Flood Fishing: How to Catch Bigheads in the Upper Waters

Summer is fading, and with it come colder and rainier days. This year, the weather has been particularly unpredictable, with occasional floods that significantly impact fishing. Many anglers retreat when water levels are high, but floods can offer exceptional opportunities to catch trophy fish, such as catfish.

In this blog, I will provide some tips on how to approach fishing during floods, what equipment and techniques to use, and which fish species are most active in these conditions.

Why are floods an opportunity for anglers?

When the water rises, fish become more active and migrate to new areas. Floods give them access to previously inaccessible zones, meaning that predators like catfish move around more frequently in search of food. Higher water levels can also cause prey to shift, which further encourages fish to actively hunt.

Which predators are active during floods?

1. Catfish – Fishing for catfish offers the greatest opportunities during floods. Catfish often move into higher water and take advantage of muddy edges, where they hunt for smaller fish.
2. Pike – Pike also move into shallow areas in search of prey.
3. Chub – Chub are very adaptable and are not overly bothered by flood conditions. They are active near banks where the water is calmer.

Fishing techniques in flooded waters

1. Choose the right location: During floods, fishing conditions can be very different from the usual. Fish often seek calmer areas within high water levels, such as bays, river bends, or flooded fields. Fish will move into shallow, flooded parts where they have access to plenty of prey. That is where they are more susceptible to your lures.

2. Use heavier lures and sinkers: High water levels and stronger currents mean you need to use slightly heavier lures and sinkers. This will allow the lure to reach the depth where the fish are and make it easier to control in a strong current.

   • Catfish lures: During this period, it is recommended to use larger and more striking lures, such as large soft baits, swimbaits, or baits with a strong scent that attract catfish even in muddy water.
   • Pike and chub lures: When fishing for pike and chub, try hard baits like deep-diving crankbaits, or use topwater lures that will be more visible in dirty water.

3. Fishing technique in muddy water: When fishing in murky and muddy water, it is key to use lures that create plenty of vibration and noise. Crankbaits with strong "wobble" action or lures with rattles are extremely effective. In these conditions, the fish relies on senses such as vibration and smell detection.

4. Adjust the retrieve speed: In higher water levels and strong currents, you need to experiment with retrieve speed. While a slower retrieve is more suitable for catfish, a faster lure presentation will be more attractive to pike or asp, which are more active in turbulent water.

What equipment to use?

• Rods and reels: It is recommended to use stronger rods and reels that can handle large fish like catfish, especially in strong currents. Choose a line that is strong enough, as fish may stay in areas with many obstacles, such as fallen trees or rocks.

• Lure and technique for catfish: In flooded waters, you can fish for catfish with heavy lures, such as larger soft plastic fish or live bait, if permitted in your area. Additionally, the "bottom fishing" technique, where you drop the bait to the bottom, is very effective. Catfish are mainly attracted by noise and scent.