Flood Strategies?

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

 

So Wabash is flooded.  The Wabash River broke its banks and took out most of downtown.  It's just raining that much.  The street department ran out of barricades yesterday, and were giving out sandbags last I knew.

 

I've not been out to see the reservoirs or Hominy Ridge Lake.  However, I bet they're flooded and not many folks are fishing.

 

How would you fish really high water?  I figure slow down and use loud lures because the water has gone from green-stained to muddy, and concentrate on inlets.

 

Beyond that... I don't think we ever tried fishing extremely high water following a series of cold fronts when I was a kid.  I believe conventional wisdom back then was that fish just shut down.  It's been found since that some fish, at least, are active at most given times.

 

So, slow down, loud lures, what else?

 

Thanks,

 

Josh

[scaleface]

Is it muddy ?

[Preytorien]

Down here the White River does that occasionally....I've fished it, but never had any luck. It's just too fast, too high, and too muddy. 

 

However, that usually also means my normal bodies of water are also high, but not moving so fast (or at all in some cases). That's when I'll basically leave the house armed with only a very heavy thumping Chatterbait, you want it to rattle your fillings as you're retrieving.....black-n-blue, with a RageTail trailer. Slather it with Megastrike. See how it goes. 

[Josh Smith]

Is it muddy ?

 

I'm sure it is.  I've not made it out to see it yet.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[Josh Smith]

Down here the White River does that occasionally....I've fished it, but never had any luck. It's just too fast, too high, and too muddy. 

 

However, that usually also means my normal bodies of water are also high, but not moving so fast (or at all in some cases). That's when I'll basically leave the house armed with only a very heavy thumping Chatterbait, you want it to rattle your fillings as you're retrieving.....black-n-blue, with a RageTail trailer. Slather it with Megastrike. See how it goes. 

 

Thanks, man.  I've fished the White in the past, once that I remember.  It was my last camping trip with Grandpa.  It had rained a lot, and there had also been a fish kill a year or two previous.  I've never fished a river moving that fast; I had absolutely no luck whatsoever.  I probably wouldn't have known if there had been a fish on, it was that fast.

 

There was a smaller creek that was in the park we were camping at, though, that was serving to rebuild the fish population of the White River.  Couldn't keep anything if I recall correctly, but fishing was allowed.  I caught a lot of bass and catfish from that little creek.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[BASSPATROL247]

The fish will be in all the new flooded cover, trees,brush,grass etc... if you can get to it fish it, it can be dynamite sometimes especially if it flooded in the last couple days...

[scaleface]

I fished Bull Shoals during flood conditions and caught fish 30 foot deep. Bull Shoals is clear water though .Muddy water they should be shallow . Ill be fishing flooded muddying water this weekend and will look shallow first .

[Miller's Ferry 8]

I fish flood conditions regularly in the spring time in Alabama.  The water is muddy as well.  Throw black and blue.  Rattles will for sure help too.  A large profile also helps move more water maybe a big jig or a chartreuse spinnerbait with double Colorado blades.  The key areas will be lakes or ponds near the river that aren't accessible in normal conditions.  If you can find this it could mean a 20-25lb sack.  Around Demopolis, AL, flood conditions are the best fishing conditions believe it or not.

 

Good luck buddy!  I hope this helps.

[Canyon explorer]

High stained flood water can be protective.  I slow roll dark/chartreuse spinner bails with #9 Colorado blade in the flooded tree tops and picnic tables in the campgrounds. Road bed s will work also.