lol

When it warms up I intend to fish the cahaba some out of the kayak.

[E. Guido Soda]

Yea I have a bass boat so I usually go to LM. But LM is not the safest place for a kayak. You'll get run over there. Lol

When it warms up I intend to fish the cahaba some out of the kayak.

 

We fish the Cahaba, too, putting in under the bridge on 280 (across from the fire station).  Paddle up about 500 - 600 yards and hit the Little Cahaba for some easier fishing.  Let me know when you get that kayak.

 

-EGS