Drained Lake Pics 2024

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

They just drained a local lake that I used to fish to repair the dam. I haven't been out there in the last couple years though because the fishing had gone way down hill. So hopefully when they fill it back up the fishing will improve over the next few years. I found some honey holes, but I was really suprsied at just how bare most of the bottom of the lake was. So here's a bunch of pics I took.

So for the first one: This is just a view near the dam.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's a fishing dock that the creek channel swings pretty close to. Also notice the nice rocky point in the background.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's a one of a couple footbridges I found. This would probably be in about 10 feet of water. It's not shown but there is a big flat just to the left of this pic with the channel running in front of that.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's the second foot bridge. It's really hard to see. All you can really see is the top of it. This one is right on the channel and is probably closer to 20 ft down.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's a long main lake point. (on the other side of the lake). Too bad it's pretty bare. Hopefully they will plant some vegetation on it or soemthing.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's a nice rock point with a shelf. The rock point extends down to about 10 ft deep and then there is a flat shelf. Then another small bare point that extends down into the channel to 25+ ft deep. (not really able to see in the pic)

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's a closer look at that small rocky point. I am actually standing in what would be about 10 ft. of water.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's a rock hump that's a little off the shore. You're actaully able to see the top of this one when the lake is full.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Here's something that really caught my eye. A nice piece of wood. Above is a huge flat that will hopefully have some vegetation on it when they fill it back up. And below the old creek channel. PRIME TIME!!!!

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

And the last one:

A poor soul who lost their boat. It's really hard to see. It's the only thing over there on that bare shore. It looked to be a old fiberglass runabout boat.

Matt Fly reply :

Rock chalk man, your youngsters have been getting it together lately!!

Too bad we don't have pictures like this on all lakes to explain patterns like spawn.

Picture number 2 shows what looks like could be a channel with all the bends. You could say picture this as a creek channel cutting through the flats, the bends in the channels are where prestaging fish will hold until the temps get right for them to move up on the flats. That ditch, gut, channel may only be 2 ft deep, but its enogh to hold them there until the time is right.

#3 looks like an old road bed that I would c-rig if conditions are right, if in a creek arm, another good staging spot for prespawn.

Would be good time to have area club build brush piles and tire reefs and ask about stocking floridas with a catch and release policy on bass to build it back up again. Would love to have opportunity to build my own from scratch.

Go jayhawks!!! Go Big XII, Marchmadness is not that far off.

KenDammit28 reply :

those spots look like they'd be killer spots. I like the tree at the end of the flat and the first footbridge you showed. Both of those would seem to hold some pretty good fish, along with the flats and points.

alhuff reply :

do you think they would allow you or someone else to come in and add cover to the lake? if so that would be awesome.

then you could kind of map or at least know where all the cover is in the lake...

Alfred

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Quote
do you think they would allow you or someone else to come in and add cover to the lake? if so that would be awesome.
then you could kind of map or at least know where all the cover is in the lake...

Alfred

Remeber I am in Kansas and 90% of the population think there are only two kinds of fish. Catfish and Crappie. ;D Everything else is junk.

And yes it looks like there has been a lot of "Crappie" fisherman out there putting down some Chirstmas trees. Those will hold some bass as well. Hopefully before they fill it back up I can get a GPS and go out there and mark some spots by actually walking down in the lake and marking them. It was too d**n cold and windy or I would have went up the other arm today. ;D

Cephkiller reply :

Wouldn't it be awesome to have photos like this for every lake we fish. That's great! good luck when it fills back up!

KenDammit28 reply :

theres a lake here in my town, not a great fishing lake(way too pressured) or a big lake, but..its water, right? Anyway, I was probably 9 or 10 when they drained all the water that had previously been there and went about renovating and building it bigger, with a new dam. I used to walk the bottom all the time, playing in it with my friends and doing the kid thing. Makes me mad to think back and realize I could have taken pictures and known where just about everything was in that lake had I done that. I would love to have some pictures of it before it was filled.

srv1990 reply :

Those are great, KU. Seeing the type of structure that I read about all the time was extremely helpful for me. When I read about them again I will see some of your pics in my mind and know exactly what is being talked about.

Awesome... Thanks!

Rattlinrogue reply :

They drained mine about 1/3 of the way down to kill off the pervasive grass that we have.I got some pretty good pix of structure I could use.I don't have any pix as good as yours as far as a complele picture of the structure though.

Will reply :

What lake is it? By the way find any old lures in those brush piles ?

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Quote
What lake is it? By the way find any old lures in those brush piles ?

