In this short clip taken from 2018’s St. John Muskie Challunge, Pete explains how and why you should fish around bridge piers!
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In this short clip taken from 2018’s St. John Muskie Challunge, Pete explains how and why you should fish around bridge piers!
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2 Responses
Okay, a bit of a disclaimer here! I do not hold a degree in “Fishology”, “Aquamarine Science”, “Bio Diversity” or “Hydrology”, but I do hold a firm degree in “Adageology”. In this case, one could rightly prognosticate that confusion occurs when Anglers pursue a habitually difficult answer to a profusely simple question.
This structural phenomenon we call a bridge pier is not so different from a submerged boulder or other modern marvel edifice. You may recall my post concerning “Ace Venturi : Fish Detective” whereas the “Venturi Effect” of the St. Lawrence River had direct effect on the feeding patterns of Bass, Pike and many other species. https://migrator.fishncanada.com/hotspot/lac-st-pierre-st-lawrence-river-quebec/
As you will notice, the hydrology aspect is relatively similar. Any change in current, water pressure and/or overall environmental alterations of the water column is a sure fire indication of a feeding frenzy. Pike (Esox Lucius) and Muskellunge (Esox Masquinongy) are solitary predators who voraciously protect their territory. Again notice at 1:03 in the video above, the Garmin screen shot indicates one lone predator of the target species which appears and disappears as it attacks the school of fish. No other predator is actually seen in the area, hence the saying “the fish of a thousand casts”.
Now getting back to this modern marvel of technology scattered along the river. The attraction may well be as Pete has mentioned…bait fish feeding off the algae on the bridge piers drawing in these predators, but I think there is more to it than just plain guess work. Sure your electronics give you a “fish eye view” into the action down under BUT, it does not answer the question as to WHY all this is happening. This is where your logistics should kick into high gear.
It is common knowledge that stones, rocks, boulders and bridge piers in rivers and streams, churns up the water and emulsifies this fluid with life sustaining oxygen which encourages fish and plant life. (fish and plants go hand in hand here supporting one and other). Oxygen also sustains Micro-organisms which also get in on the bounty and clarify the water….So, here comes the obvious.
Sun light is now able to penetrate the water column at a much greater depth. Rocks, boulders, bridge piers and abutments can now also, draw heat from the sun, warming the surrounding waters. The rise in temperature attracts bait fish and other tasty tid-bits for the these predators and other life forms to feed on.
Let’s not forget to concentrate our fishing expertise in the back wash on the down river side of the bridge piers. Similar to rocks and boulders in salmon spawning rivers, these areas give bait fish an area to rest out of the fast current, and recover their composure. Plants thrive in this area due to the settling of all the fish excrement (furtilizer) and other sediments, much like a farmers field. Manure has such life!! Where would we be without it?
Yes, the beat goes on and the circle of life is complete! Now, what does that little prognosticator inside your fishing electronics have to say about pursuing a habitually difficult answer to a profusely simple question?
Calvin, I used to fish off of a bridge for opening day Walleye as a kid and on this bridge there were lots of other anglers. Even as a kid, I had a feeling that the immediate area down-current of each pier should be checked out. Sure as old you know what, once I found the right pier, all the other adults were probably saying “who the hell is this kid???”. The fact is, as you said earlier, this is a great resting spot (the only still water among all the current). Those post-spawners needed recoup time but as well, needed to feed.