I have a question for anyone who might have experience with this scenario. I sometimes fish behind the dam at a lake where the water is released. The release seems to vary and it affects the fishing. What I'm wondering is if a high water flow for weeks could flush out fish altogether. We've been to this area a few times in the last few months and it's always been decent but lately it's been nothing. No bites at all. This past weekend we took the Lowrance out and it was bleak. Didn't see one group of fish except what looked to be a cloud/school of small fish. We did see a few carp breaking but as far as bass, not a one in sight. We know how to find and catch fish. Could they have just gone downstream? FYI the actual water area is about 3/4 of a miles long and maybe 300' across at it's widest part. I imagine the heavy release days could ruin a spawn too. Bummer

I must add that at the furthest point downstream there is a cove and to the right a slight waterfall where all water released continues to flow downstream. It's roughly 50-60 feet wide at the mouth. It is shallow at that point and when the flow is low it isn't an area that most fish would veer through as there is a rock line. But when the release is high it's a full flow downstream flow...

Thanks for your opinion

I doubt the fish get washed away, but massive release can impact the spawn.

The important thing is that when the water rises and the current gets very strong you will know exactly where the fish will be.

 

They will pull in tight to banks and current breaks/eddies.  They dont want to be out in that mess any more than you would want to.

A mass release can really stir up the bacteria on the bottom changing the PH. The mouths of the bass are tighter than zip lock bags. You need a PH tester. Look for a 7 or as close to it as you can get. If your in a boat.

From shore fish behind every rock.

A mass release can really stir up the bacteria on the bottom changing the PH. The mouths of the bass are tighter than zip lock bags. You need a PH tester. Look for a 7 or as close to it as you can get. If your in a boat.

From shore fish behind every rock.

 

Bigbill, I haven't heard anyone reference a PH tester in a very long time. I heard they were very popular in the 70s and 80s.

 

 

Fish are still there. They will seek current breaks  and stay out of the main current.

After a hard rain even in the larger bodies of water the bacteria on the bottom gets stirred up. A nice soft slow rain is when the fishing is better.

Bass in rivers love the smaller rebel crawfish crankbait. Also a panther Martin spinfly. I let lures float there way around the rocks that stick out of the water. Some pools are deeper and I seen them hold up to 3# bass. I haven't spent much time bass river fishing. But I had success in the little time I fished there.

Btw, KVD Has a combo c lector in his boat for tough days rumor has it. The combo c lector tells the PH, water temp and selects the lure color combinations that are best seen for the water conditions. I have two of these combo c lectors. One I've used and tested and one is still brand new. I'm not sure if the modern updated high tech color selector tells us the PH and water temp. I think it just tells us the color choice. I'd like to get a new one soon.

Bigbill, I haven't heard anyone reference a PH tester in a very long time. I heard they were very popular in the 70s and 80s.

Fish are still there. They will seek current breaks and stay out of the main current.

In my beginning of getting into bass fishing seriously I looked into and read everything about bass fishing I could. I wasn't that schooled on bass fishing. We used live bait for trout.

But once we were catching bass we were hooked on bass fishing.

What's a trout? Bass bait.

Have you noticed how much stronger the bass are in rivers?

They are probably stronger in the rivers because they are swimming against the current all the time. They probably think lake bass are girly mens.