Impact of boat traffic on bass

[fish-fighting-illini]

[quote author=4F6A7D6E496A7878263A0B0 link=1247400484/24#24  the fishing is second to none.... ...

[RoLo]

I can't say definitively that the surface disturbance created by weekend warriors has a negative effect on fishing.

On the other hand, I can say definitively that their surface disturbance has a negative effect on my disposition.

There are at least two ways to avoid the summertime splashabouts:

1) Fish on weekdays

2) Fish at night

Since I don't care for night fishing, I fish the large popular waters only during weekdays.

During weekends, I focus on smaller quieter lakes, if only for my own sanity.

Roger

[cart7t]

I think one thing that has to be remembered is that the fish are only experiencing this heavy boat traffic and wave action 2 days out of 7. Is that enough to move them?

I've planted christmas trees weighted with concrete blocks on main lake points on LOZ in around 10 foot of water or so and they've been moved, sometimes to where I can't find them.

Obviously the wave action extends down into the water column but how far would probably depend on the lake type, shallow vs deep, along with the size, intensity and longevity of the waves when they're occurring. Obviously a bass hanging around a 10 ft deep brushpile isn't going to hang there for long when that brushpile starts moving around on him. I'm sure the current is also enough to carry away any baitfish he/she is planning on feeding on as well.

I suspect a bass trying to navigate in such water and feeding would be akin to you or I walking into a restaurant and a wind machine suddenly turning on at high speed making it difficult for you to stand and whisking the food right off the tables.

I've long since learned that if a lake has developed a thermocline in the summer that finding cover or structure at that depth is where'll they'll be, day or night.

[OH-bass614]

i fish a river a few miles from my house its a  resivior on the scioto river in columbus ohio and its about 50-75 yards wide probably and even on weekday there are nonstop skiers and they will pass you about 10 yards away from you it makes it worse from me because i fish in a jonboat. also i was night fishing last week and on the way in a skier passed me with no lights what so ever.  some times i just wannna bury a treble in a wakeboarders A$$

[done]

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.

Hey Rhino, I hear ya. i think what really does this is the consideration of other boaters for each other. We all share the same natural resource and that is fine. However, my desire to have a good time on the lake should not override my reasonable consideration for yours.

If I am tooling around Lake Wylie (I got a Jon so wake is n ot as big an issue), I will give pleasure boats and fishing boats wide berth. I do not want to get up on them, rock them with wake, or distract them too much.

I have seen pleasure boaters and fisherman who will FLY up on me so close I would stand reasonable chance of jumping onto their boats. Lake Wylie is a pretty big lake there is NO reason folks should be that close.

The pleasure boaters seem to be worse at this, especially wave runners. However, I have also seen my share of canoes and such who are really inconsiderate. That will run in the middle of a channel in the middle of the night without lights of any kind, who will run over your lines while you are fishing a cove because they can.

As for their effect on fishing, I have actually had days where I have been not getting a hit then had a big wake hit me on my retrieve and get hit that second. Whatever action it added to my bait seemed to cause a hit. With the depth and width in most places on Wylie, I would not think in its case that boat traffic influence too much.