low water level in river

Changing Water Levels Effects on Fishing

Changing water levels have an effect on fishing. Rising water offers fish more places to roam. Lower water levels create a fish in a barrel scenario in some instances. How you deal with each affects your success rate while fishing. A minor change in the level is of little concern. A larger change is when it has an effect on fishing.

low water levels
A drawn-down reservoir with points exposed. Fish would have been near the points at a normal level.

A couple of feet on a big waterway is not much but is large on a pond or stream. You will have to judge if the change is enough to affect fishing.

All waterways are dependent on rainfall, temperature, and other environmental factors. Manufacturing, farming, and power production cause toxins in waterways. Learn the effects of the water cycle. Plus the environmental issues, and contaminants in your area.

Understanding each element will improve your fishing dramatically. In some regards, fishing has scientific aspects. Every angler needs some knowledge.

Rising Water Levels Effect on Fishing

The rain or other elements have raised the water levels. Rising waters tend to be stained or muddy. The temperature will change to some degree. In other words, it has an effect on fish behavior and habitat.

Lakes

In a lake rising water makes it harder to find and catch fish. The water temperature changes may make fish suspend or stay in place if they are in deeper water. This is true for faster rises of the water. The fish sense fast level changes.

If water rises slowly you do have better chances of catching fish. The fish will tend to follow the waterline at the shore. This will be mostly smaller fish. There is a reason they are called bank runners.

The bigger fish as usual will stay in the best cover available to them. If the fish were in 10-12 feet of water, they may stay in place. A few may move up closer to shore to feed at certain times. You will be at the mercy of their appetite.

In general, the fish become spaced apart farther. You will need to cover more water and depths to find fish.

Rivers

Rivers are unique with higher waters. The current increases pushing the fish into or on structure and cover. The fish will move close to shore in areas low on the cover. Higher currents help by keeping fish closer to shore or making more use of the cover.

changing water levels

People that fish rivers understand rivers are more dynamic. The cover does move and some structural changes with high water. In high waters, the areas that stay in place are where you start. These are dams, points, and tributaries on the river.

The fish seek the spots because the current is less of a factor. The places offer hiding spots from strong currents in the channel or deeper waters. On the edges of the current is where the bigger fish hang out. They wait for prey to sweep into the area.

The smaller fish will likely be very close to shore. Rocky shorelines provide a lot of cover for small fish. The rocks need to be big enough to stay in place, we are not talking small rocks. The fish use trees, brush, and weeds if in a lower current area.

Fish will always seek structure and cover. In rising waters, the location changes with moveable cover such as trees and brush piles.

Low Water Levels Effect on Fishing

Lower waters will condense the fish into fewer areas of the waterway. This is often called fish in a barrel in some areas. This is a bit misleading. Since the areas lacking structure and cover will hold few or no fish.

The fish do congregate together in denser populations. You still need to locate the fish. Do not expect fish to be easier to find. They will seek the preferred habitat and conditions. In low water conditions, oxygen is usually lower, plus higher toxins in the deeper water.

These elements may make fish suspend or move to different areas. Some places once productive will be low in the number of fish. As a result, there are pros and cons to low water in lakes and rivers. These have an impact on fishing success. You need to focus on the positives and avoid the negatives.

These have implications on spawning also. Fish seek specific habitats to spawn. Changing water levels can disrupt spawning processes to some degree. In some cases, a full year’s spawn can be ruined with low water. The majority of fish return to where they were spawned to reproduce. Low water will make these spots high and dry.

Lakes

Lakes with lower water levels tend to make fish congregate. The shallow cover will disappear forcing fish to use what is left. This is common in reservoirs with drawdowns. Natural lakes will see the same effect if the level drops enough.

Areas with deeper water and prior success are the places to target. In lower water, the temperature can be a factor. Fish seek stable water temperatures. Look for areas where the depth helps with temperature stability. The fish move with the water. The shore cover has little or no water above.

Anglers need to change habits on lower lakes. Find structure and cover farther out in the lake. This may be 10 feet or 100 feet out from shore. It depends on how steep the drop is on the lake. Plus, fish what you cannot see. Throw lures working all over the area as you work out from the shore. The fish often suspend in lower water conditions waiting for it to rise back up.

The negative effects lead to areas to avoid. In the summer, the deepest water can heat up. This releases more toxins from decaying matter. Plus the oxygen levels are low. You may need to avoid the deepest areas. The fish will suspend in this scenario.

Rivers

On rivers in low water, people think fish will retreat towards the main channel. This is true for some fish but others will still hug the bank. If a species is known to prefer deep water the channel is where they go in low water. Smallmouth and other shallow-water feeders will stay shallow.

Rivers maintain higher oxygen levels and the flowing water balances the temperatures. The shallows are warmer but not as much as seen on lakes. Sunrise and sunset periods are often good in low water periods during summer. In later fall, the time can extend through a large part of the day. Provided there is ample cloud cover.

In low water, the cover will stay in place. Once you locate the fish they will be there later. The rocky shores, fall downs, and other covers will hold fish. You need to know the techniques to fish the areas.

You will find places with fish easier. That is the good news. The low water will be clearer. As a result, this allows fish to see you in shallow waters. You will need to cast downstream or upstream. In other words, fish ahead of the direction you move. This prevents the fish from seeing you.

low water level in river
Low rivers expose cover previously underwater

Conclusion to Water Levels Effects on Fishing

Changing water levels do present challenges. These are able to be overcome with some changes to tactics. Expect fish to move to other areas. Learn the areas fish use in high or low water conditions. You might have to fish the areas differently. Work all areas searching suspending fish.


Posted

in

by

Tags: