i havent seen one of these threads for a while. i always thaught they were intersting. fun and informative to see the answers from everyone. this river is considered small. it has a rubble bottom with some bolders here and there. the average depth is 4ft with a very few holes to 20ft. the average width is 100-150yrds. shad carp sucker drum and the like are forage base. current is 4mph at normal flow. the island area is more or less a natural rock dam of a foot and less at normal flow. tell how you would fish it under different (low moderate and high) water conditions.
I'd probably set up to the right of the island and fish the top, bottom, and the side of the hole facing the flat to the right of the hole. High water, more up on the flat. Low water, deeper in the hole. I'll be interested to hear what others think.
I would fish the back side of the island. Shallow too! During high rains and flooded conditions, they come shallow!
During low water I would set up in the riffle and fish in front of the island and on either side. I would also night fish just downstream of the island on the edge of the hole, as well as set up on the 2-4 foot flat. I would also pay VERY close attention to the downstream side of the boulders. High water, I would fish just behind the island, again behind the boulders, and somewhere on that 2-4 foot flat should be a swirl, an eddy. In other words whereever the current is interupted, the predators will lie in wait.
some good answers so far any more input? BG, you can fish this spot its a secret. shoot i cant even fish it sometimes because i wont tell myself where it is! lol
If you really think the area holds some big fish I'd try and fish it every way imaginable until some sort of a pattern emerges. There's so many different ways to fish that area that I couldn't tell you any one way to fish it. Trial and error I guess. I'm going to try and do that in a few of my favorite flathead spots when it warms up. Try fishing them a little bit differently than I have in the past and see if it makes any difference.
I'd try that 4-6ft area below the bend.15ft just above,nice current flow.looks like a natural ambush point to me.
I'm with Lilgriz... Daytime, I'd beach the boat on the island or anchor just below. I'd try to fish just above the drop, at the drop, and below the drop. Nighttime, I'd anchor just above the island to fish the riffles, or just below them. This looks like an area you could anchor multiple times and spend some time in, as I didn't see any prominent piece of cover in it. If you had a submerged tree somewhere close to that hole, it would be a perfect spot! Shawn
well im glad this hole is a secret, you guy hit them good! lol the best areas for me have been the sides of the hole + up on the flat on the rite and the tailout,bolders included. the core of this hole is very turbid and havent had any luck there. this river can rise(in heavy rains)15+ft in a day so there isnt any timber usually either. i have to admit i havent placed baits above the island or fished it in high water due to boundry issues. anyone elase have a good hole they want to draw out?
Well definetely in the Spring time, I'd shoot the shallow area a lot more than the deeper hole. As the dog days come, I'd shoot the deep hole where it is cooler.
