I Tested if Tiny Dams Have Monster Fish!
Small dams can hold fish, but finding truly large fish below a major dam may depend on fishing near the spillway when water is released.
- At a low dam, search for fishing line and lures, then test recoverable bait; a fly from a local angler produced fish.
- At the large dam, locals recommended nightcrawlers and salmon eggs for trout; the narrator caught a small rainbow.
- When the spillway opened, water rose and the current strengthened; a local angler later landed a giant fish there.
The spillway walkthrough and the late-night giant-fish catch provide useful on-site context. · Best for: Anglers exploring dam pools, spillways, and changing water conditions.
The creator checks a tiny homemade dam, searches a low-water dam for lost tackle and fish, then fishes below a large power dam. Small fish are caught at both smaller sites; a local angler eventually lands a giant fish below the major dam after its spillway opens.
Checking the childhood dam0:00
- The pool where the creator once released a bluegill appears to have no fish left; the dam is about 1 foot tall.
Searching for lost lures and fishing a low dam0:45
- At low water, the creator searches for fishing line, which can lead to lost lures, and collects tackle and litter.
- A found grub draws bites but is difficult to cast; another angler lends a handmade fly, which catches a small bass.
- Fishing deeper pools with the fly produces bluegill and black crappie, but no large fish.
Arriving at the large dam6:14
- The creator visits a dam over a mile long and sees large trout at the fish hatchery below it.
- Locals warn that water releases can raise the water several feet and submerge the area where anglers are standing.
Testing bait and waiting for the release7:55
- A local recommends nightcrawlers; the creator also tries a swimbait, then salmon eggs after losing worms.
- The eggs produce a small rainbow trout. The creator sees large fish but does not catch one before the release.
Fishing as the spillway opens10:59
- The siren sounds and the water rises, turning the low area into a fast-moving river; the creator notes hazards such as pipes and snagging rocks.
- A spoon is quickly lost, and a RattleTrap gets a bite that is lost.
A local lands a giant fish14:10
- A local angler shows photos of large fish caught at the dam.
- As the creator is leaving, the local hooks a large fish, works it free from rocks, and lands it; it swims away after a quick measurement.
Step by step
- At low water, look for fishing line and other tackle, but collect litter safely.
- Test local bait recommendations; in this video, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs drew trout bites.
- Ask locals where water rises during a release, and note hazards such as pipes, rocks, and fast current.
- When the spillway opens, reassess the water level and position before continuing to fish.
- If a fish runs into rocks, follow the line and work it free carefully; the local angler landed the fish after moving along the dam.
Tools & resources mentioned
- Fish hatchery below the dam — the creator viewed the large trout being raised there.
- Local anglers — shared bait, access, water-level, and fish-catch information.
Notes are AI-generated from the video's transcript and may miss nuance.