Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Fishing question?????

I have a house on Smith Mountain Lake. I was there 3 weeks ago and we caught some very nice, big {to me} channel catfish right off my pier. Went back a week later and caught nothing. Not even a nibble. Talked to a few locals and they said, "when they are running water out to make power the fish freak out and head for deep water, you wont catch them then". Any opinions on this regarding catfish???? SML is 255,000 acres of water and they drained over 1 foot that day, which equates to a lot of water. My house is not right at the dam, but it's not too far. I was at the dam mid day and saw a lot of debris floating which I have never seen before. Just leaves and tree limbs floating on the surface, but it seemed like a lot of stuff pulled in the dam area. Question is, can a lot of water being let out cause fish to move deeper and/or not bite????? Thanks in advance for any info!!!!

Could cause a temperature change which could effect the bite.

I have always heard falling water is not the time to fish.
You know there are some studies out there if someone here has access.

I’ve always heard that falling water typically pushes fish deeper, while rising water does the opposite. There are other factors at play, but this is a general rule of thumb.

Old timers say the moon messes with the bite…

As said above temperature change, and the increased flow. They are in some eddy feasting.

I bass fish a small power plant lake. Usually when the water level is stable or rising the bite is pretty good. When they pull water, you may as well pack it up and head for the ramp.

Thanks for all the replies and info guys!!!!!!! Will be back there to give it another try soon. If they are running the dam for power I wont bother too much.

Can’t really see why just taking water out will change the bite never paid attention to it. I can think that if it’s a deep hole losing water then temps can change pushing colder water fish out but not cats as they are a warm water fish. I’m getting them in 5ft of water.
Also what the weather like as that can play apart in catfish. I’ve noticed the best time to fish is after it rains when the water is lightly stained. Plus different baits help.
Those cats like hiding in the debris of big trees and branches maybe it’s shifting their homes around pushing them out. If a lot of stuff got pushed to the dam.