Flooding effect on fish movement

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Feb 15, 2014

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 · Feb 15, 2014

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 · Feb 15, 2014

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 · Feb 15, 2014

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 · Feb 16, 2014

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 · Feb 17, 2014

peterjg said:
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 · Feb 17, 2014

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 · Feb 17, 2014

Lord Paul of Sheffield said:
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 · Feb 17, 2014

mick b said:
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 · Feb 17, 2014

the blanker said:
I found a sole once

Right or left....

mg:

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Feb 17, 2014

mick b said:
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 · Feb 17, 2014

They were probably heading for the Tees

mg:

geoffmaynard · Feb 17, 2014

Ah! Soles...

Merv Harrison · Feb 17, 2014

geoffmaynard said:
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 · Feb 17, 2014

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 · Feb 17, 2014

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 · Feb 17, 2014

Merv Harrison said:
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 · Feb 18, 2014

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

No, but they make bril livebaits

mg:

jacksharp · Feb 18, 2014

mick b said:
No, but they make bril livebaitsmg:

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

mick b · Feb 18, 2014

jacksharp said:
Not when they're 2lb plus they don't!

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

Each to their own...

Flooding effect on fish movement

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Content Editor

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Senior Member

Content Editor

Senior Member

Banned

Senior Member

Banned

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member