All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Rising Water Levels
By Rick Seaman and Dan Westfall
In most cases rising water should be viewed as a positive influence on bass. They tend to move shallower and will move farther back into creek channels and rivers to take advantage of nutrients coming into the lake and newly submerged vegetation. If the water entering the lake is extremely muddy, it may take a short period of time for the mud and silt to settle making these new areas more appealing to bass.
3 Most Important Factors About Rising Water Levels
- The bass move up and in during rising water.
- Rising water brings food into shallow water, particularly in the backs of creeks and washes.
- Water temperatures will vary because of the difference between the lake and incoming water.
3 Most Effective Fishing Methods & Lures
- Spinnerbaits fished shallow and in the back of coves.
- Crankbaits fished on secondary points in coves.
- Artificial worms fished in and around cover.
Rising Water Moves Bass Up And In.
Rule of thumb is that bass move up and in during rising water and they move down and out when the water is falling. The significance to the bass is dependent on how rapid the water is rising or falling and how common the level changes occur.
Rising water can have an impact on all forms of life in the lake. Bass are quick to react to the rising water as it brings food and nutrients into the lake. The new shallows are alive with vegetation and many forms of insects and creatures that resided on dry land before the rise in water level. This attracts the smaller fish which concentrates them in the new shallows and the bass see it as a buffet along the shoreline.
The backs of creeks where the new water is entering the lake are the first to attract aquatic life forms. Generally these areas are flat so a rise in lake level of only a few feet can create significant acres of new shallows. Depending on the season, bass may migrate to these areas soon after the water begins rising. These bass move into these areas specifically to feed, so you can most often fish the areas aggressively. Throw buzzbaits and action baits like spinnerbaits and crankbaits to cover a lot of water quickly. Move from one new shallow area to another as they are created all over the lake.
Depending on how much the water rises, deep bass may also be affected. If their comfort level is at 25 feet and the water rises 10 feet, the bass will slowly move to new 25 foot areas. This may take a while once the new water level stabilizes.
Rising water can interfere with the spawn as eggs laid in 8 foot of water could suddenly be in 15 or 20 feet where the sun cannot penetrate to activate the development of the eggs.
AA Bass Fishing Knowledge Base
- Bass Fishing Overview
- Life Cycle Of Bass
- Seasonal Bass Migration
- Bass Migration - Mid to Late Winter
- Bass Migration - Spring
- Bass Migration - Early Summer
- Bass Migration - Late Summer
- Bass Migration - Fall
- Bass Migration - Early Winter
- Fishing For Bass
- It's Now WHAT You Throw, It's WHERE
- Research The Fishery Before You Go
- Review Contour Maps
- Types Of Cover Used By Bass
- Bass Fishing In Grass Beds
- Bass Fishing In Wood & Timber
- Bass Fishing In Brush & Vegetation
- Establishing Patterns
- Learn To Recognize Bites
- Review Lunar Tables
- Choose The Right Lures
- Find Bass Based On Conditions
- Conditions - Fold Fronts
- Conditions - Wind
- Conditions - Cloudy Days
- Conditions - Fishing In The Rain
- Conditions - Water Clarity
- Conditions - Rising Water
- Conditions - Falling Water
- Conditions - Fishing At Night
- Equipment & Tackle
- Equipment - Fishing Rods
- Equipment - Fishing Reels
- Equipment - Fishing Line
- Equipment - Fishing Lures
- Fishing With Live Bait
- Shallow Water Techniques, 0 -10'
- Shallow Fishing - Spinnerbaits
- Shallow Fishing - Crankbaits
- Shallow Fishing - Top Water
- Shallow Fishing - Pitching & Flipping
- Shallow Fishing - Artificial Worms
- Shallow Fishing - Jigs
- Shallow Fishing - Flukes
- Shallow Fishing - Stick Worms
- Shallow Fishing - Swimbaits
- Fishing Mid Range Depths, 10' - 25'
- Mid Depth - Spinnerbaits
- Mid Depth - Deep Diving Crankbaits
- Mid Depth - Artificial Worms
- Mid Depth - Jigs
- Mid Depth - Swimbaits
- Fishing Deep Water & Structure
- Fishing Deep Water - Jigs
- Fishing Deep Water - Jigging Spoons
- Fishing Deep Water - Artificial Worms
- Planning Your Attack
- Bass Fishing Questions & Answers
- Conservation - Protect The Fishery
Bass information by state.
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