Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

So I normally fish some pretty heavily pressured waters here, but recently we had some MAJOR flooding, and I was wondering would this flooding push all of the fish out that have been subjected to all of this pressure, and therefore new fish that have not been subject to any fishing pressure take their place, and in turn make it almost like an unpressured body of water?

Views: 260

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hgh water events can absolutely move fish around. But, the flip side to that coin says that any new arrivals MIGHT take a little time getting used to their new digs before they put the feedbag on, and you take the good with the bad....including little fish which may be more susceptible to water movement, a possible influx of less desireable fish, and an alteration of the predator/prey relationship.

Having said that however, when I was a boy I fished a creek that ran through our cow pasture...nearly everyday. I loved flood events, for just the reason you mentioned. It was almost like fishing a new body of water again.

Current flow stirs up the bottom, which activates the food chain from the smallest scavengers and bait up to the largest predator in the system.  If the water rises enough, and floods vegetation, fish will move into the vegetation to feed.  Springs floods that raise a stream up onto the grassy floodplain are a prime time to sight-fish large predators.  When you see a fish roll, toss a rig with several nightcrawlers on the hook to the fish.  It should hit almost immediately.  Storms drains the dump into a body of water are often hot-spots when they are flowing.  They wash worms, bugs, and other things into the water.  A hot method to fish this is to attach enough split shot to the line to get your bait to bottom, but no pin the bait there.  Put a nightcrawler or two on the hook, cast out, and left it drift.  If fish are actively feeding, you should get a hit immediately.  If you have eddies, toss a float rig in there and let it drift.  Be careful if there's a lot of debris in the water.

It may take a few years of fishing in rising- and falling-water conditions to establish patterns of your body of water.  Keep records.

It is VERY true the fish move in floods.  The high water allows the fish to move up and over obstacles blocking upstream passage.  It will also wash fish from upstream pools into downstream pools, should they get caught in the current.  I've seen both happen.  I've seen fish go over dams, caught in the current.  One of my favorite creeks (lots of hungry sunnies) had a couple Koi in a lower pool  Sometime this summer, there was a small flood.  I noticed that the high-water line had moved.  Then, I spotted both Koi in the upper pool.

RSS

Latest Activity

Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Sunrise Shellcracker…..7/23/2025

"I love your kind of fishing!"
10 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Sunrise Shellcracker…..7/23/2025

"I’m very fortunate that the fishing  in coastal North Carolina is so great and most…"
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

JULYWP

"Summer colors on this white perch!"
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

JULYP

"Nice Yellow John….good colors"
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Often bass fisherman will catch Warmouth on 9” worms……..they. don’t fight…"
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"This is a great comparison John…..I added another photo to give perspective….."
12 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
16 hours ago
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Sunrise Shellcracker…..7/23/2025

"I sure envy you, enjoy!"
19 hours ago
John Sheehan replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Hey Jeffrey! Does the Warmouth have about the same sized Mouth as a Black Crappie of equal size, or…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Some quality Warmouth I caught in my early years on the Albemarle….."
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Thanks for sharing John……you have patterned your available species pretty good over…"
Wednesday
John Sheehan replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Only caught five of these Species up here in New Jersey. Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Red Breasted…"
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Crackers Saved This Morning Behind A Cold Front…..7/23/2025

If I get out the remainder of July it will probably be a crappie stalk on the coastal marsh……
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Slow Moving Cold Front Went Through Overnight and Shifted the Wind to the North so our rivers were dumped, but we wanted to go anyway…."
Wednesday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service