River bass after flood?

[Cody21w]

I live in southeast Missouri, about an hour below stl. I fish many parts of Big River throughout the year. As some of you may know within 3 days I believe we got 10 or so inches of rain. How do bass react to this? not necessarily now, but in the spring. I would think now they would search new grounds looking for worms and bugs, which would cause them to get a little more weight on them.. Also would they move to the deepest pools they can find? I know it's a broad topic but any knowledge would help! 

As of now I'm searching it and read a few articles of it. But they only talk about the direct affects a few days later.. But what about long term after such a major flood? Thanks guys! 

[Bluebasser86]

Hopefully they won't still be flooded by spring. Unless the rain and snow continues on through March, you shouldn't have to worry about it. 

[scaleface]

I live in Northern missouri and think it would be almost impossible to catch a bass out of the river and tributaries right now . Even in spring flooded rivers are difficult to fish .   A lot of current and mud comes with  high water .The best places I found are creeks out of the current  with clearer water .

[Brent Christian]

I fish the Ohio and after all this rain it will take a month to straighten out

 

[AFISHN]

I've had two major-heavy  rain/high/muddy water experiences in 50 years of bass fishing:one on Lake Champlain and another on a river in MD.here's some ideas:Try to get out of current...go deep into the coves and search for clearer water.Get up on the flooded grasses(or someone's lawn:)...and put on a trick/floating worm in a very bright color and work it!!!Try a white or chartreuse senko under a bobber and pretend your crappie fishing:pull..splash the bobber. while everyone bitched and moaned and stayed in the cabin,I fished andcaught some nice bass and very decent numbers

[Catt]

High flood waters bring strong currents which will cause changes in bottom structure and cover.

Once the water levels drop and currents return to normal I would strart spending time graphing known fish holding structure paying attention to subtle changes in contours and cover.

[davecon]

When the river is high, go to the lake !

In all seriousness, I have been afflicted by this bass fishing addiction for almost 50 years. At least here in west central Florida a high/flooded river is not worth messing with. I have NEVER been able to figure it out so I just quit beating my head against the wall and learned to try lakes and possibly brackish water instead. I think that at least here it has something to do with the tannin acid. 

Good luck !

[WIGuide]

I don't have a lot of experience with that, but a little in the spring on the Mississippi. Biggest thing I've found is get out of the current as much as possible. Where I fish on the Miss, it's a lot of sand. When that current gets rolling, they'll stack up super tight on sand drops. If you can find cleaner water that's even better.

[iabass8]

36 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

I don't have a lot of experience with that, but a little in the spring on the Mississippi. Biggest thing I've found is get out of the current as much as possible. Where I fish on the Miss, it's a lot of sand. When that current gets rolling, they'll stack up super tight on sand drops. If you can find cleaner water that's even better.

This has always bewildered me for spring floods or just river fishing in general. You can go into the greatest backwater area /w perfect isolated laydowns or an isolated rock lined shore, all of which can hold zero fish, and they fish just stack up on a sand drop on an island point that is completely featureless. 

[scaleface]

11 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

This has always bewildered me for spring floods or just river fishing in general. You can go into the greatest backwater area /w perfect isolated laydowns or an isolated rock lined shore, all of which can hold zero fish, and they fish just stack up on a sand drop on an island point that is completely featureless. 

Are you referring to the sand points on the downstream side of an island ?

 

 

[Scott F]

Getting out of the current is what you have to do. Look for calm areas very tight to the bank which might be just inches from some very fast water.  If the shorelines allow it, walk the banks and dunk a small jig and plastic right next to the base of a tree, rocks or man made structure at the edge of the flood. I know guys who wait for high water just to get these easy pickings. If the flood waters are very high go to riverside parks that are under water and cast the tree trunks, picnic tables and other flooded obstacles that will allow fish to escape the current. 

[iabass8]

27 minutes ago, scaleface said:

  Are you referring to the sand points on the downstream side of an island ?

 

 

More times than not, yes. If im given an option I would always choose the downstream point. Always check both(sand drops) If theres an opening or closing dam from a another backwater at the front of an island, the top point of an island can often times be the feature fish hang on if its the result of an eddy. Im also referncing larger river systems like the Mississippi, not smaller interior rivers/tributaries. Sand drops are one of those things that most peopke idle by and dont think anything of them but can hold tons of fish.

[daiwaguy]

Come spring they will find their way back to the areas they like and live in, as of now they are freaking out like everyone else I would Imagine. I would not be near a river this week. MISSOURI IS CLOSED. Ha but in all seriousness i don't think you could see a boat ramp by a river right now if you tried.

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, iabass8 said:

More times than not, yes. If im given an option I would always choose the downstream point. Always check both(sand drops) If theres an opening or closing dam from a another backwater at the front of an island, the top point of an island can often times be the feature fish hang on if its the result of an eddy. Im also referncing larger river systems like the Mississippi, not smaller interior rivers/tributaries. Sand drops are one of those things that most peopke idle by and dont think anything of them but can hold tons of fish.

I'm on the Mississippi pool 22 . ive done al ot of fishing in the backwaters , dikes and rip rap banks but only fished sand bars below islands twice with no success . I'll have to give them another shot .

[Scott F]

Long term effects will be more on the river than on the fish. Once the water levels recede, the bass will go back doing what they always do. The places the bass hang out may change. Sand and gravel bars may shift, new log jams form, downed trees move to new locations. Some holes may fill in, new ones are created. The bass will adapt to the new geography the way they have always done.

[bowhunter63]

That was so true this year,After the spring floods the river changed all over.I was wading were i used to fish and fishing were i used to wade.It changed for the better.Dont know what this next round will bring.We are flooding now.

[WRB]

When a River floods, regardless of seasonal periods, high water moves into previously dry land via funnel zones. LMB tend to hold near the funnel areas where water brings them prey, first as the water rises, then as the water recedes, the difference being the direction of the current flow.

Locate the funnels areas, the bass should be there.

Tom

[Jake the Cake]

I'm hoping flooded areas have something in them!!!  I'm putting on my waders this afternoon and hitting up the flooded park (Castlewood) down the road from me that's connected to the Meramec.  I bought a Ribbit bull frog hoping something would hit the top in these shallow waters and cloudy skies.  Might have to give AFISHIN's bobber and Senko suggestion a try as well.

[Jonas Staggs]

What about a lake, with a tiny trickle of a feeder creek, but after it rains it floods and forms a decent temporary pond, the rising water level would allow the bass to access the pond from the lake, however most of the year they cannot, and the pond is not there. There are tiny bluegill and tiny bass in some of the deeper sections up creek.

[cheezyridr]

all my biggest bass from a river have come from the same type of cover. 

after a rain, i look for newly downed trees that are still alive.  i ALWAYS  catch big ones by fishing them.