Caney Fork Last Sunday

[bd-]

I fished the Caney Fork last Sunday, between the dam and Happy Hollow. The water color was terrible - worst I've ever seen. The water coming through the sluice gate outflow had a greenish muddy color more like the lower Harpeth than the Caney ought to be. I assume there must be silt and a big algae die-off going on up above the dam. When the sluice was running, the slight smell of sulfur from deep water decomposition was still in the air despite the strong winds. Thank goodness for the sluice, because otherwise the water coming through the generators would probably have close to zero oxygen and we'd be looking at dead or stressed trout downstream.

Fishing was slow. Very few rising fish, and a lot fewer trout up on the gravel flats than I'm used to seeing. I measured water temp at 64 degrees at the big bend above Lancaster at 11:45 a.m. (which is not that far from the dam) - the water was actually slightly warmer than the air. God knows what it was before this weekend's cooler weather hit.

I have a feeling that the oxygen was probably still on the low side despite the sluice, the temp was a little high, and the fish were probably hunkered down in the deep water conserving their energy and waiting for a better day to eat.

I only caught nine fish for the day - one okay rainbow of about 16 inches and the rest were dinks - mostly brookies, actually. All were caught on sowbugs. I probably could have caught at least half a dozen more, but I missed some good hits just because I couldn't seem to get my "head in the game." I'd start daydreaming, look away, and when I looked back, my indicator would be 4 inches below the surface and it would be an instant too late. I don't know why I was so distracted, but I guess those days happen. Through the day, I talked to a few folks who were sticking a couple on zebra midges and a few folks who were sticking a couple on streamers, but for the most part it was slow for everybody.

I ended the day by accidentally knocking a $180.00 pair of Keenan sunglasses off my face into about 10 feet of water. I had broken the lanyard back in August and never got around to replacing it. Oops. I've had better days.

bd

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by bd-

I fished the Caney Fork last Sunday, between the dam and Happy Hollow. The water color was terrible - worst I've ever seen. The water coming through the sluice gate outflow had a greenish muddy color more like the lower Harpeth than the Caney ought to be. I assume there must be silt and a big algae die-off going on up above the dam. When the sluice was running, the slight smell of sulfur from deep water decomposition was still in the air despite the strong winds. Thank goodness for the sluice, because otherwise the water coming through the generators would probably have close to zero oxygen and we'd be looking at dead or stressed trout downstream.

Fishing was slow. Very few rising fish, and a lot fewer trout up on the gravel flats than I'm used to seeing. I measured water temp at 64 degrees at the big bend above Lancaster at 11:45 a.m. (which is not that far from the dam) - the water was actually slightly warmer than the air. God knows what it was before this weekend's cooler weather hit.

I have a feeling that the oxygen was probably still on the low side despite the sluice, the temp was a little high, and the fish were probably hunkered down in the deep water conserving their energy and waiting for a better day to eat.

I only caught nine fish for the day - one okay rainbow of about 16 inches and the rest were dinks - mostly brookies, actually. All were caught on sowbugs. I probably could have caught at least half a dozen more, but I missed some good hits just because I couldn't seem to get my "head in the game." I'd start daydreaming, look away, and when I looked back, my indicator would be 4 inches below the surface and it would be an instant too late. I don't know why I was so distracted, but I guess those days happen. Through the day, I talked to a few folks who were sticking a couple on zebra midges and a few folks who were sticking a couple on streamers, but for the most part it was slow for everybody.

I ended the day by accidentally knocking a $180.00 pair of Keenan sunglasses off my face into about 10 feet of water. I had broken the lanyard back in August and never got around to replacing it. Oops. I've had better days.

bd

My nephew..myself and my two sons went yesterday. We experienced same conditions. Water color was just not right....sulfur smell also. I caught a stocker Bow...my nephew had a really nice 20" Brown that was really fat and my oldest son a nice 18" Brown. That was pretty much it for 4 for us fishing 5 hours.

[Travis C.]

Boy, I sure do hope it settles down and getting somewhat back to normal by next weekend.

You going to do any fishing that weekend bd?

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

Boy, I sure do hope it settles down and getting somewhat back to normal by next weekend.

You going to do any fishing that weekend bd?

Me and my relatives are hoping the Caney settles down also.....but. The contract was just given to do the next part of the dam. I don't know when they will start but I would assume post haste. What bothers me is that from what I have read and heard that the lake level will be drawn down and held to 620. That will probably be OK once winter is here and the temps drop and we get some rain. Just seems to me they are putting some not so good water through there now. But I am not a biologist so I can't say what the water is like right now coming out of the lake.

Regards

[bd-]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

You going to do any fishing that weekend bd?

I'd like to, but work is threatening to get in the way. We will see.

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

What bothers me is that from what I have read and heard that the lake level will be drawn down and held to 620.

I assume you're talking about winter drawdown levels. That's nothing new. Since the dam work started, the Corps orders have been to hold at 630 for summer pool and 618 in the winter. The generator intake is at 549.9 so it's still below the thermocline even at 618. The nasty water seems to be coming through the sluice gate, which draws off the bottom of the lake.

Now, if you're saying the Corps is going to make 620 the new summer pool level, well that's more of a concern. We got very dicey with water temps this year, with the downriver temperature at Stonewall getting up to 70 degrees on more than one occasion. Cutting another 10 feet off summer pool will make that worse. I'm hoping that's not going to be the case - the dam work has gone well so far, everything is stable, and I don't see any sensible reason why the Corps would need to lower the lake another ten feet below the operating bands they're using now.

bd

[MNfisher]

I am new to this whole winter level and summer level talk. At what time of the year do they start generating to lower the lake levels for winter?

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

I am new to this whole winter level and summer level talk. At what time of the year do they start generating to lower the lake levels for winter?

If you will go to the TVA page and look at an operating guide for a TVA Dam it is easy to tell. TVA displays a nice graph showing you last years draw down and current year also. Now if the Corp Of Engineers has a graph like that I have not been able to find it.

bd...I have heard that will be the new summer pool but I don't know for sure. When I inquired as to why I was told that they have to go that low to fix that side of the dam.

Regards

[bd-]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

I am new to this whole winter level and summer level talk. At what time of the year do they start generating to lower the lake levels for winter?

Fall.

I think the exact date when drawdown begin depends on a lot of variables, including the amount of rainfall on any given year and the amount of water they're dealing with both above and below the dam. Keep in mind that a primary purpose of nearly all these dams is flood control.

With that in mind, I don't think there's a specific date when they officially begin drawdown every year, but they typically let the lake levels begin gradually falling to the winter pool level starting some time around September.

Here's a chart which shows the lake levels and targets for the past several years, as well as the target level during construction. As you can see, the lake level can bounce around quite a bit when they have to hold back a lot of water after a big rain:

http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/center...level_plan.htm

I still haven't heard anything to make me believe the barrier wall phase of the repair project will require lowering the summer pool lake level another ten feet to 620. I'll keep asking around.

bd