It's Douglas County Lake. And nope, all the brush piles and rocks had been picked over pretty good. I didn't see anything.

basser89 reply :

A few years back they drained the one lake I fish down about 3/4's of the way. I went in and took pic's with an old disposable camera. After they filled it back up, I took a two of my friends there and was able to remember where the drainage ditches and the creek channel were. I was able to pull 3 out that day (if I remember right, the water temp was still in the 40's). Hold on to those pics, they will come in handy!

ranger50 reply :

Those pics should help lead to great catches of bass. Do you have a GPS so you can mark exact locations?

5bass reply :

Nice.

I hope you drew yourself a map and x'ed everything that you found.That one stump looks like the perfect home for a big fat pre-spawn staging female,waiting for the water to warm so she can roll up on that flat and take care of business.

B.C. reply :

Nice pics...I would've definitely taken some GPS coordinates! ;D

codogs reply :

Thanks for posting the pics KU! I'm going to go out there sometime this weekend or next with my GPS to mark spots and take some pics. Now I'll be anxious for the lake to fill back up so I can compare my boat electronics with the pics. Should be a good learning experience.

guest reply :

that is so cool. Did you GPS the hotspots or do you know it so well it's not necessary. I just hope they remember to fill it back up and stock some bass ;D

RoLo reply :

Before they filler up, get out there with your handheld GPS and get your coordinates NOW!

Better known as a "Golden Opportunity".

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

I don't have a handheld GPS ................ yet. I have been looking at them the past few months. This is just extra encouragement to go ahead and get one.

KYbass1276 reply :

Speaking of draining lakes. There are alot of small lakes on farms that have been sold for development being drained around where I live I just hate to see that such a waste I always wonder if maybe there might be a record fish in them. The sad part is they won't even let anyone fish them before they drain them I would atleast like to try to catch some and put in a live well and turn loose somewhere else or give them to someone who will atleast eat them I hate to see them just lay in the mud and die. How big is the lake in the picture's and are they going to work only on the dam or do some other things in the lake bed as well

codogs reply :

Quote
How big is the lake in the picture's

It's about 180 surface acres when full. Here's a link with more info on the lake:

http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/fishing/where_to_fish_in_kansas/fishing_locations_public_waters/region_2/douglas_state_fishing_lake

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

I think the lake is around 200 acres or so.

When they were draining this lake, the wildlife department lifted all regulations on the lake and you could take a limitless amount by anymeans you wanted. Including with your bare hand. I wish I would have gone out there when that was happening. That had to be a site to see....lol. I also would have liked to seen what the biggest bass was.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

oops, my mistake. There you go.

If you look at that pic of the lake. All these pics were taken in the far west arm. I would have gone up the other arm today, but it was way too cold and windy and I wasn't dressed for it.

Gatorbassman reply :

What a great opportunity to create your own detailed map, take video and pictures, and lay your own structure. Take full advantage of it and it will pay off big time.

Tenka reply :

If you have the money to spend or know where some one is tearing down an old BRICK house, i'd get a truck and fill the bed with brick or palletes of stock from HomeDepot and make a few larger holding areas in the transitions you showed in the pics. THe few you saw where nice(like i know what i'm talking about) but a few more placed where they compliment the natrul ones whould be great.

am i making sense?

Matt Fly reply :

Quote
They drained mine about 1/3 of the way down to kill off the pervasive grass that we have.I got some pretty good pix of structure I could use.I don't have any pix as good as yours as far as a complele picture of the structure though.

What is pervasive grass, what does it look like? Why? is it something that takes lakes over quickly? consumes oxygen?

Lunkers0 reply :

Awesome pictures! I would love to have that opportunity. It would be interesting to see what kind of crap you could find on the bottom right after they drain it.

billybass reply :

KU, any chance you have a handheld GPS? It would be awesome to have all those good looking spots mapped out so you can really pin-point the spots after the water level is raised.

KU_Bassmaster. reply :

Quote
KU, any chance you have a handheld GPS? It would be awesome to have all those good looking spots mapped out so you can really pin-point the spots after the water level is raised.

I'm working on it. I mean the monkey is working on me. ;D

bassinchik reply :

As Rogue said, we have done the same thing here. But what is even better, when I was 7 months pregnant with our first son (23 yrs ago), we walked the drained flat where we prefer to fish. We found the channels threading throughout the flat and recorded it to memory. It has most definitely helped our fishing over the years. Can you imagine a lady 7 months pregnant, bogged up to her knees and thighs fishing the channels and tearing the bass up? lol It surely brings back great memories! Thanks for posting this.

cabela10 reply :

Yeah, I would suggest you get a GPS asap and stand right next to those brush piles and stumps and get some coordinates for those exact locations.

Chris reply :

I would suggest that you take the time to build your own brush pile in the right places

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