Fishing in Recently Refilled Reservoir

[fhbf]

I'm just getting into bass fishing and I've been fishing at a local reservoir (East Coast) that is now refilled after having been drained for 4 years. I'm pretty new to fishing but I've been going out most days for the past month for about 4 hours and I'm lucky if I catch one fish. I have gotten some decent sized bass (3-5lbs) and a few crappies but they are few and far between. I mainly fish a texas rig senko but sometimes a crankbait. I'm curious if the reservoir is just dead in terms of fish or my skills are really just that subpar. I do see fish jump most times I go out and when I go at sunrise they are always splashing around but I never seem to be able to hook one. What tips do you all have in terms of finding fish in a reservoir, especially one that was only refilled 6 week ago.

[Bluebasser86]

The fish population, especially catchable sized fish, is probably not real big with it just recently being refilled.

[BDC]

Try downsizing your lures

[Teal]

It could be the time of year right now, bass should be post spawn and could have a small case of lock jaw.  Look for that to turn around.  The fact that you are catching decent fish and seeing fish is a good sign.  Be patient with it, when it doubt, downsize, slow down and go with finesse style presentations.  Heck I've been dealing with a case of lockjaw past week or so, some guys are finding feeding fish here, I'm not.  I basically dropped back to punt.  Started back with subtle jerkbaits and carolina rigged robo worms... just be patient, the more you go there, the better feel for the population, and what stage they are in.  

[Fishes in trees]

Did they rep-stock it?  Was it drained all the way, or just drawn down a bunch?  What did it fish like prior to getting drained/drawn down?   I recall back years ago, when Truman was being built, the Conservation Department/Corps of Engineers had to buy a bunch of land.  Anyway, while the dam was bien built, (which took several years) the Conservation department built many ponds & stocked them on the land that was scheduled to be flooded.  When Truman Lake filled (another

 

different story) a bunch of fish were released into the new lake.  The first year, fish were present, but sometimes were hard to come by, a couple of decent spawns later and the lake blew up for a few years.   Now it is older, water levels almost never stable (it is after all a flood control lake) and it is a decent fishery.

 

On the lake you're referring to, did they do any of those practices while the lake was drained/ drawn down?

Awhile ago, when I was still fishing BFL's a semi-pro that I drew told me that when confronted with fairly recent high water, a good place to start is that old shore line, even if that is several hundred yards off the new shore line.

[fhbf]

2 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

Did they rep-stock it?  Was it drained all the way, or just drawn down a bunch?  What did it fish like prior to getting drained/drawn down?   I recall back years ago, when Truman was being built, the Conservation Department/Corps of Engineers had to buy a bunch of land.  Anyway, while the dam was bien built, (which took several years) the Conservation department built many ponds & stocked them on the land that was scheduled to be flooded.  When Truman Lake filled (another

 

different story) a bunch of fish were released into the new lake.  The first year, fish were present, but sometimes were hard to come by, a couple of decent spawns later and the lake blew up for a few years.   Now it is older, water levels almost never stable (it is after all a flood control lake) and it is a decent fishery.

 

On the lake you're referring to, did they do any of those practices while the lake was drained/ drawn down?

Awhile ago, when I was still fishing BFL's a semi-pro that I drew told me that when confronted with fairly recent high water, a good place to start is that old shore line, even if that is several hundred yards off the new shore line.

The spot I fish in was completely drained down to a couple inches of water and I dont thing they did the stock method you're referring to. Not sure how it fished before since I'm just now starting.

[garroyo130]

1 hour ago, BDC said:

Try downsizing your lures

^ if youre fishing for numbers, downsize lures and line. Youll catch a lot of dinks but should get some good bites and get a good feel for whats in the water.

 

Also, contrary to popular belief, not all bass like Senkos. The quarry i primarily fish a good example. Maybe try different plastics?

[WRB]

Contact your local fishery management to determine what was done during the draw down with the fish.

If the lake wasn't restocked and adult size bass are still there, there must have been deeper water by the dam for survival. 

The fish that survive draw dawns are carp and catfish. You are seeing carp jump.

Tom