Kevin Van Dam Forums

High, Muddy water with a stiff wind.  I don’t typically run into that stuff regularly around my general vicinity, but twice it’s hit me right during major events.  Once on the Ohio River in Kentucky, this Spring and once down on the Monroe Res a few years back when they ahd a weekend series BASS event there.  I cannot for the life of me figure out those conditions.  I would think those fish move in to all the newly flooded cover and roam around areas feeling relatively safe in the muddy water, but I’ve never got on a good pattern under those conditions.  I usually consider myself pretty resourceful, but fellas, I’m beat when it comes to that situation every time.

You hit the nail on the head about the Ohio. I live right on the river. Below Markland Dam. To do any good we have to boat up river 30 miles to Tanners Creek. Its tough enough to get a solid sack here without those conditions.

We put in at Carrollton and I ran up and locked through 3 straight days trying to find fish up that way.  I spent a small fortune in gas that week.  I ran a good 10-15 miles past that dam searching all the creeks for some relatively clean water and I came up with barely anything.  I was able to get a small limit and cash a check in the pool right near the Casino on my way back towards the ramp after 6-1/2 hours of not even having a bite.  I had all but giving up that tourney.  I managed a mere 8 lb limit and people thought I was a genius.  Little did they know it was sheer luck.  Skill played no role on that day, I felt I was beat, and then outta nowhere I got 5 bites.  It’s so cliche (and I hate to say it)...but I guess the theory holds true that you should “never give up” when you think you’re out of contention.  I think that’s one of the biggest reasons I love to fish so much actually.  I think it’s a 50/50 split between the thrill of the chase, and the thrill of the catch.  There’s not a roller coaster on the planet that can give me that rush that fishing does.  I’m sure you, and most on this site, feel the same.

Yea, an 8 pound sack is good on this river regardless of the conditions....lol
There have been several times I have been out there fishing it and about to give up. Then I get that key bite. Something to get the blood flowing again. Get it to the boat and it turns out to be a 5 lb catfish.
Those creeks above the dam are the best producers. Water levels are usually more stable up there.

Try the southwest 100+ degrees in many locations (luckily this year I’ve really only seen high 90’s) not only does the bite get tough but the heat will kick your but as well.

july...2007 a day on the lake with a local pro..in his big ol wrapped ranger.  little ol southeast texas thunderstorm developed...watching the clouds gather from 2 directions..where they met, a funnel cloud developed...and dipped towards the ground / lake (never came all the way down) we both saw it, started stowing our gear to make a run in the opposite direction.... first time to experience that big ol 225 yamaha at its best. decided to ride it out under a bridge nearest the point that contained rocks around the road overhead...just in case we had to leave the boat, the shore was closest here...tied off to a bridge piling and hung on for about 20-30 minutes until the storm blew past.  biggest problem then was the lightning, wind, and keeping the port side of the boat OFF of the two pilings.

lesson learned from this: tie off on pilings that will allow the boat to drift with the wind and sit in the bottom of the boat.

ok i got one for you, it really isnt a good lake to fish anyway unless they restocked it in the last 2 months… lake waccamaw, in north carolina, Ive been fishing that lake for months scouting it out the first time i went there i caught 10 bass.. on a culprit taqila shad worm 10’’. after that maybe around the docks with a bassmaster pro series walk-the-dog clear brown natural color but yeah i catch them, but when i find were they all are i sh-- myself… becouse there in little slews off the lake were theres about 1000 gators… YEA!!!I mean the gators I MEAN BIG GATORS would get up right next to my boat scare the bejesus out of me...they wouldnt attack me but u can emagine the pressure..and they love those dogs, but if you go for the 2 and a half pd bass throw it but watch out becouse the gators with litterly eat your dog.. i mean theyll go right after it..lol

Yea, I cant imagine having a gator trying to hit my bait. Only thing I really keep an eye out for are snapping turtles. Almost had one take a few fingers off a couple years back. I was leaning down to lip a bass and it was coming up from under the boat for an easy meal. The bass and my fingers both escaped unharmed.