Many lakes are drawn down in an effort to allow landowners to repair docks etc... and for flood control during the spring ice melt. The State posts all lakes that are to be drawn down and this usually takes place on Columbus day weekend across the State.
We loose at total depth of 5-8' in BIP. Fall action is very fast and hot as the baitfish are displaced from their security in shallow weed beds and shoreline structures. This actually helps you to locate target fish rather easily during the hard water season as they tend to gravitate to slightly deeper adjacent flats or weed beds for feeding. If you have fished a body of water during normal water levels and found deeper weed flats out beyond the shallow flats that you are accustomed to fishing, then that should be your new targeted area. The key is to locate structure further off the banks in anticipation of the draw down. In the spring, look for huge concentrations of fish on structure preparing for the spring migration into "the soon" to be flats. This is why bows are typically caught in 2'-4' of water. Remember most fish are placed into two categories. 1. Roamers and 2. Resident fish. Most predator fish will trapline their meals in shallow water using the ice as a natural a barrier. When bait fish scatter, the area turns on and so does the fishing.
An example of this, is a technique that has allowed me several first place finishes in tournaments: run the boat into shallow water, push the baitfish out over the deeper edges of the flats or drop offs, this in turn brings the suspended predators into a feeding frenzy. The bait fish will soon be trapped again in the shallows or chased about the flat until the school has dissipated.
