Hey y'all,

 

This is admittedly a topic I understand very little about. How will bass react to current in a reservoir while the dam is letting out water? How does this change with the seasons? How does it affect their positioning? How does it affect shad?

It can sure put them on points at the mouth of creeks! 

Pulling watet effects everything. It fan change how they set up, they may move out to points, pull off the bank to the next transition,  may school up and not roam depending on how much water flow is moving in that area, or may put them in a mood to eat what comes by or let it go like a river. But will definitely position fish differently if there is current vs lack of. 

On some reservoirs water level fluxuations are normal operating procedures. On some of these reservoirs the amount of water flow is quite intense.

 

On other reservoirs like Toledo Bend, the normal flow is quite slow & only changes drastically during heavy rains. These changes are only a foot or two over a week or more.

 

Both type of water flow affects the bass differently.

Current is one of the most misunderstood factors in bass fishing.

Our small deep structured lakes can have current without water flowing in or out!

Wind pushes water and moving water is current, it’s not as visible as river current, it’s still current.

Current is a negative to bass seeking spawning areas, it disturbs the egg hatching. 
Current is a positive to for feeding as it positions and activates prey and the bass hunting it.

Tidal current is the most complex to master as it constantly changing directions.

Ideally you want your lure coming to the forward facing bass not creeping up from behind. If you don’t recognize current it’s a crap shoot where to position your boat and where to cast your lures.

Tom

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, WRB said:

Current is one of the most misunderstood factors in bass fishing.

 

I completely agree.  I've been trying to understand if for decades and still have more questions than answers.  

 

I've found a few places on the lake I fish most of the time that have current anytime they have the generators running.  Some of these spots are 20 miles or more from the dam.  10 months or more of the year these areas will hold Bass.   The power company never completely shuts down water flow, but when they turn the generators on there's more current.   The power company published a generation schedule.  For the most part at least to me Bass seem to be more active when the generators are running.  Channel swing banks and points near the main channel are magic at times.   

 

The power company does a really good job maintaining a consistent lake level.   When there's been a bunch of rain, there's a BUNCH of current.   At times like this (all the generators running, and some flood gates open) I tend to catch Bass in eddys and current breaks, instead of out in the strong current.   

 

There's a bunch I don't understand about current.  What I'd like to understand is the relationship between the wind, and current.  Especially when they're going opposite directions.  

 

On 5/25/2024 at 2:42 PM, Woody B said:

There's a bunch I don't understand about current.  What I'd like to understand is the relationship between the wind, and current

 

Wind is moving water on the surface, current will be from the surface to the bottom.

 

Most reservoirs have a constant water flow. Toledo Bend has 11 flood control gates & 2 hydroelectric generators. But it also has a specific size "drain" below the gates that in incapable of being closed. This ensures water in the Sabine River below the dam.

 

A watershed is a natural area of land that drains water to a specific body of water. Next is all the creeks, bayous, rivers ect that run into the reservoir.

 

Anglers look at visible structure, they need to consider what's below the surface as well.

 

Couple thoughts while shaving.

 

2 hours ago, Catt said:

Couple thoughts while shaving.

 

How was the shave?

59 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

How was the shave?

 

Harry's shave pretty smooth 👌 

8 hours ago, Catt said:

Wind is moving water on the surface, current will be from the surface to the bottom.

 

I'm thinking in some situations where the wind is blowing opposite the current there should be "magic" spots somewhere under the surface where.....stuff is mixing.  I haven't found these magic areas yet, at least magic areas full of feeding fish like I imagine.   

I have no thoughts…. I’m growing a beard.  Seriously, current is your friend.  Current will help dictate how the fish position themselves.  Current breaks are or should be identifiable and get priority when searching for fish. 
 

Fish seek current breaks to seek resting places and to wait for feeding opportunities.  They like having the waitress bring the burger to them on roller skates while relaxing.  Current moves bait.  Intermittent current surges can generate feeding windows.  Look for places where current is generated, dams, canal locks, feeder creeks, irrigation locks, flood control culverts and so on. 
 

Bring you bait with the flow. That’s natural.  Tidal current is a different animal.  The nice thing is you can time it.  Outgoing after a high tide is the most productive.  It pulls bait, condenses vegetation and positions the fish.  Hope this helps.

