Lake levels have finally returned to normal by late last week, with levels on Friday at New Johnsonville were holding at just over 354ft. TVA is predicting the lake to remain stable, but rain moved back into the TN valley, and may influence the water levels over the next few days. As of last weekend, flow rates backed off, with an average of 50,000cfs moving through our area, but depending on how much rainfall we see in the Tn River Valley, we may see an increase in flow this week. Both the Duck and Buffalo Rivers had returned to normal for now, but I expect to see a rise with the rain predicted on top of saturated ground. Water temps have been in the upper 40’s to low 50’s in most areas of the lake. For those heading to the Cumberland River, water levels are normal, with levels at Dover between 54-55ft. Flow rates are averaging about 25,000cfs.
No fishing report this week, with the cold and wind in the picture, I haven’t had anybody report any activity, although it is a good time to fish as conditions improve, fish will school up better as water temperatures stay below the 50 degree mark.
Deer season is coming to an end soon, with the regular deer season ending on the 8th of January. There will be a ‘private lands hunt’ for antlers deer only, on January 9-13th, and a youth deer hunt on the weekend of January 14-15th. Top harvest this week went to Giles Co. with 3,534, with Montgomery Co. in 2nd with 3,342 deer. Humphreys Co. now has 2,188 deer reported, with the statewide total now at 140,804 deer. The waterfowl season saw a increase in ducks with the polar vortex we had last week, and many of the ducks have migrated further south, but most continue to hold along the Mississippi river areas, with the majority of waterfowl now just north of Jackson Mississippi, with a good concentration of birds around the Dyersburg in west Tennessee. With warmer and wet weather in the forecast, the ducks may scatter some, but hopefully we will continue to have a few head our way. There are many other hunting seasons which will continue till the end of February, including squirrel and rabbit, as well as some good opportunities for hunters to go after varmints; coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. Hunting these predators becomes easier when weather conditions worsen, like extreme cold or snow and ice events, as it makes finding food more difficult, making them easier to call in. Most hunters use some type of predator call, including mouth or electric calls imitating a distressed rabbit or other prey animal, to lure it within shooting range.
Trapping season will continue through the end of February, although some are open year-around, such as beaver and coyote. The fur prices continue to be down, and most trappers are not even trapping until the prices come back up. TWRA is hosting a ‘BOW’ event on January 20-21st. The event will be a women's trapping workshop to be held at Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys Co. and hosted by the Tennessee Fur Harvesters Association. Instructors will teach outdoor women the fundamentals of trapping; snaring, fur handling, and tanning animals. The two day workshop is free, but registration is mandatory, and participation is limited. Registration can be made at TWRA’s website; TNWildlife.org