Where Have All the Bass Gone?

Ok, I'll admit that title is a take-off on Pete Seeger's old tune: "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?". However, I figured it was a good way to get to the question a lot of local fishermen are asking, as the North Landing River maintains its high water levels.

It now has been days since the river stood at normal full-pool, which is 2.7. Yesterday, the readings still were over 4 feet, and this morning, while the trend is downward, the readings still remain 3 feet-plus. Subsequently, I decided to do some online research and see what the experts have to say about elevated water levels...maybe tell us the likely places to find fish, if you will.

According to pro bass fisherman Wayne Hauser, here is how bass locations are affected by rising water levels on different types of cover/structure:

     * In grass, bass will move to the inside edges and spread out more.
     * In bushes/willows, fish will move to the center of the bush or willow.
     * On docks, bass will move to the walkways and where the docks connect to banks.
     * On points/drops, fish will move up the point or off the drop, often scattering on a nearby flat.
     * In creeks, bass will move to the thickest bank-related cover they can find.
     * In rocks, fish will become more bottom-oriented and move progressively shallower as the water level rises.

Hauser then offers this example of what can and often does happen with rising water levels:

     It's fall, the water is low, and you're catching bass 3 feet deep on stumps midway back in creeks. The next week, you put your boat in and notice the water has risen 10 to 12 inches from the prior week. You go to your stumps, and the bass are gone. Why?

     The water rose far enough to provide the bass with better cover to ambush their prey, and they moved. Generally, the bass will move to the first cover available that is at the same depth or slightly shallower than they were holding at before the water started to rise.

     For example, if there were some laydown trees further back in the creek that were in 3 feet of water, that would be a prime spot to fish.

     The bass usually will not swim completely out of an area when the water level rises. Instead, they will just move to a different type of cover at the same or shallower water depth.

Hauser also urges anglers to consider a few other truths in regard to water-level changes:

     * In some cases, shallow-water bass become spookier and less aggressive as the water level falls. In other instances, they become less spooky and more aggressive as the water level rises.

     * In some cases, deep-water bass become more concentrated and more aggressive as the water level falls. In other instances, they become more scattered and less aggressive as the water level rises.

"Understanding water level is important in helping anglers put the pieces of the bass-fishing puzzle together to find and catch fish," said Hauser.

All the experts generally agree that, when faced with these conditions, it's super important to cover a huge amount of water. Most advise you to use confidence baits that you know work. A 3/8th oz. double-willow-blade spinnerbait and buzz-frog type bait are among the favorites of many.