Embankment dams are the most commonly built dams in the United States on both small lakes and large impoundments. Massive structures made of earth and rock, embankment dams rely on their heavy weight to resist the force of the water.
Several key ingredients, both natural and man-made, will dictate how fish relate to them during the winter when they go deep seeking shelter. The key to catching fish in the vicinity of a dam or levee, is understanding how and why fish relate to them.
• Suspended — A sunny day may pull fish, especially sunfish, towards the surface where they will suspend. Look for a flat calm area where the sun’s rays can radiate heat and draw baitfish and fish upward in the water column.
• Intake — A water intake on a dam or levee is often one of the deepest spots on the whole lake. Intakes are typically dug out to install the plumbing for the levee and may generate the only current that makes it way to that end of the lake. Intakes also offer an added bonus of solid flat structures, usually concrete, that attract fish.
• Irregular features — Anything from a water control structure, larger rocks, or an underwater tree lying on the dam may break the flow of water and congregate fish out of the current.
• Mud flat — The base of the dam where the rocks meet the bottom is always a potential holding spot, especially in changing barometric pressure conditions. Structure lying along this juncture, like old logs or stumps, will congregate fish. Also look out in front of the dam where fish, especially catfish, will simply lie in the mud, often away from structure.
• Creek channel — Fish love the edge of creek and river channels and winter time is no exception. A river channel that runs along the base of the dam and has any irregular feature such as logs, rocks, stumps or man-made structure should be checked thoroughly.
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