High Water What To Do

[tntitans21399]

I went out on Old Hickory Lake, a lake in in middle TN, and with all the rain lately the two main lakes near me are higher then usual.  Most docks you would have to swim up to because they are higher then where the ramp connects to land.  The water was a lot more muddy and their was a lot of timber in the main channel.  I'm still not great at fishing, so what would you normally do in this condition?  Is this type of times pretty much impossible to fish or suppose to be better because fish have more cover?

I tried swallow (3ft) and I tried about 10-13 ft range.  Also close to shore and out in the middle of the cove.  I didn't have any luck.  I tired some different depth and color lures, but what color is best for muddy water?  Any help or advice would be great.

[aarogb]

    I like to flip a black and blue color bait way back in the flooded stuff.

[5bass]

When you dont know exactly where the fish are, make an educated guess of where they 'should be' and start there with a search bait in a color that is best for the water clarity.

In your case, with the water being high and stained/muddy I would probably grab a chartreuse/white spinnerbait with double colorado blades and start shallow in the flooded trees and bushes. After trying that zone for a little while, I'd keep backing out deeper until the water got deep enough that I could throw a bright colored crankbait and be effective with it.

[Crestliner2008]

We've been having a lot of rain here in the northeast as well this spring. Lakes are really high. I've been having some luck fishing the flooded brush, in 2' - 4' of water, using a texas-rigged fat ika. Trouble is, you have to do a lot of casting to various spots. No telling exactly where they are without hitting everything. One thing for certain, they are shallow, under these conditions. JMO!