It all depends.  In some lakes, it doesn't change anything.  On some lakes, it changes everything.  On some lakes, it changes nothing in the lake, but everything in the river behind the dam.  Ask some locals how the lake responds. They'll know. 

This is a very informative thread and I appreciate both the OP and the responders, thank you all.

 

I was fishing today on Nolin River, from the bank, at a low head dam. I caught a few largemouth, and one of them, when I threw it back, I had it oriented so it would be heading downstream. It immediately turned 180 and moved upstream rapidly in some heavy current. I was surprised at just how strong of a swimmer that little guy was.

This is a very informative thread and I appreciate both the OP and the responders, thank you all.

 

I was fishing today on Nolin River, from the bank, at a low head dam. I caught a few largemouth, and one of them, when I threw it back, I had it oriented so it would be heading downstream. It immediately turned 180 and moved upstream rapidly in some heavy current. I was surprised at just how strong of a swimmer that little guy was.

We've got current running again, so I revisited this thread. I want to engage some specifics that @Woody B offered. 

 

On 5/25/2024 at 2:42 PM, Woody B said:

BUNCH of current.   At times like this (all the generators running, and some flood gates open) I tend to catch Bass in eddys and current breaks, instead of out in the strong current.   

What is a "BUNCH?" My home lake is currently pulling 1600 cfs. I lack experience and knowledge to understand how much current this is. 

 

On 5/25/2024 at 2:42 PM, Woody B said:

Channel swing banks and points near the main channel are magic at times.   

Is it fair to say that while the generators are active and the water is warm/hot, you want to fish closer in proximity to the channel?

 

This may be a timely thread since I suspect many anglers are faced with lakes currently pulling water. 

@LrgmouthShad  By itself, flow rate tells you very little.  It becomes more meaningful when you know the depth and width at the point it is being measured.  
The dam at Jennings Randolph Lake in Barnum, West Virginia releases water for 6 hours several times a year for whitewater activities on the North Branch of the Potomac River.  During these releases, which attracts whitewater kayakers from miles around, the flow rate is 800-1000cfs.  The river on this stretch averages about 25’ in width.  I don’t know where exactly the flow is measured, though.

It depends on the size of the lake/river/dam, 1600 is totally unnoticeable for TN river, where it’s a lot for a small stream. And then you’ve got to time it, unless they are just running a constant flow all day. Here in Knoxville, it’s a complicated matrix. There are two big rivers coming into town, Holston and French broad. Holston comes out of Cherokee dam, French broad out of Douglas. Cherokee dam is 50+ river miles upstream, Douglas is more like 20 something miles upstream. They typically (this time of year) will run both dams from early afternoon until midnight. The water from Douglas will arrive here in 7-8 hours, but the water from Cherokee takes 16-24ish hours to make it here. Here is the hourly volume Douglas ran last night, it’s not hard to notice when you see it while fishing. It’s rocky shallow shoals below the dam, not a lake. The water rises 3-4 feet and accelerates from a slow trickle to 5 mph raging torrent 😂 

 

 

You’ve got to figure out where the current originates geographically, how fast it moves based on how narrow/wide and deep/shallow the river is , and make your best guess from there. Experience while fishing will be your best friend. Watch for bubbles and leaves moving on the surface of the water , or maybe a swirl behind a buoy or rock point. 

14 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

What is a "BUNCH?" My home lake is currently pulling 1600 cfs. I lack experience and knowledge to understand how much current this is. 

Like @TnRiver46 said,  it depends

 

Here are the flows from 30 minutes ago for 3 dams near me.

Percy Priest -  50 cfs

Old Hickory -  6100 cfs

Kentucky -   20,830 cfs

And sometimes, Kentucky dam is 200,000 cfs 😂 

When the wind is blowing and water starts moving on my highland reservoirs I have noticed two things..  in the afternoons bass seem to follow the baitfish a little more so on windy days I try to locate the schools of bait and the bass will be generally near the area...  in the early morning and late evenings if I think bass are shallow I try to target points and banks that the current is blowing in to.. 

On 5/27/2024 at 10:50 AM, Catt said:

 

Harry's shave pretty smooth 👌 

Yup 😂

@OldManLure

Just 2 weeks ago I spent a week fishing Jennings Randolph.

Water was way up and was afraid to get on plane from all the debris floating on the surface.

The whole lake had current and the fish were off the banks.

Most of my fish were caught at mouth of creeks that were flowing well.