This past Saturday I hit one of my favorite lakes for the first time this season. It holds big Largemouth, Crappy, Trout, Cats, Carp, Pike, & Musky. Every time I've fished this lake I've caught a limit of bass and hooked into a good number of other species.

 

I arrived early and had a good game plan, but realized it might not pan out as I planned when I saw the water conditions. With all the rainfall last week, the lake was extremely cloudy with about 1' of visibility. The main body of water was a good 4' above its usual level and flooded all the way out to the dirt roads. The water was a good 5-8 degrees cooler than usual for this time of year.  I didn't see one bed, let alone schools of bait fish.

 

I threw the kitchen sink at this lake and literally didn't get a tick all day. I was marking big fish suspended in all their usual haunts, but couldn't buy a bite. I spoke to a few other anglers on their boats, and they've been experiencing the same thing.

 

I'm thinking about hitting the Delaware next weekend, as river fish aren't affected by weather as dramatically as lake fish are. For those of you currently dealing with the same conditions, how are you adjusting?

After big rains, I bring extra beer and friends- either to talk to or remind me of things I'm not doing.  Sometimes you just have to enjoy being out there, as the fish simply aren't having it.  That's why they call it fishing and not catching after all     

 

 

Still better than watching TV at home!  

I think I know what your issues might be, kitchen sinks do not catch fish. Plain and simple. But yea like the Master Baiter says sometimes you just have to enjoy being out on the water, catching fish is just a plus ; )

Check the opposite end of the lake and any back water areas for slightly clearer and/or warmer water. Pitch dark colored jigs or T-rigs right up against any cover. This worked on Champlain this weekend. more or less saved the day for us.

When one of our local reservoirs is flooded, I move in on the shorelines, often I'll use weighted wacky. Caught on a spinnerbait the other day right at the flooded shoreline.

 

But that was the only catch that day. I did try to throw nearly every color worm I had on hand. Nada. And the spinnerbait got no more strikes thereafter. So I tooled around in my yak and enjoyed the time out despite no more fish.