ptbrauch
03-04-2008, 11:21 AM
Ok, I found this creek last year that I fished and it was chock full of smallies, rock bass, and just about anything else that likes a cool, clear gravel bottomed stream (except trout). Fished it last spring and between me and my buddy, we easily caught over 50 that went 11 inches or longer in one outing, not to mention all the other types of fish.
Now, moving forward, during the summer, someone asked on here about where the fish went when the creeks dried up. I had always believed that they just found deep pools and stayed there. Because of that thread, I got to thinking and went to the creek to check things out. Well even though there were barely a trickle of a flow, I found some deep pools and still caught a couple of nice one in what little time I spent there. That was right before it started to get rainy and fill the creeks back up. I thought everything would be good come this spring.
Moving forward again, with warm weather Sunday, I head out to the creek. As I get close to it, I get excited when I see that the water is crystal clear and at a good wadeable level. I'm having all these thoughts of how this is going to be a great day. Then I start fishing.
Nothing. Not a bite, not a nibble, not even the sight of one. Last spring we were sight fishing for them. I tried all the holes I knew had held fish last time. This time, nothing--not even a panfish. The only signs of life I saw were some minnows that might go 2 inches.
So, what happened to all the fish and when will they come back? Given the size of what I was catching last year, I can't imagine they do this every year. Some of those fish had to be several years old and there were fish of all sizes that led me to believe they were born and raised there.
Now, moving forward, during the summer, someone asked on here about where the fish went when the creeks dried up. I had always believed that they just found deep pools and stayed there. Because of that thread, I got to thinking and went to the creek to check things out. Well even though there were barely a trickle of a flow, I found some deep pools and still caught a couple of nice one in what little time I spent there. That was right before it started to get rainy and fill the creeks back up. I thought everything would be good come this spring.
Moving forward again, with warm weather Sunday, I head out to the creek. As I get close to it, I get excited when I see that the water is crystal clear and at a good wadeable level. I'm having all these thoughts of how this is going to be a great day. Then I start fishing.
Nothing. Not a bite, not a nibble, not even the sight of one. Last spring we were sight fishing for them. I tried all the holes I knew had held fish last time. This time, nothing--not even a panfish. The only signs of life I saw were some minnows that might go 2 inches.
So, what happened to all the fish and when will they come back? Given the size of what I was catching last year, I can't imagine they do this every year. Some of those fish had to be several years old and there were fish of all sizes that led me to believe they were born and raised there.