Timing the Hydrograph
Ever changing water levels effect the way fish behave
Hydrograph image provided by the United States Geological Survey U.S.G.S.
Timothy Kusherets
Hydrographs are everywhere in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. They tell you about
fishing conditions of many rivers and lakes. The ever changing levels effect
the way fish behave, and if you know how to anticipate the fluctuations, hitting
into fish becomes commonplace while fishing stories get better and better, more
fish more stories…it makes sense.
One of the very last things you should check before heading out the door is
the condition of the system you intend to fish. It is possible that Man-made
monitored systems can change due the needs of Public Utility Departments; so
if a dam is on the river or lake you want to fish focus on this tip.
Ecologist and Regional Utilities work together to form a friendly environment
for Nature and the needs of human beings. We need electricity and fish need
hospitable environments of which to propagate, feed, and migrate and sometimes
that involves raising the levels of lakes and rivers abruptly. It can happen
so fast that drastic fishing conditions can take place from the time you leave
the house to the time you get to the water. Pay attention to developing patterns
of rising and falling levels of Hydro-Electric Dams. When an area has been devoid
of rainfall for some time, Ecologists ask that rivers be raised to stimulate
migration of holding salmon and trout. Bear in mind that as rivers rise fish
migrate and go off the bite. Holding fish further upstream will gravitate to
the banks and hold until the waters stabilize and subside. Though this particular
artificial condition is good for fish, it can be disastrous to anglers.
If you can anticipate the pattern of when the Dams allow more water out downriver
you’ll avoid getting to the water just as fish go off the bite.
Many anglers know that travel time can translate into hours; which will allow
just enough time for substantial changes for fishing conditions to take place.
It’s true, it may never happen to you, but this tip will help anglers
understand the need for monitored systems to stimulate migrating fish to move
upriver so they can spawn, especially when a drought takes place. Time it right
and you’ll get fish on the hook every single time you head out to the
great outdoors.
Take a camera with you and practice catch-and-release, because with this tip
you’re sure to get more fish than ever before.
© Timothy Kusherets 2006/07
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