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Using Lake Drawdowns to Your Bank Fishing Advantage
One of the most frustrating challenges for bank fishermen is finding accessible spots to cast from the shoreline. Thick shrubbery, overhanging trees, and thorns often limit the spots where you can actually fish. It’s for this reason that I’ve come to love wintertime fishing. Why? Because that’s when the lake drawdown happens at the lake.
During winter months, managers of man-made lakes and reservoirs intentionally lower water levels by several feet. This is done to dry out the shallows, where thick vegetation builds up through the year. Think of it as a natural reset button for grass growth along the water’s edge. When the water recedes, the exposed vegetation dies off, creating unprecedented access for bank anglers.
The beauty of fishing during drawdown periods is the access to areas that are normally impossible to reach. You can walk the entire shoreline without fighting through thick vegetation, allowing you to thoroughly cover water and find the most productive spots.
During a drawdown I basically have the lake to myself as I can walk the shoreline and make casts to whatever park of the lake I choose, but the real fishing opportunity lies offshore. During drawdown conditions, I find the most productive fishing occurs 10-12 feet from the bank, where the first significant depth change creates what I like to call a “break line.”
These underwater ledges are often overlooked by bank fishermen, but they consistently produce bass. First, they create perfect ambush points where bass can trap baitfish moving between shallow and deep. Remember, during a drawdown, baitfish won’t be able to hide in the shallows where the grass is plentiful, so they’re forced into deeper water.
One of my favorite lures to throw when I fish a drawdown is a chatterbait because I can cover a lot of water. Lipless cranks and twitch minnows also work for me.
When fishing break lines during drawdown conditions, pay attention to how bass position themselves. Even when you see attractive cover like grass beds near the shore, the fish have often relocated to these deeper edges following the receding water. Focus your casts on these transitional areas rather than the visible shoreline structure.
Finding brake lines is easy. Look for visible waterline marks on the exposed bank – these natural indicators reveal where break lines are forming in the lower water levels. Instead of casting directly to the shoreline, I like to focus on these offshore transitions.
The winter drawdown period might seem like a challenging time to fish, but it’s actually an opportunity in disguise. While other anglers might stay home, you can take advantage of the improved access and concentrated fish populations along these break lines.
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