Upper end toward Dam or lower end toward river? Is it different for each lake? Seasonal?

I'm sure someone will come along with a complex answer. I'm just gonna say the dam end. More deep water means more fish live there. I know that's overly simple but I imagine it's true on most lakes.

I've always wondered why the upper end is the dam end. In our lakes, most dams are on the south. Is that not considered the lower end?

Yes

The end where the fish are

I would also guess the southern end for two reasons: 1. You are going to find more bait on the southern end of reservoirs as the water temperature there is more stable because of the volume of deep water. In water much below 55 degrees you can have major shad kills with a sudden temperature swings. The shallow northern end of a reservoir is going to be more susceptible to this. 2. Northern ends tend to be much more muddy which blocks a lot of light from penetrating the water. Fewer weeds. Less plankton. Less food in general. Sunlight drives the food chain.

All that said, southern ends get far more pressure because of the clearer water and fewer boating hazards. From a catch rate point of view, I would not be surprised if more fish are caught on a per hour bases in the northern half.

Coves that tend to produce first are the North Coves. If one of these coves is a Dog Leg Cove, meaning it has a sharp bend in it making it run East and West that is even better. The predominant South East winds will keep the water that has warmed from the sun in there much better. Then a day or two of North wind will not hurt it because the surface water cannot be moved out very easily.

Stained water warms much faster, so I prefer up the river as far as you can get. Small pockets and little no nothing points with heavy wood has produced best for me.

look again you will find a number of lakes have dam on north end.also ive always considered the dam the lower end and river the upper,remember water runs down

Simple-upper end(inlet) in spring and fall, lower end (dam) in summer and winter.

If I'm not fishing a tournament, they're biting on whatever end I'm fishing.

If I am fishing a tournament, they're biting on the opposite end from where I'm at.

I honestly believe on a lake like Cedar Creek the fishing is better on the lower end because the tournaments go out of the lower end and a lot of keepers are brought from the all over the lake to weighins.

I honestly believe on a lake like Cedar Creek the fishing is better on the lower end because the tournaments go out of the lower end. A lot of keepers are brought from the all over the lake to the weigh ins at the lower end.

To add to that water temperature is the biggest factor for me this time of year. Don't count anything out thought.. If they are note biting for you up shallow in 55-56+ muddy water.. Try clearer water at 51-52 with the same baits or back off with a jerkbait. You could try to back off with different baits, but a jerkbait isn't ideal there. If the type of water you're fishing isn't producing withing a few hours... Try plan b,c, and d!

N/W love coves & creeks that run east to west