Opinions Please

[slonezp]

So here's the deal. I fish a 12000 acre river system with 10 or so lakes. Due to flooding conditions the waterway is under a "No Wake" restriction. I have a tourney this Sunday, and don't know if I'll be able to get out on Saturday, because they are calling for T-storms and winds @ 35mph. Anyway my spots will be limited due to time. I have areas that I know will have fish BUT due to the restrictions the areas will definitaly be crowded with "The Enemy". I have done well in these areas under no wake conditions in the past. My other option is to go south on the river to a few backwater areas that under normal conditions can be hit or miss, bigger bass less #'s. My thinking is that with high fast water conditions the backwaters may be stacked with fish. Plus I may be the only boat that fishes this far away and theoreticaly, if mine is the only presentation seen, it should be easire to catch these fish. The dilema is if I idle to the river I'm commited because I won't have time to go anywhere else. Could be possibly 4hrs boat time and 4hrs fishing time. Do I take the gamble?

What would you guys do?

[brushhoggin]

i like your idea of south on the river even though it could take alot of time. are there no backwaters further upriver with some relief from the current? i would say stick to those backwaters and find flooded grass and areas that would normally be above water. how high is the water? the water may be real murkey i'd break out the chatterbait.

[Jigfishn10]

For me, it would be a gamblers mentality: bet a lot, win a lot = cast a lot, catch a lot...Stay close, it sounds like too much boat time.

[slonezp]

From what I've read the water is 2-2.5 ft above pool and flow is 3000cfs. It was supposed to peak today, and the headwaters are supposed to be normal by Sunday, barring anymore rain, which means they will be pushing alot of water thru the dams. Normal flow is 800-1200cfs. 2 weeks ago it was 1' below pool, so in 2 weeks the water has raised 3'.

[Chris]

Your high water is going to push the fish shallow either to the bank or like on standing timber the bass will be in the shallower portion on the tree. You want to use lures that make noise so the fish can track them either through water displacement or stronger pressure waves. If it was me I would just fish shallow without fishing the obvious back water areas. (less obvious meaning areas other anglers have not found yet)If I find objects that fish could make the depth adjustment I would also target them. I would spend more time on this kind of stuff particularly if I have caught good fish off the object before the high water because the fish would just make the adjustment to depth without leaving the object. Other areas I would make a mental note as to where the bass was before the high water and try to determine where they might move up to with the change in conditions. Areas that offer current breaks will hold fish regardless. Just remember if your fishing a log jam for example on the river your fish will be up on the cover so if your fishing the bottom you might not catch them. Remember to fish tight to the cover and slow down and you will do OK. Also if given the choice I like to go north instead of south on the river.

[Jigfishn10]

What did you end up doing? Did you make the run, or stay local?

[slonezp]

Stayed local. Came in 3rd out of 44 boat field and won big bass with this 4.91.

It's a buddy tourney(Anglers Choice) I have been fishing with my son for the last 6 years. That was my only keeper. He caught the other 3. We weighed in 4@ 10.66lbs. 2nd was 5@ 10.71 and 1st was 5@ 11.3

Tourney was still no wake but water was only about 1ft above pool.(Mind you, the average depth of this system is 4ft) They impose the no wake restrictions to prevent shoreline erosion.

[Jigfishn10]

The son showed up his dad! LOL...JK

That's awesome slonezp. I'm glad you're able to do that with your son. Congrats to you both on this tourney.

My son is just learning how to fish and wants to come fishing with me at every possible opportunity. What a feeling it is to fish with a buddy like that, huh?

Very nice fish you got there!

[slonezp]

The son showed up his dad! LOL...JK

That's awesome slonezp. I'm glad you're able to do that with your son. Congrats to you both on this tourney.

My son is just learning how to fish and wants to come fishing with me at every possible opportunity. What a feeling it is to fish with a buddy like that, huh?

Very nice fish you got there!

When we fish together it's normaly all me or all him. We worked collectively this time. 2 weeks til the next one.

[Jigfishn10]

Awesome...Good luck!