I finally got things together and went to Lake Quashita (Washata?) near Hot Springs Arkansas. It's supposed to be a four star Bass lake.

We got there about 10 am on Saturday and I got my 16 foot, wide Jon boat with the 9.9 Merc and hit the lake. The water level was higher than most folks had ever seen with signs and volley ball nets, etc. all under water. They were pulling the level down as fast as they could but it was still high.

It was hot as heck and that little 9.9 moved the boat along at 15mph according to my street/car gps. I went into the first cove I saw and starting casting a watermelon swim sinko to the bank and did slow retrieves. No bites. Then fast retrieves. No bites. Switch to a Rapella crank bait, no bites. Switched to a big black spinner bait, no bites. Switch to a Mann's hard nosed, hooked through the nose. No bites. Switched to the same worm, dark green, drop shotted, no bites. Tried same worm, whacky style, no bites.

By then the half day rental boat was about due so I came back to the campsite. The next morning I was waiting at the marina to get the same boat with the 15 hp Merc.

While I was there a young man was in line to buy oil and he explained that he fished here at least once a week and the high water had messed things up bad. He told me of this area where there was grass on the bottom and that I should drag some worms over it. He said that I should fish 10 to 20 feet of water.

I tried that and everything in the tackle box with no bites. Moved around into the brush with the swim sinko and had a bite but missed. I casted into that area 50 + times with no action. I switched back to the spinner and got a hit near the bank in some murky water but he slung the lure on a jump.

I was about to run out of time so I headed back but saw this point that looked good. I threw a white, deep running crank-bait up into the shallow. On the second cast I got a whopper of a bite. I had a huge fight on that 6 pound test with a 6 foot St. Croix medium light rod with the Shimano Sarous reel. As I got him to the boat I could see that he was the biggest bass I had ever had on a line, maybe he would go 5 to 6 pounds. With the rod tip high, too high, he came halfway out of the water, shook his head and slung the lure to the sky. I felt a part of me die at that moment.

I still had a good time and learned something about managing the boat, trolling motor, navigation etc. So it was worth it.

BTW, the 15 hp took the 16 foot boat up to 21 mph on the gps and felt quite lively. The wide boat made standing and walking around nice.

Well, I guess I just wanted to complaine a little and ask if there was something I should have done in that high water. It was a beautiful lake, very deep (130 feet) and I reserved a campsite that is unbelievable for the end of September.

ive had some of the same problems here when Mexico needs water the dump a bunch and the river goes up then the fishing is horrible a lot of times when its up the fish go so far back into the brush you simply cant get to where they are now if they leave it up for at least 4or5 days then they start hitten again but if not its horrible i guess it disorients them

All i can say is fish the new flooded stuff, if that dont work, find the old grass line before the water came up and try it. I would try spinnerbaits and senkos in the new stuff. in the 20' areas Norman dd22's and carolina rigged lizards. good luck

I have the exact opposite situation going on! My lakes are so shallow that the fish are way easier to find and more predictable as well!

Fish the following:

Any eddy behind a break

The original lake (Shore) line. This will become the first drop.

Inside grassline

Shallow brush

Points

Out over the middle of the creeks(They will suspend here).

Thanks fellows,

The one nice I hooked was near a point and if I'd kept my rod tip down I'd likely have a picture to post.  I wonder where in the heck I got into the habit of holding my rod so high when fighting a fish?  I guess I can blame it on Dad as he never corrected me on this.

Last time I was in Ark.  the lakes were up 18 ft on most.   We went to the backs of the creeks and found the bait and set up shop in the flooded grass.

Catt's Big 2

PM me and I will give you a personal contact for Quachita.

WRB