Impact of boat traffic on bass

[tentimesover]

I fish on a lake that is fairly quiet during the week but it gets crazy on most summer weekends.  There's constant traffic after 10am with waverunners, cruisers up to 42 feet leaving big wakes and a variety of other boats.  Trying to fish is hard because of the constant beating with wakes in my normal hot spots at the mouth of coves off the channel in 10 to 20 feet water.  My question is do you think bass in that kind of depth are affected by all the noise and water disturbance?  Will they head for quieter water back into the coves during these times?

[Catt]

Weekdays on Toledo Bend is 5x better than weekends

[Jig Man]

I don't know where they go but weekends sure do shut them down.  I'd think with all the 50'+ boats on your dangerous big pond that they may crawl under rocks.

[Sam]

Some say that the wakes stir up the bottom attracting bait fish and then the bass.

Personally, I think it is a dangerous situation to be in an area with either unlicensed or inexperienced watercraft operators, including watercraft from the size of a kayak to an ocean qualified vessel.

I will fish weekends in tournaments or to prefish, otherwise I avoid areas where there are too many boaters running up and down the waterway in haphazard manners.

And if I go out on a weekend, it is usually on Sunday as the wackos get up late and leave to go home early.  

[fishfordollars]

Catt, Jigman, and Sam are all right. the fishing gets tougher on the weekends. I like fishing midweek. they are always a little easier to figure out.

That being said it took 29.49 to win the Bass-N-Bucks tournament yesterday.

[cart7t]

I fish on a lake that is fairly quiet during the week but it gets crazy on most summer weekends. There's constant traffic after 10am with waverunners, cruisers up to 42 feet leaving big wakes and a variety of other boats. Trying to fish is hard because of the constant beating with wakes in my normal hot spots at the mouth of coves off the channel in 10 to 20 feet water. My question is do you think bass in that kind of depth are affected by all the noise and water disturbance? Will they head for quieter water back into the coves during these times?

In other words you're fishing Lake of the Ozarks.

LOZ has a very definite pattern that sets up in the summer. The bulk of the larger fish will relate to the thermocline which usually sets up around 20-28ft deep. It tends to vary a few feet year to year depending on the water clarity and how much water UE pulls through the dam.

Yep, wave action on that lake, especially on the weekends is vicious. A couple patterns usually are present. 10" worms fished on main lake points either T rigged or C rigged. The second is pegged, T-rig 10" worms SLOWLY fished through the 20' + deep brushpiles off the ends of the docks on the main lake or the 1st set of secondary points and coves off the main lake. In the larger deeper coves you can move further back as long as you're fishing at that thermocline depth.

You can also fish those same areas with DD22's. Again, your boat better be in 33-45 feet of water with you casting into 15' water minimum, if you're shallower, you're sitting on top of the fish. The key is the fish are relating to the thermocline depth. If your graph is sensitive enough it can pick it up. See the instruction manual that came with your graph. If not, you can call ahead to most of the better tackle shops down there, they'll have the info.

Daytime fishing on the weekends is obviously dangerous business at that lake. Seriously, you're better off to fish the night bite but even that can be risky. After many years of night fishing that lake, the best night bite usually runs from around 8pm to around 10:30 or so. Then picks up around 3:30am till 8am the next morning. While you can fish the times inbetween, you'll be doing a whole lot of casting and not a lot of catching. The 8-10:30 bite is also a dangerous time as well, you're not only battling really rough water but you've got drunk boaters thrown into the mix. In fact, all night long can be dangerous due to the number of on the water bars and lounges that lake has and the drunks that get behind the wheel of their boats leaving them. Always leave your running lights on and be constantly aware of any boat traffic approaching you.

You're best bet is to fish during the week. That lake becomes a different place.

[WRB]

Weekend tournament bass fishermen deal with boat traffic all summer.

The fishing is easier and generally better during week days or nights, for me. I fish outside main lake structure most of the time during the summer period and avoid weekends if possible, due to boat traffic.

If you put yourself in traffic lanes you are asking for confrontation with other boaters or a possible boating accident.

Do you recall Jay Yelas winning a classic a few years back by catching a 6 lb bass in a boat wake caused by a boater that buzzed him?

Boat traffic bothers fishermen more than it does the bass.

