What's your "go to" game with rising water levels?

[CHECrappie]

This time of the year usually gives me problems in locating the fish. Lots of rain and rising water seem to move the fish to deeper water. The last fish I caught on Eufaula were in deeper water and seemed like maybe they were spawned out. Not for sure if the spawn peak is over but with this rising water, fishing gets tougher for me. I always start in deeper water trying to locate shad in hopes of maybe finding some below them. Anybody else have any thoughts?

[Eufaula boy]

CHECrappie, with rising water the water will muddy up for a few days the fish will be inactive. Now Im not saying you can't catch them anyone hits them right they will catch them. But pay attention to the stages in whcih the fish went to the bank to spawn they will come back out the same way. In high water conditions always consider where the original shoreline bank is, they will be close to that. hope this helps EB

[crapAlicous]

Try flooded willows if the rising/falling water runs em off the bank! We caught limits one year at Kaw after a flood ruined our traditional spawning spots. If there was any part of a limb or leaf in the water, it didn't matter if it was in a foot of water or 10 ft,, there was a crappie hanging underneath it. We had the whole lake to ourselves too! Like Brian said, once the water level dropped and things stabilized, the fish that hadn't spawned yet went back to where they should be. When the water gets high and they start dropping the bottom out of your lake, look for them where they shouldn't be!

[cpd21]

I usually start at the same place they were before the water came up and fish my way shallower from there.....if not anything then go deeper.....big thing for me though is I slow way down

Andy

[CrappieWhisperer]

Bridges along the rip rap are usually good spots when the waters up. Water pushing in or being pulled out position the crappie where they can take advantage of the easy dinners they get from the flow. I've had some awesome days with the water way above normal. Use your sonar and find out what depth they're at and game on.

[Fishers]

This time of the year usually gives me problems in locating the fish. Lots of rain and rising water seem to move the fish to deeper water. The last fish I caught on Eufaula were in deeper water and seemed like maybe they were spawned out. Not for sure if the spawn peak is over but with this rising water, fishing gets tougher for me. I always start in deeper water trying to locate shad in hopes of maybe finding some below them. Anybody else have any thoughts?

I bring a chainsaw with me and brush it up. I put out some juicy junk yesterday at Keystone. The fish were there but just not biting the way they should so after catching 10 or so fish, I made my time on the water very productive.