This is a variation of the after the rain threads.

I am going to a lake that is at 90% capacity. The power company is going to start releasing water to get it to pre-storm levels, but very gradually. Will the bass back off the banks completely? Where should I be looking for them?

As you know, when the lakes or reserviors water levels increase the bass head into the bushes and to the shore to swim around looking for things to eat or to bask in the sun.

As the water drops, you know the bass will pull back as the water level is reduced allowing you to catch those bass that went into the grass, pads, bushes, rocks, etc. along the bank and the newly flooded areas.

When this happens on Virginia waters such as Buggs Island, Lake Gaston and Lake Chesdin, we fish the shallows for as long as possible and then hit creek mouths and main river points, main river banks in additon to docks and piers.

In the AM we throw buzzbaits, poppers and Chugbugs plus a Chatterbait now and then.

We then switch to our weedless plastics and Senkos along with spinnerbaits and crankbaits until we figure out where the bass have retreated and what they want to eat. Shaky heads and drop shots become our friends.

Try a baby brush hog fished Texas rigged on your baitcaster along the shoreline and into the bushes and grasses when the water is high. You pick the sinker weight and the brush hog color!

Having high water can be great on Buggs Island but it can really mess you up on Lake Chesdin where we love it when the Authority pulls the water. Also, the bass get very active on Lake Gaston when the Corps pulls the water.

Go out and let us know how you do and how you did it.

Good stuff. Thank you.

interesting question. im headed to smith mountain lake in VA this weekend coming up and i know the water has been real low there. looking forward to hearing more answers as my thread in the southeast section has been largely ignored

I fish a small cove on the north side of Lake Lanier here in Georgia. The cove is a hot spot for bream as well as other bait fish breeding. I have watched the lake go down 7' over the summer and have seen some interesting things.

All of the small fish had already spawned before the level really started going down. As the water has gone down a large area that use to be ~6' deep is now dry. As the water receded the fry and guarding adults have been concentrated into a smaller and smaller area. I went from catching a only a few bass to regularly catching pretty big bags. I can also see various large bass, spots and LM, cruising around busting on bait fish.

I have also developed an idea, probably has already been described, as to bass movement. I recently has a small bass break off my leader due to a bad knot on floro. About two weteks later I caught the same bass, under the same dock, even tho the dock was now almost sitting on dry land. I figgure some bass follow the normal movement patterns throughout the year. However, I think some bass are residents of a certain area, no matter the time of year.

I would try out some small coves that have gone down over the last few months, using spinner baits and swim baits. I have also had good luck with buzz baits at night.

Just my $0.02

NGaHB