Water Levels

[1LIPRIPPER1]

How does lake level affect bass fishing?

[Fish_myster]

That is a BIG question!

It affects them alot. Changes patterns and such. Usually when up it's muddy around here and up in the trees more. This calls for different style fishing. Noisey baits, rattles on jigs. When it's low they move out to channels and structure more, with IMO anyway 

[1LIPRIPPER1]

I just returned from lake Baccarac and the water was low but fishing was world class...I guess sometimes water level is really not a concern.

[Fish_myster]

so tell me what worked for you?  good to hear your had a good day 

[J B]

Here on Lake Norfork the water level is way up into the trees.I have spent a lot of time finding the fish.It has not been easy.I am use to fishing the rocks.I am now on to the fish and here is what has been working for me.The largemouth are way back in the trees and my best bait for them has been a wacky rig floating worm cast to a tree light jerk 3 or 4 times and then cast to the next tree.My 2nd pattern has been a target cast spinnerbait to the trees .Now I have also found that the smallmouth are on the outside edge of the trees and hitting shaky head worms Jerkbaits and jigs.My most productive smallmouth pattern has been casting shaky head worms in the flooded campgrounds and picnic areas to the flooded picnic tables fire pits and barbeque's.

[Tom G]

You bet. We are in an extended drought in Central Florida. Or lake levels are bordering on being three feet low from historical averages for this time of the year. A year ago I was working small creek mouths and channels. This year I'm hunting in the deep drops. Adapting to conditions is the secret to consistant catches.

[1LIPRIPPER1]

While I was at Lake Baccarac I used Storm Swimbaits and Zara Spooks to catch those wonderful bass. Man, what a great time!

[bassnman30]

Went to Kerr res. and the water was 308 (this was a couple years ago). The normal level is 300 and fishing is best at or about 302.
The water had the fish way back in the trees, beyond which we weren't able to get to. There were some stragglers on the outside of the trees so we caught some of those but they were difficult to find.