®
Summer 2020
page 32
FALL: Usually the release in water storage begins to subside as the fall months roll in. However, if the water levels continue to drop and the water temperature does as well, it typically will make for tough fishing conditions.
The bass will suspend practically anywhere in the lake and fish can be found
from dirt shallow to extremely deep water.
Basically, everything is spread out and finding
a concentration of fish or a duplicatable
pattern becomes difficult.
Keep an open mind and cover as many
depths and locations to find active fish and
bait. The shad will generally school-up and
bass will always be nearby.
An A-rig can be used to search, and a
shad patterned soft plastic can be used to
continue catch, once some fish have been
located.
When the fish want to move shallow or have already begun to bed, and then the direction of the releases forcing them deeper, they tend to shut off becoming confused and or frustrated. The eggs that have been dropped often dry before hatching and some bass will abandon the spawn for the season and absorb their eggs.
This is far more detrimental on the largemouth population as they need to spawn in less than 10’ of water.
The spotted bass can spawn as deep as 25’ of water, and this is possibly a primary reason why so many reservoirs have a greater spotted bass population.
When the bass are in this limbo state, they are far less aggressive and tend to be reluctant and hesitant. The reaction baits will work, but a more of a do-nothing approach will trigger the weariest fish. The lifelessness of a weightless or lightly weighted worm is hard to beat.
CONCLUSION
Knowing the water level and if it is rising or falling can have a substantial effect on one’s day. Doing your homework prior to each fishing trip will help you determine the mood of the fish, where to find them and what to use to catch them. The unpredictable water level from year to year on the Mother Lode reservoirs is something we can count on. And, making adjustments accordingly is what we as anglers must do to increase our chances for success. •
SUMMER: During the early and late summer is where we see the most drastic outflow. The lake level will often plummet a few feet a week throughout the duration of summer. One way to keep on the fish during these conditions is to stay ahead of them and focus on where they are going and not where they have been.
Also, with the upswing in boating traffic combined with the increased releases the clarity of the water will become slightly stained in most areas with concentrated mudlines in others.
The bass will use this dingy water as a mask to stalk and ambush their prey.
Offshore structures can be fished with any favorite finesse rigging methods. But, when it comes to fishing the shallow stain, covering water with reaction baits and incorporating flash and vibration is the ticket.
Crankbaits, ChatterBaits and spinnerbaits in craw and bluegill colors will get the call during these conditions. Also, once the water is above 65-degrees, topwater is a viable option anytime and anywhere.