Water Depths below Dams ?

[SLU01]

Hey can anyone tell me the avg water depths below the dams @ Cordell Hull and Old Hickory. Both during & non generation times ?
thanks

[geckel]

I seem to remember Cordell hull being about 15-20' if I'm not mistaken. Why do you ask?

[SLU01]

Just wondering about what type of boats could be used near the dams. Mostly during generation for striper fishing

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by SLU01

Hey can anyone tell me the avg water depths below the dams @ Cordell Hull and Old Hickory. Both during & non generation times ?
thanks

Actually you have either two or three depths ..Depending wheather your are fishing below a Navigable or non Navigable Dam ...IE... Cordell Hull or Center Hill for example ... Now from experience I can speak for both of these ...

A nav Dam ... you have three segments ... Turbine Bay/Spillway/Lock area.
Cordell Hull for instance ...You have have a wing wall that beneath the water that sperates the Turbine Bay from the Spillway area ..Actually it is for adverse back eddies when the turbins are all on as well as the Spillways wide open during flood conditions ... The turbine bay depth at CH is around 30/40 ft ... depending on Gens...

Below the Spillways ...There is a pad that is even to the Deflection wall which is about 40 ft from the Ramp of the spillway .. In non gen the depth of the pad and wall is less than 5 feet ... Note> There is exposed rebar in the top of the wall it will really a make a mess of your boat if you are in there Casting a net for bait !! Speak from experience ... Also the outside lock wall!!

The entrance depth on way to the lock runs 15 to 25 feet depending on Gen sch... Note the Corps has to maintain min depth of 13 feet in a navigable water way ...

Safety note ...During Non Gen the discharge nozzle for the lock blow down is approx at the entrance left hand lock wall and is about 50 yds toward mid channel ... This will cost you a lower unit !!!

Center Hill: Different Ball Game ... No Lock ...It does have a deflection wall below the spillways .... Pad as well ... Very shallow during non Gen ... Turbine Bay runs 15 to 25 depending on Gen Sch ... Hope this helps <'TK><

[SLU01]

Thanks TK, I'm familiar with Center Hill as I've trout fished there a few times during non generation, I was thinking there was a maintained depth but I couldn't remember, I've only fishes a couple of times below Cheatham in a boat during generation. I don't get too terribly close any way, so if I make it to Cordell Hull maybe I won't find your rebar lol