| Actually, many lakes we fish are not lakes. They're | | | | between two layers of rocks. Nevertheless, even such |
| impoundments. Originally, river drainage systems that | | | | innocuous "drip rocks" seem to have enhanced food |
| have been dammed by humanity. | | | | chains on and about the drips - more terrestrials, |
| A golden concept that applies to impoundments | | | | insects, moss, algae - and right on up the food chain |
| year-round but especially each spring is this: Fish | | | | that ultimately attracts bass. |
| impoundments as if they still are the original rivers. | | | | SHINING SAND OR WET SPOTS. I'd hardly call these |
| This means targeting the locations that were active | | | | any sort of serious water inflow, but still bass have an |
| flowing parts of the original river system before being | | | | uncanny affinity for such areas, especially in the spring. |
| dammed by man. | | | | Usually, they're a dimple or depression in the back of a |
| Even though their banks may have been overflowed | | | | bowl or a teacup-type sand flat. They may be the last |
| and flooded over decades ago, the age-old creek | | | | spot of shoreline to dry after a rain, or the last spot to |
| channels and feeders can still be important to the bass. | | | | stay wet as lake water levels decline. A good way to |
| The creeks and gulches and washes and trickles | | | | notice them is simply sun reflection shining off wet |
| were the oases of life before being flooded by the | | | | sand rimming the shoreline - or a darker, damp tongue |
| dam - and may still be the meccas of motherlodes of | | | | of dirt impressed on an otherwise drying shore. Upon |
| fish. | | | | closer inspection, the spot may reveal an old channel |
| Although buried under water now, the riverine | | | | cut either coming out of or bending in close to the |
| environment is still intact under the impoundment, and | | | | shoreline. |
| the bass still use the impoundment as if it still is a river | | | | I may have lost many readers here with the drip rocks, |
| system. | | | | shining sand and wet spots - but hopefully at least a |
| A river system (and hence an impoundment) is a | | | | few of you are nodding wisely about these heretofore |
| mesh of countless connecting feeder veins and water | | | | undocumented bass hotspots in every impoundment. |
| flows of the following exemplary types which you | | | | Some of these spots, the smaller ones, are only |
| should learn to recognize and target. | | | | recognizable from a certain angle, and you really do |
| Some of the larger constructs can be recognized | | | | get better at spotting them with experience. Often |
| from far away, and may extend down into the | | | | times, on a steep shoreline, such spots can be more |
| impoundment from far back on the adjacent land. | | | | easily seen far up the land mass, and then traced |
| Some of the smaller constructs often have an | | | | down to where their journey descends into the |
| additional traipse of garnishy greenery on the way | | | | impoundment |
| down to the shoreline, which is a surefire cue to a few | | | | MORE ON MAPS |
| water veins that fish like gold veins. | | | | Maps can be extremely important and often are the |
| However, many original river features may be far | | | | only way to get a full picture of the rivers and creeks |
| offshore underwater now, and spottable only on a | | | | still flowing under and into an impoundment. |
| map (more on maps later). | | | | Impoundments can range from several hundred acres |
| Here are some of the key river constructs underneath | | | | to several hundred miles long. On some of the smaller |
| an impoundment: MAJOR CONFLUENCES. Where | | | | impoundments, map availability may be limited. |
| two rivers or streams that rarely dry meet (or would | | | | On the larger impoundments, new and different maps |
| have met if they were not flooded under water by | | | | can be ferreted out readily - and each new map has a |
| man). Confluences can be great summer and fall | | | | habit of showing different creeks, different inflows than |
| staging spots for bass. | | | | the other maps. Not just fishing, boating and topo |
| PERENNIALS. These are more or less steady creeks | | | | maps, but shoreline camping/hiking maps/books often |
| that never completely dry up or only stop flowing | | | | note or describe water flows not documented |
| during the very driest spells. These usually have silty | | | | elsewhere. I've come across snow melt maps, rainy |
| flood plain deltas in the back, and may be marshland or | | | | season drainage maps, water rights usage maps, |
| flooded brush basins in the back. | | | | environmental impact statement maps, even |
| NON-PERENNIALS. These are where an intermittent | | | | forestation/vegetation density maps can give clues to |
| creek or wash, which may have been dry for most of | | | | creeks and water seeps. |
| the season, is now underwater. The confluences | | | | Bottom line, most every map I come across on a large |
| where non-perennial or lesser side creek would have | | | | impoundment may reveal yet another feeder creek |
| met a stream or bigger creek - some of these MINOR | | | | clue or riverine perspective not previously marked on |
| CONFLUENCES can be great winter or summer | | | | other maps. |
| deepwater holding areas for bass. | | | | Now, never go target any of these areas while they |
| SEASONAL INFLOWS. Places that don't flow | | | | are still gushing or spewing water or even soggy |
| year-round but bring water in predominantly during the | | | | rain-drenched - and most of the time, most places, |
| snow-melt season and/or only during the rainy or | | | | they probably aren't like that. But I take great caution to |
| monsoon season. Snow-melt is more "systemic" and | | | | avoid any such areas while they are gushing or active |
| runs off from deeply-saturated grounds whereas rainy | | | | or rain-drenched or whenever inclement weather |
| season inflows can often be but are not necessarily | | | | advisories are broadcast for an area, since the land |
| shallower surface ground run-offs. In other words, | | | | around them (which may be above you) seems to |
| snow versus rain water may not necessarily journey | | | | have a higher chance to be unstable when wet - as in |
| across the same terrain nor enter the impoundment at | | | | landslides, rock slides, cliff walls falling, and flash flood |
| the same places. | | | | surges of uncontrollable dangerous water can enter an |
| INCIDENTAL INFLOWS. Places that usually do not | | | | impoundment from rainstorms happening many miles |
| flow but only convey excess water as a result of | | | | away. |
| heavy downpour or flash flood incidents. These can | | | | Always keep in mind, if your favorite lake was once a |
| come from high ground, and may result in temporary | | | | river, it probably still fishes like a river. Many anglers I've |
| waterfalls or spills. The area may be highly dangerous | | | | met never realize this about impoundments. Much of |
| to approach on rainstorm forecast days or during the | | | | the rest of an impoundment (which was formerly dry |
| wet or flood season, but during dry and stable | | | | ground) may be a poorer fishing prospect at times, |
| conditions, you may find a sand or sediment delta and | | | | although the original river and all its tributaries and veins |
| washed-in debris deposits at the base. Sure spots for | | | | still teem with life. In a very real sense, even though |
| bass. | | | | dammed by humanity, the original rivers remain the |
| SEEPS AND SPRINGS. Water squeezed out of rocks | | | | oases of life, and the connecting mesh of hidden |
| or coming out of the ground. | | | | underwater creek channels are often the premier |
| Actually, I don't think such water gets wrung right out | | | | places to be for bass. |
| of the rocks, but squeezed between the thin space | | | | |