The Rivers Are Coming Back Down Post Hurricane Debby. Now What?
Regional Smallmouth River Fishing
The regional river systems are settling back down now that the remnants of Hurricane Debby have moved off. This creates one of the best windows for Smallmouth Bass Fishing in late summer. After weeks of our river systems locked into low levels and many below normal summer levels for weeks on end, our regional river systems swelled as a direct result of Hurricane Debby. The rocks once totally exposed by low river levels are now all but submerged as the river’s crest but now we will see our rivers recede in the coming days and trigger a feeding frenzy!!
🐟What was origins of Hurricane Debby?
✨How will Hurrican Debby impact river systems and days to come in terms of rates of Smallmouth ?
🎣How should anglers target Smallmouth as the river levels recede in the coming days ahead?
Hurricane Debby, the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the Gulf of Mexico on August 3, 2024. Initially a tropical storm, Debby quickly intensified due to warm Gulf waters and low wind shear, conditions favorable for hurricane development. By August 5, it had become a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of about 80 mph (130 km/h) and made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region, an area still recovering from Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
Debby brought with it significant rainfall and winds, especially to western Florida, where over a foot of rain fell in some areas like Sarasota between August 3 and 4. The storm's slow movement resulted in prolonged exposure to heavy rains and high winds across the southeastern U.S. States such as Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were forecasted to receive between 10 to 20 inches of rain, with localized amounts up to 30 inches, leading to concerns about "potentially historic" flooding.
As Debby moved inland, it retained its strength due to the conducive atmospheric conditions, although it was expected to weaken as it moved further northeast. The storm's impact included widespread power outages, severe flash flooding, and significant river flooding across the Southeast (NASA Earth Observatory) (Home) (NOAA)
These conditions are what impacted our region and our river systems sending them upwards of twelve feet in many instances forcing Smallmouth into reactionary behavior conditions to respond to river conditions.
Debby norther swing created these conditions within twenty four hours of moving north of North Carolina dropping enough rain that would swell both creek and main river channels to swell systems down river over hundred miles by the weekend. Virtually every major river system within the region towards the east of the Blue Ridge was impacted.
During events like these with high water or flash flooding conditions, Smallmouth Bass exhibit specific behaviors in response to the rapidly changing environment, especially in the summer when water temperatures in most instances are in the mid-eighties or even the nineties:
High Water or Flooding Conditions:
Seeking Shelter: Smallmouth will often move to areas with less current, such as behind rocks, in eddies, or near submerged structure. These areas provide shelter from the strong currents and help the fish conserve energy.
Spreading Out: As the water level rises, Smallmouth may spread out into newly submerged areas, such as flooded banks, submerged vegetation, and areas that are usually dry. These areas can offer new feeding opportunities as insects, crustaceans, and other prey become dislodged or are found in the newly flooded areas.
Increased Activity: The influx of fresh water can oxygenate the environment and stir up the food chain. This often results in increased feeding activity. Bass may become more aggressive, taking advantage of the abundance of disoriented prey.
Avoiding Strong Currents: While they may exploit some of the new feeding opportunities, Smallmouth generally avoid the strongest parts of the current, preferring calmer waters where they can ambush prey without expending too much energy. ( Catch:Ben Caldwell, Va)
After Water Levels Recede:
Returning to Normal Areas: As the water recedes, Smallmouth often move back to their normal habitats, such as deeper pools, riffles, and areas with structure. They leave the temporarily flooded areas as these start to dry out or no longer offer the same feeding opportunities.
Feeding Adjustments: The receding water often leaves behind areas where prey might be trapped or concentrated, making these spots prime feeding areas. Smallmouth may target these areas more intensely until conditions fully normalize.
Stress and Recovery: The receding process can be stressful, particularly if water levels drop quickly or if the fish were pushed into less-than-ideal areas. After the water stabilizes, Smallmouth often spend time recovering, focusing on areas with stable oxygen levels and abundant food sources.
Temperature Considerations: With water temperatures in the mid-eighties, Smallmouth are in a more active metabolic state, which means they will continue to feed aggressively as conditions normalize. However, they may seek out cooler, deeper waters or areas with shade or current to avoid overly warm, oxygen-poor conditions that can occur in the shallows.
Overall, Smallmouth adapt to high water or flooding by seeking new opportunities and shelter during the event and then gradually returning to their normal behavior and habitats as the water recedes. This time frame can be days or even weeks depending upon the rate in which the current and water levels persist at levels above normal. (Catch: Troy Wines, Va)
LOAD UP THE TOPWATER
As the water recedes the aftermath creates some of the best opportunities to land opportunistic Smallies in big numbers because of their tendency to feed quickly to replenish the energy they exerted during the storm to maintain positioning. As these Smallies move in search of displaced and wounded forage species themselves hit hard by the rising current or forced to the shallows against rocks and timber, they become easy targets. Often you will find Smallies in “pods” moving about the river in groups of four or six together feeding up and because of this it is not uncommon to land multiple Smallies in quick succession especially on topwater.
Moving baits following rising water always tend to be the most effective method in the window that follows a high water event. Smallies at the outset of the crest of the river are likely to be pinned or simply just positioned shallow or in flooded bank areas so presenting moving baits like Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and Buzzbaits along the shallows can draw the Smallies out. In this instance the loader the better or the greater thump the better because of all the noise the river is experiencing with the current or water crashing against timber, structure or simply just the deepening shoreline before it begins to recede.
As the river recedes it will “flush” forage species especially crayfish who may have attempted to “dig in” under rocks and such and expose them to the feeding Smallies with each passing hour. As the river returns to its normal summertime levels you are more than likely to see the Smallies return to middle river haunts for the remainder of August into September before the Fall Transition.
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