A Slow-and-Steady Rise
Without a doubt, slowly rising water of some 2 to 4 inches
a day is a premium fishing condition, especially in the spring.
As the water slowly creeps in over the old shoreline and up
the bank, fish have plenty of time to acclimate to their new
surroundings. With each passing day, fish almost seem to race
each other to the next piece of flooded cover. Even if the water
pushes up into the woods, debris mats and “sawdust piles”
form, giving bass bonus canopies to hide under.
This is similar to what Andy Morgan experienced at La
Crosse in 2017 when he followed rising water into the woods
to finish third on the Mississippi River.
Along those same lines, fishing is usually good when the
water gradually recedes after a flood. Dropping water causes fish
to set up in predictable locations in drains or out on point cover.
The Challenge of Fast and Furious
Where things get weird with flooded cover is when water
comes up fast, like several feet per day. For Rose, the decision
of whether to stay focused on the old shoreline or follow the
water up the bank is primarily made based on the water color.
“If the incoming water is muddier than the normal water
color, chances are fish will move up the bank with increased
water level; they’re basically forced to,” Rose says. “That kind
of rise often moves bait and changes water temperatures. It
disrupts everything.
“But if a lake comes up 10 feet and there’s very little
change in water clarity, those fish really have no reason to
make any sudden moves off that old shoreline, especially on
lakes with a lot of fluctuation. They’ll hang out there until the
water stabilizes.”
The Beaver Lake Tour event in 2017 was a perfect example
to illustrate Rose’s point. From practice and through the tour-
nament, the lake rose some 8 to 10 feet.
Johnny McCombs won by chasing rising water, and Jason
Reyes finished second by sticking with the old shoreline.
The difference?
Just as Rose said: water clarity.
flat bank
bluff bank
When the water rises along a steep or bluff bank, it
doesn’t “go” too far and is limited by topography. But
on a flat bank, the floodwaters can sprawl a great
distance, giving bass much more territory to use, if
they’re willing to disperse into it.
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