what to do when they quit pulling water and let the water back fill allnight?
what to do when they quit pulling water and let the water back fill allnight?
when they quit pulling water through the dam generating water . There isnt any current and the water starts backing up the lake. When we get there the water may be down 12" and by the end of tourn. the water will be at top of peirs. the fish are hard to catch and you cant feel structure as good.
I think you'd need to fish DEEP for that....the fish are already gonna be turned off, but they probably won't move up shallow that fast...
I've never experienced that, but I'd think that's what I'd do...
That is common on many lakes, like West Point, Russell etc. When the corp is pulling water, the current causes the fish to move out onto points, and feed, but when they stop the bite slows and fishing is harder.
You can still catch fish,but not the same way or in the same places where you caught them when the current was working.
A few things will help, such as fishing a day when the wind is blowing. You can fish in the wind. Find rocky banks or points where the wind is blowing and fish there as it could have baitfish pushed into the area and sometimes the wind can create a slight current.
If that is not possible, then take a look at the areas where you were catching the feeding fish, such as flats or tops of points etc. It should be easy to determine where those fish went when the current stopped. These fish are always going to be close to deep water and/or cover of some type, and those are the places they will move to when not feeding.
Try backing off and working Carolina rigged worms or even a dropshot with a smaller worm through the area. It is going to be finesse type fishing usually to get these unactive fish to bite. A jig worked through the area can also catch fish at times.
If there are docks in the area, fish there as well. Skip baits all the way up under them dock and back into the areas most people won't get a bait.
Remember that fish on these types of lakes are used to feeding when the current is present, and are not going to be interested in chasing anything or even eating when there is no current, so you are going to have to work extremely slowly, and methodically to tease them into biting, or piss them off enough to make them bite.
The smaller baits seem to work best under these tough conditions.
Another option is to try and plan trips during the week when they are pulling water more, and the fish will bite better. All you need then are some big crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Note the areas where you catch them, and then learn to find them in places around those feeding areas, and concentrate on them during the tourneys.
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