Alright guys and gals, I've been wanting to talk about fishing Tailraces with y'all. I posted an article on my blog about this a little while back and I felt that it is relevant and easy enough that you guys should hear about it too. Tailraces are such a unique situation in fishing that goes unnoticed by some fishermen. They can be the best fishing in many rivers. I don't want to hold this article up any more so let's dive right into it.
A tailrace is nothing more than the area below a dam. Its that area full of rushing, flowing water. Plenty of rocks and eddy pockets. Plenty of bait flipping around and thus plenty of fish. The typical distance that a tailrace runs is from the dam to the first major turn in the river.
What makes a tailrace so special is that its at a barrier. That big dam is impassible. Nothing is going to jump that object. So when shad, bream, bass, and catfish swim up river, they are all stopped in that area. Since the bait is stacking in there so quickly, most fish will simply camp out and feed up all year long in a tailrace. This means more fish per acre than most sections of the river. I like those odds.
Tailraces are also predictable because of the current. That current creates eddy pockets that will hold those catfish. If you can find the biggest one, you can find the biggest catfish. Those eddies are also easy to spot. The shallow water that typically happens below a dam means that eddies can be seen. When the water hits a solid object such as a rock or point, the water will be pushed to the surface. This causes a roll or swirl in the surface of the river. Next time you fish a river, I want you to take a look at the surface of the river and see what you can find just by doing this. Just for kicks and to prove a point to yourself, tie a lead weight to your fishing line. No hook needed since I just want you to test the area of the swirling water. Cast that weight and reel it in slowly on the bottom and see what you feel. I bet you'll feel that weight climb through some type of object. That's what will be creating that eddy pocket and holding those fish.
Now the last thing that makes tailraces to great is that the current makes fish more active. It is essentially a treadmill for the fish. They have to swim against it which burns calories like crazy. Imagine how in shape they must be. Now in order to keep that workout going, they have to eat more to fuel their body. This means that you can find them feeding much easier than other areas. They also take your bait more readily. By this I mean that once the bait comes by their face, they will gobble it down if they are hungry. You've got to love that.
Cat fishing is a great way to enjoy your free time and catch large fish. If you are interested in learning more about How to Catch Catfish, you can visit http://www.HowToCatfishToday.com.
Thank You,
Justin Mott
Justin Mott
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