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Don't Let High Water Get You Down
Rock & Roll With It.
by Backwater Eddy

Many catmen become discouraged when they find their favorite river rolling high and fast. This is usually the death of a well-planned float trip, but it need not be. With a few adjustments and a bit of river savvy you're on the fish fast.

Catfish Feeding Areas
Over time I have learned that high water and rapidly rising rivers really shut down the bite for cats, well at least that was what I was told. I never take advice well so I sought a method to reach cats I suspected were in tight well-defined feeding areas near dams under these conditions.

During this deluge of current food of many types gets dislodged and flows down the channels and rushing over dams. This glut of food is a hay day for cats, but the current is a hassle for them as well. Their answer, and mine, was look for current tunnels that accumulates food and offers a place to cost in the fast waters of this bountiful feeding machine, the low head dam.

These tunnels are easy to see once you know what to look for. Low head dams have no gaits to manage river flows so waters rolls on over at an even pace except for areas that rock or debris have altered the flow just a bit. These areas will produce flushing pools that will reverse the current and form pockets, or current tunnels.

Some low yield dams have man made runs that produce several predictable tunnels year after year and scrub holes form in conjunction with these areas. These are sweet spots for sure and cats know them well, and so should you!

Positioning
Now what? We have fast water rolling along at warp "9" with all kinds of rock, tree stumps, and who knows what else laying in there to eat up any tackle you offer up to the river God.

This is terminal tackle country for sure. Then what if you do hook a fish right, be like pulling an 80 LB feeder pig through a window of a Toyota Celica by it's hind leg! Don't ask how I know that is tough, but it is! For excessive conditions you need excessive type tactics and a few special tools is all.

Equipment is key to this presentation because you need to beat the river at it's own game, resistance. The main thing is to keep as much line as possible out of the current. By presenting the rig at a high angle with the rod positioned as close and parallel to the dam as possible you reduce line drag and keep the bait were you wish it to be, in the hog trough.

With the line and your bait offering well positioned and "in line" with the current your way ahead of the game. Once the rig settles into the tunnel it rides with little resistance and strike detection is no problem, "THUD" fish on.

Hard Core Rigging
Rigging was an another trial and error thing. The conventional 3-way rig is a good option but the drop line and leader should be kept to less then a 16", and as short as a 3" span. The basic slip rig will work in more tackle friendly environments like sand, gravel or mud. The most common conditions though are nasty mean rock and old concrete dumped to limit erosion. A one way trip for most rigs!

I came up with a rig I call a roller rig that handles this situation very well. The rig consists of your basic 3-way rigging, with a twist. The drop weight system is a El-cheapo steal leader with the clips that never stay shut when they are supposed too, and a chunk of heavy wall 5/16 hollow rod stock. I pick this stock scrap up from local machine shops and cut them into 1", 2" 3"etc chunks then ream the edges a bit to prevent cut off.

You connect the El-cheapo steal leader via split ring to the drop weight portion of the 3-way rig and thread the leader through the heavy wall tubing and reconnect to the leader swivel. Now the rig can roll along like a coaster under your refrigerator. So if the rig hangs up a seriously steady and hard pull will open El-cheapo clip and open and home it comes. It works great, don't laugh!

Hardcore Cat Rod
So what kind of cannon do you shoot this rig from you ask? I use a few different long rods for the matching conditions required.

But the rule of thumb is long and stiff is best. Surfcasting or snagging rigs in the 10' to 13' range work best rigged with a big spinning real loaded with 30 to 40 LB. big game line or 80 lb fire line. Serious stuff---ARR--ARRR---ARRR, more power, ARRR-ARRR-ARRR!!

My favorite serious spinning real is the Shimano 6500 Baitrunner closely followed by the Pinnacle 60 BAITFEEDER. These reels have the potential to allow a running drag for the strike and run, but with a quick turn of the handle you have engaged the main fighting drag to wench the piggy in to Momma.

Baits
Baits do vary with seasonal preferences but I find frogs or cut bait works best for me. I have also pulled some huge walleye on frogs this way as well. Big pike will surf these current tunnels as well as carp, sturgeon, and flatheads. This pattern will work with many species during high water levels.

So next time your down due to high water levels and fast flows, don't be! Grab a big stick and "Rock and Roll"!

Backwater Eddy
Backwater Guiding Service
1-701-671-3079

Red Pine Resort
Ice Fishing on Kabetogama.