How do YOU deal with EXTREMELY LOW WATER?

[5bass]

Have to fish a lake this weekend that I hit about twice a year. Word is the lake is down 16'.....so everything I know to fish is out of the water. Water temps are mid 70's, lake is loaded with smallmouth and largemouth. I have a good idea about what I'm going to do but in case it doesnt work out, I'm looking for some general ideas from some people who fish in extremely low water conditions.

[Catt]

Last year Toledo Bend was 15-18' low; the bass on the lake were holding in 15' of water before the low water period they were still holding in 15' of water the only changed is the shore line.

[Bassn Blvd]

When we hit our drought here in Florida and the local lakes and canals dropped extremely low, I used weightless worms or Flukes.  The fish get trapped in little "ponds" and explode on anything that hits the water.  The worm and fluke were the easiest to keep on top of the water and not get caught in the weeds.  If it's open water then I'd use a Rapala minnow or baby spook.

[Bob Kavanaugh]

Wow.    

That's a lot of offshore structure. Any grass there? (don't mean to hijack, sorry)

[MemphisFisherman]

Should be an advantage to have a lake drop that low, then again...thing's don't always work out the way you have planned =) Still a fairly big lake?  If so I would just go in and approach it like any other lake, find new structure, find new ledges and hump's and shorelines, they are still there.  If it's a smaller lake I would pull out a rattletrap and go to town, in a small lake if it drop's that much fish may be hard pressed to find food, and you ripping and roaring a trap in front of thier face will only get them excited and attract more fish over.

[CJ]

Your probally thinkin' "deep".I would be too.They may be suspended on you?

Just observe,find the bait,they'll be close.I'm not telling you anything you don't know already.

Good Luck!

Hope you whack em'! CJ

[Catt]

If you notice the little ridge fore ground of this picture that was 12-15' of water, now look at the first tree line that's 14-17' and is where the bass moved to. You'll also notice a high line to my right that crosses the cove, the corner of the tree line and the high line was another spot holding bass. It's hard to tell from this photo but there is a creek channel just in front of the larger stumps behind the tree line.

[Daniel My Brother]

It won't help you this weekend, but take pictures! No doubt you'll see great fish holding structure that will be underwater when the lake gets back to normal levels.

Good luck!

[basswest1]

The biggest factor is how fast the water has fallen.  If it has been falling slowly over a long period of time, the fish are less afected.  If it was a quick fall, then the bass would really be doing something weird.  

I would really try to find some very bluff banks in order to try to catch the fish that arent affected by the falling water.  Just find the areas which you were catching them before the fall, and work your way down deeper.  Pay attention to brushpiles or outside edges of grass near river channels.

Think Funnels.

[5bass]

Well, nevermind guys.....they changed the tournament to my home lake. Its only down about 4 ft. Its all good.

And CJ, I was thinking deep but later in the day.  

[dink]

Turn the faucet back on til the the tub's full. ;D ;D

[Ghetto_Basser]

When we hit our drought here in Florida and the local lakes and canals dropped extremely low, I used weightless worms or Flukes. The fish get trapped in little "ponds" and explode on anything that hits the water. The worm and fluke were the easiest to keep on top of the water and not get caught in the weeds. If it's open water then I'd use a Rapala minnow or baby spook.

Great Idea. I would be all topwater

[Catt]

Well, nevermind guys.....they changed the tournament to my home lake. Its only down about 4 ft. Its all good.

And CJ, I was thinking deep but later in the day.

Does this guarantee us a win?  

[5bass]

Well, nevermind guys.....they changed the tournament to my home lake. Its only down about 4 ft. Its all good.

And CJ, I was thinking deep but later in the day.

Does this guarantee us a win?

Catt, as you know there are not many guarantees in life.....but I did win yesterday. .....was culling at 9am. It was a good day.

The water was down but it had been that way all summer and the fish seem to have gotten used to it.

[CJ]

Way to go,5bass!

[Catt]

Way to represent  

[Guest avid]

Another Florida drought survivor.

Wow, did the lakes and ponds get low!!

The fish were spooky so finesse was an excellent tactic.

But like bassin blvd it made it easier in some ways because finding the fish was alot easier.

[5bass]

Another Florida drought survivor.

Wow, did the lakes and ponds get low!!

The fish were spooky so finesse was an excellent tactic.

But like bassin blvd it made it easier in some ways because finding the fish was alot easier.

This is a highland reservoir in Virginia which is very deep and clear, 4ft low really isnt that bad here. All of the fish I weighed in were at least 15ft deep except one that was way up shallow on a point. Finesse was the key though....drop shot w/ Roboworm FX and shaky head w/ power shaky worm.