Flooding effect on fish movement

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

I've just come back from visiting my daughter at uni

As we drove over the river Ouse I noticed a small lake right next to the river and I was thinking after seeing the rivers burst their bank on Tight Lines how many ponds and lakes will lose or gain fish

I'm guessing that the fish will shelter in lakes if the river floods them and may not get back one the waters subside

 

[mick b]

Im sure your right, I just hope some of the foreign species don't manage to get into my fav waters.

Certainly I think there will be a change of populations almost everywhere, I just hope some nice Roach decide to relocate in my fav fisheries.

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

There is a small pond very close to thr Rotherham that held some good chub that had got in on flood , they got back to thr river in the 2007 flood

 

[peterjg]

When there is a flood do the fish instinctively move upstream or downstream - I'm thinking of the Kennet in particular where there are sheltered lock cuttings?

 

[geoffmaynard]

This a great thread idea. I can't contribute much as I just don't know but I hope other can enlighten us.
My bit of river floods regularly, several times a year, filling the old water-courses which are normally dry. One would expect fish to get stranded in these backwaters but I've never yet found one fish in them when the water recedes.

 

[mick b]

When there is a flood do the fish instinctively move upstream or downstream - I'm thinking of the Kennet in particular where there are sheltered lock cuttings?

The general consensus between fishery managers is that fish drop downstream if they cannot get up a suitable side stream or ditch.

I recently returned a nice fish well upstream from my swim only to see it turn away from the flow and zoom of downstream.......mg:

Also watched some cormorants feeding in an eddy on the Test and they wouldn't have been there if fish were absent.

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

Once the flood water start to drop we should all be on the look out for any fish stranded in fields and contact the EA if we see any

 

[mick b]

Once the flood water start to drop we should all be on the look out for any fish stranded in fields and contact the EA if we see any

You go and look my Lord, and if you find any take a few photographs for us to see.

In all my time managing various waters I never found one single fish in a field.

mg:

 

[richiekelly]

You go and look my Lord, and if you find any take a few photographs for us to see.

In all my time managing various waters I never found one single fish in a field.

mg:

I found a sole once

 

[mick b]

I found a sole once

Right or left....mg:

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

You go and look my Lord, and if you find any take a few photographs for us to see.

In all my time managing various waters I never found one single fish in a field.

mg:

there were a few on the golf course at the side of the Rother in 2007

 

[Merv Harrison]

They were probably heading for the Tees mg:

 

[geoffmaynard]

Ah! Soles...

 

[Merv Harrison]

Ah! Soles...

Well thats put me in my Plaice


In the 2000 floods round here, Snaith Gowdall, Carlton, Howden. Oaklands fishery at Gowdall lost most of their stock, several people later reported seeing fish in the surrounding area fields.

Once things have 'calmed' down, would the fish then leave ponds and lakes 'still flooded' looking for food?. Just think of the abundance of food available.

 

[jacksharp]

Wonder if all the goldfish, shubunkins and koi that have been "liberated" from garden ponds are going to survive and turn up in keepnets?

 

[Merv Harrison]

Off I digress again.............

A commercial nearby is full of Koi, fished it once and did'nt enjoy it one iota, it was like catching family pets........

 

[jacksharp]

Off I digress again.............

A commercial nearby is full of Koi, fished it once and did'nt enjoy it one iota, it was like catching family pets........

Agreed, Merv. I have had Koi, goldfish and brown goldfish and I just don't like catching them.

 

[mick b]

I have had Koi, goldfish and brown goldfish and I just don't like catching them.

No, but they make bril livebaitsmg:

 

[jacksharp]

No, but they make bril livebaitsmg:

Not when they're 2lb plus they don't!

 

[mick b]

Not when they're 2lb plus they don't!

My biggest Pike took a 4lb Jack..........

Each to their own...