TVA will start dropping the lakes this week, as the rivers start the annual drawdown the week after the 4th of July holiday. The drop will be gradual, and don’t expect to see much more than a half a foot every few weeks, until TVA will have the lakes at winter pool (354ft) by late fall. Current levels on Kentucky lake are 358.6ft, with a predicted fall to 358ft by mid month. Flows on Kentucky lake have been mostly due to power generation and TVA trying to maintain water quality. Average flows have been between 13,000-25,000cfs when they are generating electricity. Surface water temps have been in the upper 80’s, but I do expect them to reach the 90 degree mark this week with the ongoing heat wave. The Cumberland river at Dover is at 59ft, and at 29.2ft at Clarksville. Cheatham dam is at 385.4ft with the tailwaters at 359.5ft, average flows are between 1-17,000cfs when generating. The Duck river just off Hwy 13S was low, at .9ft (average should be 1.5ft). The Buffalo at Lobelville was at 3.1ft.
Waterfowl hunters are reminded that the annually Duck Blind Drawing is ongoing, and will close on July 17th. The online application is available at quotahunt.gooutdoorstennessee.com there is no application fee, but applicants must have a valid license to hunt waterfowl to apply. All successful hunters must claim their permit by August 22nd. Also individuals who would like to report turkey polt sightings can participate in the “Wild turkey observation survey” now through August 31st. Interested individuals can participate by visiting www.tn.gov/twra/turkeyobs This project has been very beneficial to help monitor our turkey populations and gauge its annual productivity. More information is provided on the website, including an explanation of why they conduct the survey, an ID tutorial, and the observation submission form.
With the hot summer here, and the 4th of July holiday, fishermen have been having a hard time finding time to get out and enjoy the lakes and rivers. But those who have been getting out early before the pleasure boaters hit the water, have come up with some good catches. The bass bite continues to be a “ledge bite” with many fishermen targeting the offshore ledges when current is present, looking primarily in depths of 12-20ft. Swimbaits have been working well for many, as the crankbait bite seems to be slowing down. As the water continues to warm, oxygen levels will decrease and many fish will move shallow looking for better oxygenated water. This doesn’t necessarily mean the backs of creeks, but may be the shallow flats out on the river. The crappie bite has been sluggish, as we seem to have had an excellent shad spawn, and there is plenty to eat for all species of fish. What crappie have been taken, most have been in depths around the 20ft mark on live minnows. The catfish bite has moved upward as well, with the low oxygen levels in the bottom of the river, the catfish have moved up on the ledges of the old river channel, and fishermen should fish mid depths where they see the fish on the sonar. White bass are still “surfacing”, chasing shad feeding on the surface. All fishermen should be aware that many area lakes and also ponds maybe experiencing “low oxygen” issues. Lake stratification often occurs as water temps heat up, and there is a big difference in the temperature of the upper layers and bottom layers of a body of water. A “Thermocline” can form between the upper and lower layers of water where this temperature difference occurs, limiting the exchange of oxygen from the upper layers to the cooler bottom layers of the lake. As the available oxygen in the bottom layer gets “used up”, the available oxygen in the lower layer becomes to low for anything to live, and those critters that can move will seek out better oxygenated areas, but those that can’t move will often perish, like mussels and other animals. Often we will see the “meats” from dead mussels floating in the water when a lake gets real bad. Often if the body of water “turns over” or “flips” we see algae and clumps of moss floating on the surface, and the water will look like coffee and have a sulfurous smell, and when this happens, often fish get real difficult to catch or will be seen near the surface of the water trying to breath.
Upcoming area events; Hunter Ed class on July 18-19th at the Humphreys co. sheriff’s range (Larry Bradford 264-0049), Hippie Hooper Memorial Sporting Clay tournament on July 20th at 2975 Jarman Hollow Rd Palmyra, Tn (Scott Buchanan 931-622-1287), Clarksville bass club night event on July 20th at Paris landing (Todd Schmittou 931-980-1009), Cumberland river Catman’s association night event on July 20th at Clarksville Marina (Andy Warrick 615-202-4764), USFW wood duck banding event at Duck river bottoms for “friends members only” on July 26th (731-642-2091), Hickman Co Bass Club on July 27th out of Cuba Landing Marina 5:30am-3pm (Nathan Clinard 931-623-2021), the 170th Irish Picnic at St. Patrick’s school in McEwen Tn on July 26th-27th. 175 Saint Patrick St, McEwen Tn 37101., Tennessee Mad Catters on August 3rd night event out of the NewJohnsonville harbor 7pm-6am., USA BASSIN NewJohnsonville division on August 10th at NewJohnsonville (Jammy McCloud 931-209-7795). Perry Co bass Club on August 11th at Spring Creek 6am-1pm,