? Regarding Current

[shootermcbob]

Watching the bassmaster elite series on basscam, and everyone keeps talking about needing current? I fish mostly impounded lakes. What effect does current have bass?

also, does pleasure boat traffic that creates waves that hit the shoreline produce current, and if so, what effect does that have on largemouth bass?

Thanks for any help.

[07SkeeterZX225]

Current will help position bass in areas so they can more easily ambush bait. It can be a major factor at times in catching a good bag or zero. During the summer when the power demand goes up (everyone at home turns on a/c, uses more electricity) the dam's that use water to generate power release more water to keep up with the demand. When they release the water, current is formed both upstream and downstream from the dam. At times it can be like flipping on a switch, the bass will start biting that quick and when they shut the gates the bass can sometimes turn off that quick. However current can also be wind related and be just as good; mostly for shallow fish and not the deeper ones. I've never really thought that boat traffic made a significant change to turn on the fish, but I have seen times when boat traffic created a mud-line and I could catch fish from it easier.

[clayton86]

Rec boats can both create and destroy a bite at the same time. Me and JF were discusing this he pointed something out that day and iv been running with it sense and its working. While boats bang the banks with waves it kills the topwater bite but it stirs up crawfish and other little bugs and what not baitfish eat drawing bait fish to the shoreline to feed with the bass not far behind. If its calm I work the top soon as that jet ski whips by I grab a 1/8oz keel weighted hook and fluke and start working it by the bank ill nab a few then switch back when it calms down again.

[Jim H.]

Once upon a time I was fishing a drop off 100 yards from the shore line. As the morning passed the bite slowed way down as the sun got higher. About that time a water skier came by and ran within 50 feet of where I was fishing. I was P.O.'d but I caught nice bass on the next 3 casts I made. Then the fish quit... until the skier came back and ran by even closer than before with the same results. After that every 30 minutes or so I would crank up the outboard and make a run over the drop off and stir them up again.

Wind as well as skiers can also be your friend. I won a tournament in MO in early april with the heaviest stringer I ever weighed in... 6 bass that weighed 29 1/2 lbs. The wind was blowing about 20 MPH and the bass were in the creeks on the down wind side of the points. It is always wise to fish into the wind. For one thing, it is easier to control your boat.

Just my $.02

[slonezp]

Current moves oxygen and bait.

I recently read, probably in Bassmasters Magazine, about churning up the water in the shallows with the outboard, waiting 5 minutes or so, then fishing it. Haven't tried it yet but my home lake has roughly 3.5 million people visit the water every year. I try to get off the lake before they arrive.

[RoLo]

In a riverine situation, key locations often depend on current breaks that cause a neutral back eddy.

In lakes and ponds though, the situation is quite the reverse. For the past ten years or more,

the clear majority of pro tournaments on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes have been won by anglers

who exploited "water current", which comes in many forms.

To answer your question, Yes, it's possible 'IF' the water current is persistent.

Bass don't care if the source is natural or manmade, as long as it's reliable.

.

Why bass step-up their feeding during accelerated current has spawned a few theories.

One theory holds that wind-blown plankton is followed by baitfish, which in turn is followed by bass.

Another theory involves well-oxygenated water, but rip tides in the ocean are equally productive where oxygen is never an issue.

I certainly don't have the answer, but I believe that the heavier, stronger bodies of game fish are better suited to strong current.

Game fish may instinctively exploit their advantage over forage fish that are more easily disoriented by current.

Roger

[Sam]

Great question and I think it is the first time it has been asked on the Forum.

I cut out articles in varous magazines for my library and yesterday I went through a number of old magazines at Jo Anne's Fabrics as my wife shopped and one of the articles was from the July 2011 FLW Outdoors magazine on current, Go With the Flow.

Penned by Sean Ostruszka, the article discusses current in reservoirs.

Please to to flwoutdoors.com and look for the article or try to secure a copy of the July 2011 publication if you are not an FLW member.

Here is an overview of the article. However, please try to locate a copy. I will give you some of the highlights but you really need to read the article and also Google "current" to find other sources of information.

Think river - Some bass look for a areas out of the strongest current like backwater areas. Other bass opt to stay near the main river and let the current help them feed in stead of having to search for food.

Bass want to be out of the flow but have a viable ambush point like an eddy or current breaks behind pieces of cover. Bass will use ledges that jut out into the current to create an eddy where they can hold and feed.

Since the current is not constant bass in reservoirs have more freedom to roam than they do in rivers. When the current turns on the bass in the main lake still have the same instincts as their river brethren.