WRB

[tentimesover]

Thanks for all the tips.  He's right that I'm fishing Lake of the Ozarks.  I have my boat on a lift there and, for the most part can fish anytime I want.  I sure hate giving up two days of the week though to the "boaters."  It's a rainy day today, Sunday, that has closed the boat traffic down.  I got out between showers and landed one small one and hooked but lost the big one right at the end of the point at the edge of the main channel  -- and then the lightening started with the rain so I came back.

[cart7t]

Thanks for all the tips. He's right that I'm fishing Lake of the Ozarks. I have my boat on a lift there and, for the most part can fish anytime I want. I sure hate giving up two days of the week though to the "boaters." It's a rainy day today, Sunday, that has closed the boat traffic down. I got out between showers and landed one small one and hooked but lost the big one right at the end of the point at the edge of the main channel -- and then the lightening started with the rain so I came back.

Where are you located at on the lake BTW?

You'll adapt to it, the boat traffic that is. The weekends start around Friday afternoon and go until Sunday around 2-3pm. Those are the times you stay off the water and do odd jobs.

The wife and I talked about getting a place down there but quickly realized there wasn't much point. When we could come down, the weekends, the lake was unusable unless you had a 28' + size boat. None of our friends would bother because their boats were too small and skiing/tubing/kneeboarding has to be done by 9:30am most summer weekend mornings because of the boat traffic.

Sad really, I've been fishing that lake since the mid 70's and it's always been a solid bass fishing lake that's not too terribly hard to catch fish out of. I watched the development BOOM down there. The condo complexes are what really put the hurt on that lake as far as numbers of boats.

[tentimesover]

I'm near MM32 close to where Lynn Creek and Niangua arms intersect the Osage Branch.

[burleytog]

I don't know about the bass, but it sure ticks me off. My level of anger is proportionate to the amount of skin showing in the offending boat.

Last night I was hoping a couple of boats would keep coming closer.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I don't know but i have caught fish seconds after a boat passes at full speed in the same area! Doesn't seem like it does really!

[Jig Thrower]

it seems strange but somedays at the lake i fish with the most boat traffic you could imagine brings on the best fishing even better than through the week

[Fishing Rhino]

Interesting.  It's all in the perspective, regarding boat traffic.

Not so much to the fish, but to the fishermen.

I agree, weekends can be insane on some waters.

It's interesting that fishermen generally view pleasure boaters as a nuisance, possibly having an effect upon the fishing, with their buzzing here and there on everything from jet skis, to ski boats, to yachts.

Funny, since my perspective is a bit different.  

Doing my fishing mostly from a canoe, I look at those who buzz around the water in bass boats much in the same way that some do the pleasure boaters.  They upset the peace and tranquility of fishing.

Having said that, I don't have a problem sharing the pond/lake with them.

Like anything else, most exhibit common courtesy toward fellow anglers.  

Those that don't, it doesn't matter what they are in, jon boat or bass boat, if you let them, they can ruin your day.

[cart7t]

I don't know about the bass, but it sure ticks me off. My level of anger is proportionate to the amount of skin showing in the offending boat.

Last night I was hoping a couple of boats would keep coming closer.

The lake the thread starter lives on is home to the infamous "Party Cove".

You'll see way more than just some skin there.

LOZ and it's weekend boat traffic along with rough water is infamous.

I learned to drive rough water in a 16 1/2 ft Champion on this lake. Take one rather narrow lake, add steep banks, add hundreds of boats that are better suited to the ocean and put them all on the water at once and you've got a mixed up, jumbled up sea of 3-6 foot rollers coming at you from all directions. Trying to fish main lake points is not only impossible during the day as far as holding a boat in position and actually fishing but your life is in extreme danger from being run over.

I'm near MM32 close to where Lynn Creek and Niangua arms intersect the Osage Branch.

Well, you're a little off the gauntlet of the really rough stuff a little further down the lake but it's still pretty bad up to 40mm mark. You need to acclimate yourself to night fishing from June - Labor day on the weekends and save the day time fishing for the rest of the week. I have friends who've lived down on the lake there for years and it's just the accepted way of life. The weekends are for watching the craziness and drinking beer.

[roadwarrior]

On a commercial river, like the Tennessee, pleasure boats

and fishing boats, have no impact on the fishing. Barges on

the other hand move so much water, their wake stirs the bottom

and usually results in some of the best opportunities for a bite.

It's all good!

