05-05-2023, 08:58 PM
Water temp plays a big role in fish movement too. Since shallow water warms (and cools) faster, it will warm quickly on a sunny day and turn cold on a cold night. This time of year it is not uncommon to find fish right up against the bank on south facing shorelines...to soak up the sun in the afternoon. So if there is warmer water spilling into a lake or stream from a shallow flooded field the fish are more likely to follow that flow upcurrent.
During the big flood of 1983, Utah Lake backed up and flooded many fields at the south end of the lake. Bazillions of carp swarmed out into the newly flooded fields...in water so shallow their backs were out of water. A bunch of us carp killers sloshed through the fields doing our part to reduce the carp numbers in our own way. We actually had a contest to see who could string the most carp on one arrow shot. PS...I won with 5. Loved that old Bear recurve 65# pull bow.
However, my experience has been that cats are not as likely to go too shallow. They may work through shallow spots to get to deeper spots, but will seldom allow themselves to be too vulnerable in extremely shallow water. But...they will come shallower in the afternoons during cool conditions...and stay shallow as long as the shallower water is a bit warmer than deeper. Have been known to catch some bigguns right off the bank of the south dike at Lincoln Beach about this time of year...in the early evening. Find the right spot on the Bear or Cutler and you should be able to get some love.
During the big flood of 1983, Utah Lake backed up and flooded many fields at the south end of the lake. Bazillions of carp swarmed out into the newly flooded fields...in water so shallow their backs were out of water. A bunch of us carp killers sloshed through the fields doing our part to reduce the carp numbers in our own way. We actually had a contest to see who could string the most carp on one arrow shot. PS...I won with 5. Loved that old Bear recurve 65# pull bow.
However, my experience has been that cats are not as likely to go too shallow. They may work through shallow spots to get to deeper spots, but will seldom allow themselves to be too vulnerable in extremely shallow water. But...they will come shallower in the afternoons during cool conditions...and stay shallow as long as the shallower water is a bit warmer than deeper. Have been known to catch some bigguns right off the bank of the south dike at Lincoln Beach about this time of year...in the early evening. Find the right spot on the Bear or Cutler and you should be able to get some love.