While the water's gone

The nor'easter that has been blowing for a couple of days strengthened Wednesday off the coast of North Carolina and continued to push water out of inland streams and rivers.

Riding home to Camden Wednesday afternoon, the Intracoastal Waterway, Northwest River and a pair of small creeks that drain into the Pasquatank River all were lower than I'd seen them in a long time.

With the water so low, I noticed plenty of shoreline cover that you can't see while the water is high. It ALL looked incredibly fishy. Stumps, fall-downs, grass - all the stuff a largemouth bass home is made of.

The forecast for this storm as of Wednesday afternoon was for it to possibly strengthen a little as it heads for a landfall somewhere between the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the border between the two Carolinas. Then, sometime on Friday - probably late Friday - winds are supposed to shift around and start blowing from the south. That means water quickly will flow back into the drainage systems of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

So here's what you should do if you have the chance. Let me forward this with a warning that any open waters will be dangerous. But if you can get your boat launched on your favorite river or stream on Thursday or early Friday, do so.

Take a digital camera and a handheld GPS unit if you can. If not, a pen, pad, and your memory will have to do.

Tool along those favorite shorelines that you fish so hard when the water is high, and take pictures or make notes of what is usually under the water. You'll quickly understand why you sometimes get hung on stuff you had no idea was there.

Most of it is bass-holding cover that will have you drooling to get back at it once waters fill back in.

As soon as waters roll in, take your pictures and GPS coordinates - or your notes and memory - and start plugging away. Bass will quickly follow bait back into all those wonderful little hiding places. And chances are that the fish will be hungry after shutting down during the strong easterly blow.

I know it's been rough not being out there fishing in what is a favorite time of year for many of us. Hopefully you'll be able to take advantage of the down time and learn a few secrets about the places you like to fish.

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