Baitfish – Pushed by the current and following the contour of the ledge, baitfish inevitably get washed in o the front eddy where some become disoriented and easier prey.

Front Eddy – The current will hit the face of the ledge, which causes the current to redirect and circle in place, creating an eddy.

Main School – This area of slack water is often missed by anglers but it’s where you can find massive schools of fish. The fish might not be as active but as long as the current is going they will still bite, especially once fired up.

Small Active School – Inside the eddy, where the water is calmer, bass will wait for food. Schools of 40-plus fish, usually the most active fish, can be found in the front eddy but the schools are typically composed of smaller bass.

Bass and Current in Reservoirs – When the current starts going or increase in strength, active bass will most often move to the face of the ledge or some part of the ledge that faces the current. The current will impact that area and redirect to create an eddy of slack water. Within that eddy the bass will then feed with fury on baitfish swept and disoriented by the current.

Wind Current – A strong wind can create current however wind can also negate a dam-driven current. When this happens the fish may not bite.

In a nutshell, constantly monitor not only when current is moving but also the strength of the current.

In Virginia, we love outgoing tides on tidal rivers. The fish come out of the grass and weeds to feed before going deep. And on dam controlled reservoirs we love it when they pull the current, especially on Lake Gaston.

In another article I read a few years ago it said that all bodies of water have current, including ponds.

So when the water is moving the bass are active but it seems they like to stay in eddies so they do not have to constantly fight the current when feeding. And when the current stops the bass spread out.

So look for current and eddies; throw so that your bait goes with the flow; and see if your hook-up ratio increases.

[Kimist]

If you're talking about the recent tournaments in Alabama, the Spotted Bass in these lakes and rivers like the current. I understand that it's a much bigger deal for them than for largemouth.

[SirSnookalot]

I like strong current, windy weather and choppy water.

[shootermcbob]

Thanks to all who shared their experiences. I have noticed the last two times that I fished, it was rainy, windy, & overcast, and I experienced more bites fishing the same areas that I usually fish. Lots more. I usually have 2-3 bites in a 4 hour trip.

The last two times I went, I fished the wind blown banks (from the bank), and fished into the wind. I caught 5 fish one day on 9 bites and 7 fish another, again in 9 bites.

Coincidence, I suppose it could be, but I caught all fish in a gander mountain purple senko or a yum black w/ red flake money craw both times.

Again, thanks to all and special thanks to Sam...I will find that article and read it.

[ChiCityBasser]

In this hot weather current water is also cooler as well. One of the man made retention ponds I fish had a heavy rain in the area which caused the water level to rise enough to create current near the drainage areas. The first couple of fish I caught away from these areas were very very warm. I moved to one of the drainage ditch areas and proceed to catch a number of fish casting a crankbait near the flowing water with the fish hitting either in the flow of water or just outside of it. I repeated this same pattern in 3 other areas of the pond. One area had a stronger flow and I caught 6 fish in that one area by just casting across the current to one area. I repeated the same pattern at another lake the same morning casting across the overflow drainage area and caught fish in the current. The biggest being 3.5lbs

[ChiCityBasser]

Three of the four largest fish caught in or just out of the current with the one with me holding it being 3.5lbs.

[shootermcbob]

ChiCityBasser, are you showing off???

Seriously, nice catch on all those. good looking fish. 3.5 lbs is a really nice fish.

Also, thanks for adding your thoughts. I am gonna try your method next time we have winds creating current that pushes water thru the "causeways" of the two lakes I fish.

Question though, were you on the "current side" or on the backside of area where current would be running thru, but pipes,shore, or structure would be causing and "eddy"??? does that make sense???

[ChiCityBasser]

ChiCityBasser, are you showing off???

Seriously, nice catch on all those. good looking fish. 3.5 lbs is a really nice fish.

Also, thanks for adding your thoughts. I am gonna try your method next time we have winds creating current that pushes water thru the "causeways" of the two lakes I fish.

Question though, were you on the "current side" or on the backside of area where current would be running thru, but pipes,shore, or structure would be causing and "eddy"??? does that make sense???

Thanks

I was casting across the flow of the current into the drainage/overflow pipe. The high water was running into the overflow pipe/causeway and I cast the lure into the an eddy area and reeled the crank thru the current into another eddy area. The fish all hit in the current flow into the the drainage/causeway area just before getting to the other eddy. Hope that makes sense and give you a better picture.

[shootermcbob]

yes, it does. Thanks for sharing.