What to do when the lake is flooded

[cantcatchfish4somereason]

So I had to work all weekend and i had waited for seven days to hit the water. Here in Ga we got ALOT of rain and the lake was up like 8-10 ft. I fished points shallows newly submerged areas channels and could not catch a fish. I got two bites in eight hours. Im really looking for suggestions and things i missed. Any help?

[D4u2s0t]

fish deeper. all day long people on my lake pound the shallows, and catch nothing.  I'm out in no mans land in the middle of the lake pulling out "big" fish.

[cantcatchfish4somereason]

does anyone know how fish react to this kind of flooding?

[D4u2s0t]

depends on many factors.  In your neck of the woods where it gets much warmer, like I said your best bet is to fish deeper.  When it's cold out, the fish will often come to the shallows when they flood to get into the warmer water.  But there's lots of variables.  Depends on what kind of new cover/structure is there, what the baitfish are doing, etc.   It's very possible that there are no fish in the new shallow areas.  

Also keep in mind that fish are finicky after a rainstorm.  Look into how weather affects fish, in regards to different fronts and whatnot.  There's some great articles here that will help you out and go into great detail.  But to keep it simple, like many animals, fish know that a storm is coming, and often pig out.  That leaves slow, sluggish fish after the rain.  Not always the case, but could be since you had 2 bites in 8 hours.  Either that, or there were simply no fish.

[roadwarrior]

Watch some Big 12 Football!

;D ;D ;D

[SammyLee]

Watch some Big 12 Football!

;D ;D ;D

No! No! No! I've had reservations for a great camp spot at Lake Ouachita Arkansaw for the last few months. We arrive tomorrow around noon and I have a reserved fishing boat (16 foot, 15 hp motor, 24 mph) for Saturday. Last I looked the lake was at flood stage and .4 feet more.

I've got too much invested in this to not try hard to get bit. I am thinking to jump fish for both LMB and strippers. If I can see zero action on the surface I am going to go deep with jigs and even see if I can pull a few up with some deep cranks. I am even thinking of drop shotting some whacky stick worms with a half ounce weight.

If none of that works, I am going up into the creeks and run buzz baits and shallow cranks over grass. I will also try my strength, finesse worms in 5 to 20 feet.

I have the rods ready and the tackle box loaded and a 3 day permit in hand. I may not get another chance any time soon so I am going to give it my all.

I will have my float and hit the water around the state park tomorrow afternoon and Sunday morning. These fish are going to be tempted if I can find them. I have no depth finder but I do have a topo map and good map reading skills.

So, come hadies or high water, they're going to get all I have this weekend. Wish me luck.

[fishfordollars]

Go south and try to find the clearest water you can. fish the main lake mouths of the pockets and the ledges if the current will allow it. Otherwise the fish tend to get very tight to cover when this happens. The creeks that are not active will be affected the least. If you go shallow you need the lure to scrape the bark going down. Pitch it right in the middle of the bush and let it sit. Slow way down. It will be a tought bite, but they can be caught.

Good luck

[skillet]

 Good Luck SammyLee ! You've got a plan, everything but the kitchen sink ...

skillet

BTW sure ought to be pretty over there...

[WRB]

So I had to work all weekend and i had waited for seven days to hit the water. Here in Ga we got ALOT of rain and the lake was up like 8-10 ft. I fished points shallows newly submerged areas channels and could not catch a fish. I got two bites in eight hours. Im really looking for suggestions and things i missed. Any help?

There is rain, then there is flooding. Wow up 8 to 10 feet in a few days will affect all the fish, including the deep water bass. Once the water settles a little, the bass should move up into newly created feeding areas and position at the areas where the water is entering or exiting creating current and ambush sites. The water will be off color, so I would suggest using darker high contrast soft plastic lures and bright color white/chartreuses spinnerbaits. Avoid the larger flats and concentrate near creek channels leading into the flats.

WRB

[RoLo]

During a rising pool level, bass are forced to change their location in order to maintain the same depth range.

For example, if bass were found 6 to 10 ft below the surface before the lake level rose,

they will still be 6 to 10 ft below the surface, but far more scattered.

Similar to the spokes of a wheel, as you move outward from the axle,

the diameter of the 6 to 10 ft depth zone will involve more and more perimeter real estate.

Roger

[Danny1991]

The fish were real finicky here on Sinclair today. water was up a couple feet and could not hook up with a fish! They were hitting plastics but only by the tail. :-/ couldnt get em to EAT it.

[Koop]

Go south and try to find the clearest water you can. fish the main lake mouths of the pockets and the ledges if the current will allow it. Otherwise the fish tend to get very tight to cover when this happens. The creeks that are not active will be affected the least. If you go shallow you need the lure to scrape the bark going down. Pitch it right in the middle of the bush and let it sit. Slow way down. It will be a tought bite, but they can be caught.

Good luck

This is great advice.  Spot on.

Flipping into little brush piles or anything that is newly submerged can be rewarding.  

[Tin]

During a rising pool level, bass are forced to change their location in order to maintain the same depth range.

For example, if bass were found 6 to 10 ft below the surface before the lake level rose,

they will still be 6 to 10 ft below the surface, but far more scattered.

Similar to the spokes of a wheel, as you move outward from the axle,

the diameter of the 6 to 10 ft depth zone will involve more and more perimeter real estate.

Roger

x2

Another possible thing that happens is the water takes over areas it once was not and there are more things like insects in the water which start a whole other food chain. So if the water is reasonable (under 80*) and provides shade then they will get up in the real skinny water. I'm talking about inches here. So skipping things like jigs and frogs as far back behind cover as you can, can be really productive. It is a typical spring and fall pattern up here when we get a lot of rain.

[done]

Did you try fishing on 20? News showed some large ones swimming across there on Monday. LOL.

Seriously though, be it trout, or Bass I have never had much luck after a flood like that. My grandfather thinks it is because a lot of food gets flushed into the water and they pig out for a few days.

[cantcatchfish4somereason]

well as far as fishing the skinny water you really couldnt. The water was 20-30 ft back into the woods. And where the bank once was it was 5-10ft deep. I fished deep on humps figuring the fish would relate to the side opposite the current but like i said nothing was working. I wonder how long this flood will affect the fishing!?

[Catt]

Combine Roger's answer with Jack's answer

[flipinstick88]

Try fishing the old shoreline that is now in 8-10 feet of water.

[J-B]

Where are you fishing at?