Fishing

Area lake levels are holding at 358.5ft and are predicted to remain this level in the upcoming week. Flow rates are low, with an average of less than 15,000cfs predicted all week. Water temps remain above normal, with morning temps in the mid 70’s, and afternoon temps at around the 80 degree mark. Both the Buffalo and Duck river are normal to low, with the Duck holding just over 2ft, and the Buffalo at 4ft in Lobelville.

Area lake levels have stabilized at just over 358ft, while a few weeks ago we saw lake levels over 361ft. And saw a drop over the last week to current levels and are predicted to remain around 358ft for the remainder of the week. Normally TVA will have the lake at 359ft by May 1st. I’m not sure what TVA has going on by keeping the lake at 358ft, possibly they are anticipating a lot of rain in the TN River Valley and may need the extra storage to alleviate possibly flooding. We have had a wet spring this year and weather patterns haven’t stabilized much as well. With the unstable weather, the spawning activity of crappie and bass has been effected by the drop in water levels just when the water temps were getting into the low to mid 60’s (when crappie and bass begin spawning). This has caused many of the fish to move or abandon their nests, but now we are seeing some temperature stabilization and many fish have returned to the shallows to continue spawning.

Lake levels have fallen from a high last week of over 360ft, but TVA has pulled the water back to around 358ft. Normally TVA will start filling the lake from winter pool starting April 1st, and have the water level at 359ft by May 1st. Due to abnormally high rain amounts over the spring, we reached higher levels earlier this year, but TVA will continue to try and keep lake levels where they should be. We saw low to mid 60’s early last week, which caused some fish to enter the shallows beginning the spawn, only to see a cold front come through and cool water temps back into the upper 50’s, putting a halt to the spawn. With temps late last week well above normal, combined with strong winds, water temps are now in the mid 60’s and the spawn should be happening. TVA did pull the water levels back, but now have stabilized around 358ft.

Lake levels on Kentucky Lake have been changing daily with all the rainfall we’ve been seeing this spring. Combined with the cooler than normal water temperatures this spring, the spawn for crappie and bass, is now almost two weeks delayed. Normally we see crappie and bass already in the shallows with the males in spawn mode. This may be a blessing in disguise, as now the water levels will possibly be at or near normal summer levels, allowing the fish to find more and better areas to spawn. One of the most important ingredients to the picture, is with the higher water levels, the bait fish will have better spawning areas as well, as the bait fish numbers have a drastic impact on our sports fish growth rates and populations. The more bait fish (food) we have, the better the fishing becomes over the upcoming years.

Lake levels bottomed out early last week. TVA has the lake on the rise, which is normal for this time of year as TVA normally starts filling the lake starting at the 1st of April, and has the lake at summer pool of 359ft by the end of the month. As of last Friday, the lake at New Johnsonville was at 355.5ft and is on a slow rise of around .2ft per day. Of course this all depends on how much rain enter’s the system over the next few days. Water temperatures have continued to be below normal for this time of year, with average surface temps hanging in the upper 50’s. With the warmer weather predicted this week, I do expect a quick rise in water temperatures, which will help spur on the impending spawn for many of our fish species. Once water temperatures make it into the mid 60’s, and stay there, expect a ‘mad dash’ of crappie and bass heading towards the shallows looking for spawning areas.