Beaver Lake Fishing Pressure

[Luckyj]

I already know MY thoughts are much different on this topic than most of you. But wanted to say a few things as I have seen quite a few posts about how the fishing pressure is way too heavy for the lake.

Back in the early 90's I fished Beaver Lake exclusively. Myself and many other complained and bitched and griped about how crowded the lake was with boaters and fishermen, LOL And now 20 years later we are still doing the same. LOL What I have found through experiences from coast to coast and from the gulf to Canada is this: The complaints are the SAME where ever you go. Its always about the fishing pressure on a certain lake.

With that being said, I personally feel its NOT the pressure but the fishermen themselves wanting to blame their failure to catch fish on something other than themselves. All lakes fluctuate every year, with one year great fishing the next year not so great fishing. WHY? My guess would be that the fisherman happen to be fishing a certain lure at a certain time and the fish were THERE. Next year they were fishing the same way and the fish changed. You can go to the same log year after year and catch bass off the same log, but you might have to change baits, presentation, time of days etc etc etc. Bass are creatures of habit, once you learn the habits........

They say only 10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish. If this is true and I tend to agree with it, then fishing pressure is NOT the issue. The skills of the fisherman is the issue. Some people in this forum can go out everyday and load the boat with fish, WHY? My guess? They put the time in to be able to understand the fish and its movements etc. Some on this forum may only be able to catch fish in the summer, others only in winter.

I did not put this out here for arguments or anything like that. I was just voicing my opinion regarding the fishing pressure excuse that I have seen being thrown around. I would like to hear folks chime in with their thoughts though. I don't know about other members but it is always great to hear adn learn things. Even at my age I learn something new everyday!!

And Thanks for having a place to discuss things. I certainly appreciate it!!!!!!!!!

[J-Doc]

^^

Starts a provoking thread.....then drops the mic on the floor and says "Thank you"

Now that's funny.

[Feathers and Fins]

Its just a weird year on the lake. Its rising like a fat boy from a table to get a refill at a buffet. That makes it tough and that’s all it is.

The walleye have been a pain in my butt to find the last couple months but now I feel I found the pattern and should be able to reproduce it based on the conditions and where I found them.

Stripers have been great from Dec to May but with the heavy jump in water elevation have scattered all over and are tougher to get but still can be had.

Crappie were great in January and April but then have gone deep you find them you can catch them but it takes time.

Bass has been GREAT on top water and im even molesting a few of them with cranks.

I do not see it as a pressure issue but paying attention to conditions and figuring out the new patterns with the new lake conditions, some things though have held true with this season as with past season.

Where pressure does come in is on weekends with multiple tournaments and recreational angling pressure. I do see more and more people midweek and some very rude people. When someone is on a spot, trolling or running the bank people should give them a respectful distance to me that’s at least 100 yards. I believe some of that behavior is more what people are talking about and confusing it with pressure. Beaver is almost 30,000 acres and I cant see it getting pressure especially after growing up in SoCal on lakes that were only a couple thousand acres.

Now certainly well known spots get a lot of attention and if many people are on that area people will call it pressure and it is for that spot but not for the entire lake. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

[Guest]

For a large lake, Beaver fishes kinda "small"

I think that explains why folks are trying to fish the same spots. I've talked to a few pros that think it's a spot fishing lake versus a pattern lake.

I also think those fish rely heavy on the shad. So the offshore roaming packs of bass don't need to come onshore. That really messes up people like me who bottom fish the majority of the time. I've got to get out of my comfort zone & chase the offshore schools around.

I like the lake, it's just tougher than most lakes.

[Feathers and Fins]

.

I also think those fish rely heavy on the shad. So the offshore roaming packs of bass don't need to come onshore. That really messes up people like me who bottom fish the majority of the time. I've got to get out of my comfort zone & chase the offshore schools around.

Hey leave my pets alone!

[JohnF52]

I think it is true that 10 percent or less of the fishermen catch 90 percent or more of the fish. I am not close to being in that 10 percent, but am trying to work on it. This year has not been easy due to the flooding, since I usually fish the river end and smaller waters. I don't see the catching problem as fishing pressure, but as lack of skills.

[M_Taylor]

Without getting into an essay, my two cents and it pertains to something I saw recently:

I watched Major League Fishing this weekend and it was amazing to watch 10 of arguably the most experienced bass fisherman around take over 90 minutes to catch a bass. Hours in and half of the fisherman hadn't caught a fish still. By the end of the day there were still a few with just two or three small fish.

So then you take Joe average fisherman that fishes a tough lake like Beaver only a few times a month, and it's easy to see there are other issues than over fishing.

[Guest]

I've zeroed twice in May, I'm not lacking skills rather experience on the water.

For me, I need 3 days in a row to really get things lined up.

Right now, im fishing on Saturdays & the lake has been higher each time.

Its not an excuse, just lack of time.

I usually spend 4-5hrs looking for fish & find them about the time I need to leave.

Its the nature of the beast