Current and Timing

[BassinHomer]

Hey I know there has been alot of talk as of late as to how the pulling of current effects the fish and we all pretty much know that it does so my question is, how immediate is the change, if I'm fishing upstream, say almost in the river and they start pulling water how long does it take for those fish to be affected? Is it immediate or does it take a couple of hours for the current to move upstream?

[Dixie Baits]

GREAT Question BW I am sure someone will answer this one. I have no idea.

[BassinHomer]

GREAT Question BW I am sure someone will answer this one. I have no idea.

Well that worked didn't it?

[Mountainman]

This is a little outside my area of knowledge, but just guessing, seems to me like it would depend on the lake, tributary systems, water shed and distance upstream you are from the dam. Id say know your generation schedule & around that time start watching for telltale signs of current wherever youre fishing. again just my worth of guesses......

[jdrico]

I used to wade and fish rivers alot. When they turned the generators on, as soon as I noticed the water become swifter and colder, the bite would pick up. I'd say it's pretty immediate. I'd compare it to a dog when you start scooping out its food and it gets really excited because it knows its getting ready to eat. I think the current has the same effect on fish and they will eat until it stops.

[BassinHomer]

Apparently not, I seem to be in a funk lately and can't catch em' no matter what, man I can't wait 96 more days lol

[hung up]

I have been told that the current on Ft loundon never really stops it just slows all most to a stop

filling up on the lower end, but stilling moveing on the upper side. the speed of the under toe should

put the fish to structure looking for bait to flow by

You do know that FT loundon fish are a bread of there own some times thay bite one after another next day

how knows as far as water movement who knows what speed it takes

[brwnbass]

It definitly has an effect on the fish. When they start pulling water, it shouldnt take an hour til the bite warms up. The fish will reposition themselves on points & channels, usually on some kind of rock cover, facing into the current. The best thing to do is go out & mark a bunch of channel bends & points with some kind of stucture on them. Then go fish them when the water starts flowing. Usually you have to fish upstream, position yourself downstream from the cover & cast past it. crankbaits & jigs work well for this.

[Stump9000]

GREAT Question BW I am sure someone will answer this one. I have no idea.

[brownfish03]

Ive got some spots on Boone I fish alot and if the generators are turned on up stream, the bite starts as soon as the curent reaches the spot. On the other hand, the bite will continue for about an hour after generation has ended. Its not unusual to get bit at this spot for upwards of an hour after generation has ended....then, its like a switch, cant buy a bite. Im guessing the father you go from the generation source, the longer or less amount of time you would have an oppritunity for this bite window.

[bronzebackhuntr]

As far as fish biting when they are generating. Patrick Henry is a perfect example. If you are out there and they aren't moving water then you might as well be at the house. If Patrick Henry is pumping water then the bite is pretty good. If you can catch PH and Boone both generating at the same time then you might as well plan on staying all day cause you are gonna absolutely WHACK em! Alot of it is just a matter of timing. You have to watch the generating schedule and then pay attention to when the water starts moving in that area. I know the upper end of boone around Bluff City it takes about 5 hrs for the water to get there and start moving from when Holston starts generating.

[BassinHomer]

I'm really enjoying this guys, very infromative, I've had a couple of off years on Loudon here recently and I'm just trying to hone in on what changed, maybe my timing is off this year?

[trackertxw175]

read that most of the upper tva lakes are tributary lakes for flood control and water storage and the lower lakes which i think they said start with loudon are navigation lakes and depending on rainfall determine the releases of the tributary lakes. i guess it's possible that your lack of luck this year may have more to do with how they are maintaining navigation levels.might look into levels for past years if you can find that info.

[jdrico]

I'm really enjoying this guys, very infromative, I've had a couple of off years on Loudon here recently and I'm just trying to hone in on what changed, maybe my timing is off this year?

Also keep in mind that Boone and Patrick Henry are much smaller than Loudon and the effects of generation are more extreme. The water won't move as fast and it may take longer to see a change on Loudon.

[BassinHomer]

read that most of the upper tva lakes are tributary lakes for flood control and water storage and the lower lakes which i think they said start with loudon are navigation lakes and depending on rainfall determine the releases of the tributary lakes. i guess it's possible that your lack of luck this year may have more to do with how they are maintaining navigation levels.might look into levels for past years if you can find that info.

I've noticed that it gets to full pool in late Spring/early Summer and remains there, sometimes rising a foot or two above full pool if we've had steady rain but never dropping below full pool untill October sometime but when they drop it they drop it, usually the full 5 feet or so and I've seen times when heavy rain wood muddy it up and raise it to full pool in the winter but they imeddiately open up and drop the bottom out of it and it's back down with in 24 hours of cresting.

[trackertxw175]

I've noticed that it gets to full pool in late Spring/early Summer and remains there, sometimes rising a foot or two above full pool if we've had steady rain but never dropping below full pool untill October sometime but when they drop it they drop it, usually the full 5 feet or so and I've seen times when heavy rain wood muddy it up and raise it to full pool in the winter but they imeddiately open up and drop the bottom out of it and it's back down with in 24 hours of cresting.

thats not the case on cherokee.i live 1/2 mile from the ramp in the summer, but 8 miles from the nearest ramp in the winter.its all river up this way this time of year.

[BassinHomer]

thats not the case on cherokee.i live 1/2 mile from the ramp in the summer, but 8 miles from the nearest ramp in the winter.its all river up this way this time of year.

yeah the annual drawdown on Loudon is only 5-6ft max a year, interestingly I aquired a new book on bass fishing yesterday and it said that 80% of bass angling was finding the fish and those 80% are in 20% of the lake that would offer up a good theory for what happened to me lol