8-)

[senile1]

The impact on bass isn't the issue.  The impact on your ability to concentrate on fishing is.  When you are fishing in large three to six foot rollers, as Cart7t discussed, it's basically impossible to concentrate on how your fishing that main lake point when boat control requires all of your attention, not to mention the myriad number of boats in the immediate vicinity.  Dangerous isn't the word for fishing the main lake portion of Lake Ozark during the day.  It's insane.  

Some in the Kansas City area are beginning to call Smithville Lake "Little Lake Ozark."  If you're fishing on the weekend during the day and you're in a 19 - 21 foot bassboat, you won't trim up much and you won't go very fast when you go on plane on the main lake or you'll find yourself capsized.  Fishing main lake points requires dramamine.    The only good thing here is that over 4000 of the 7100 acres were left in timber so you can get away from all the big boats, skiers, and jet skis.  However, there is only one boat launch open that will allow you to avoid the main lake traffic.  

[Raul]

I hate "nice" weather ( clear skies, sunny, warm, little wind ) during weekends, I hate it even more when the lake is full ( instead of having only the lower end of the lake at the dam now they 've got the entire lake ); every single pleasure boater, water skier and jet skier will be at the lake, bite is good until about 12:00 AM and then --->  >

[TommyBass]

Comparing lake of the Ozarks to boat traffic on normal lakes is a bit off.... that lake is stupid crazy.  In my opinion the legal size of boats on that lake should be greatly reduced, those YACHTS have no business on fresh water of that size. Very dangerous.

Now regarding your question, yes waves do effect the bass somewhat.  My home lake is really good fishing in the lowlight conditions up shallow on the rocks... and I mean SHALLOW.  But if there is a rogue boater out early in the morning the fish will not hold shallow on the rocks that are getting battered.  Once the boating subsides some they will move up.  Like some of the others said, it really can go either way but its more how it effects you than anything.

[senile1]

Tommy Bass stated:

Comparing lake of the Ozarks to boat traffic on normal lakes is a bit off....

If you are referring to my post about Smithville Lake, I must be communicating poorly.  I fish both Lake of the Ozarks and Smithville Lake.  No lake I have been on approaches Lake Ozark.  A few years back a 30 foot long boat was capsized by the rollers on Lake of the Ozarks and a boater drowned in that event.  The point I was making is that some highly pressured Metropolitan lakes can be pretty rough as well.  I don't like the main lake on Smithville over the weekend, but I wouldn't even attempt the main lake at Lake of the Ozarks during the same time period.

[CWB]

As some others have said, I think the boat traffic affects the fisherman more than the fish. I'm one of the unfortunate few that usually can only get away for the weekends. Fishing is not necessarily better, but easier and not so nerve wracking during the week. It definitely is harder to fish effectively when you boat is bobbing around like a cork in the ocean but if you put all that out of you mind and concentrate, the fish will still bite. Now for the skin aspect- that's just a bonus of weekend fishing.

[bigtimfish]

This past Friday I had a buddy at Toledo Bend, Who has a spot(21'deep hole) at Six Mile just off of the boat lane (looks like the middle) he pulled up one 10 three 6's and two or three 5's. That is a heavily travelled boat lane too. But it was 21' deep.

[grimlin]

On a commercial river, like the Tennessee, pleasure boats

and fishing boats, have no impact on the fishing. Barges on

the other hand move so much water, their wake stirs the bottom

and usually results in some of the best opportunities for a bite.

It's all good!

8-)

During the early spring this is the case for me....Boaters are my best friend.

Late spring through summer,everything turns spookish.At this point i tend to hang out by the dams where boaters can't get to.

[senile1]

From the angler's perspective, fishing an area that is close to a boat lane is not a huge issue as the waves from the wakes of other boats is consistent and coming from only one direction.  When we speak of Lake of the Ozarks we are talking about a plethora of wakes going in many different directions.  There is no way to plan how to hit the waves with your boat when there is no consistency, and when they are huge and coming from many directions it is not safe for bassboats, period.

[Bass-1]

YOU guys need to come to Maine and fish. Traffic on the water is none to small even on the week-ends. I'm talking about the BANGOR area only. I fish a "pond" that is 5 miles from my house that is about 738 acres that has a campground on it, and even on week-ends I see only a few boats. Even though we are "TAXED" to death on EVERYTHING, the fishing is second to none.... That is the "only" reason I have stayed here...