High Water Fishing

[Bluebasser86]

The little tournament circuit I fish in has our end of the year fish off next week, so of course we've had unseasonably cold weather and up to a foot of rain in areas this past week. The lake was already up 4' from flooding a month ago, but now it's up to 8' high and will likely rise a few more inches between now and Thursday when we get there. To throw an even bigger wrench in the deal, it's primarily a smallmouth lake. I have fished it a few times, so I have a game plan still, just curious how other guys approach the situation. 

https://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Where-to-Fish-in-Kansas/Fishing-Locations-Public-Waters/Northeast-Region/Milford-Reservoir

[soflabasser]

I recently fished a flooded river up north and did well fishing the lures right next to flooded cover. The smallmouth seem to like the flooded cover or any area they can hide behind the current in these rivers.

[TnRiver46]

Well the govt doesn’t let my home lake come up like that (thank god) but they do let the flood storage lakes come up several feet when it rains. Common opinion is that the fish push up with it, but that’s typically the green ones. Just remembered to click on the link, and realized it was where @everythingthatswims Fished that bracket. In which case I would say throw a football jig! Haha ! I would think that the smallmouth are going to suspend during that flood and deadsticking a fluke or senko is all I would know to start with. Maybe even something more buoyant than a senko that will sink even slower, like a zoom trick worm or finesse worm weightless 

[Oregon Native]

Knowing nothing about those waters all I can give you is the best of luck and maybe say......gosh...ummmmmm.....yeah....best of luck to ya and cover water....spinnerbait around rock!?

[roadwarrior]

My advice is to target structure where the fish lived before the flooding. One of my best trips 

on Bull Shoals was during historic flooding. We fished primary and secondary points in what

appeared to be the middle of the lake. 90% of our catch were smallmouth and were caught 

on a Gitzit, baby diaper yellow. 

 

[everythingthatswims]

It would be pretty dang cool if the smallies got up in the bushes, I remember they were everywhere when I was at Milford, just not anywhere near the water. We have a lake nearby that fluctuates like crazy, and while I have never been there to fish it, I had a friend (he fishes the flw tour, so he knows a thing or two) tell me that the smallmouth get in the bushes on the lake when water comes up.

 

I have a feeling you will be able to figure them out!

[Gundog]

My advice...dress warm

[Log Catcher]

3 hours ago, Gundog said:

My advice...dress warm

Don't wear bright red. The fish will see you coming a mile away.

[Bluebasser86]

6 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

It would be pretty dang cool if the smallies got up in the bushes, I remember they were everywhere when I was at Milford, just not anywhere near the water. We have a lake nearby that fluctuates like crazy, and while I have never been there to fish it, I had a friend (he fishes the flw tour, so he knows a thing or two) tell me that the smallmouth get in the bushes on the lake when water comes up.

 

I have a feeling you will be able to figure them out!

I've actually caught quite a few smallmouth flipping bushes and laydowns when the water gets up at Melvern (very similar to Milford, just smaller). Like you noticed when you were here, our smallmouth don't seem to realize they're smallmouth. It will have been up for well over a week by the time we arrive. My 2 main plans of attack are fishing the old bank line, and fishing the newly flooded stuff. It has a decent largemouth population as well, and they very well may be taking advantage of all the new cover. I'm just glad it's fall and not spring. Fall fish still have to eat, spring time fish could really shut down in these conditions. 

6 hours ago, Gundog said:

My advice...dress warm

I have a pair with the butt flap, not as warm as they seem like they'd be. 

[Gundog]

On ‎10‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 11:52 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

 

I have a pair with the butt flap, not as warm as they seem like they'd be. 

Try putting the flap up. ?

[lo n slo]

my home lake is high and muddy thanks to Michael’s heavy rainfall last week. i went out Tuesday and caught 28 spots on texas rigged lizards and worms by fishing mostly secondary points and a few docks. some of those points had been lacking for much of the summer. certain points yielded multiple fish. i just love finding those “sweet spots” on a point (pun intended)