Lake levels are remaining stable, with current levels at 358.5ft with an average flow rate of 7,000cfs. The water temperature is still rising, and as of last Friday, was at 66 degrees, but with a few 80 + degree days on tap, expect the surface temperature to climb into the 70’s this week. The DO level is at 9.63mg/L with a pH of 7.58.
The Duck river is at 2.4ft, and the Buffalo River is at 4ft. The Cumberland river at Dover is at 59ft, and at Clarksville, it is at 29ft. Cheatham Lake is at 385.5ft with an average flow of 7,000cfs.
Fishing has been improving, although we continue to experience a lot of wind to contend with every day. Crappie and bass continue to be found in the shallows spawning, although some fishermen have backed off to the “shell beds” looking for smallmouth bass. The third week in April is usually the Peak of the crappie spawn, and we should continue to see spawning activity over the next week or so. Most bass fishermen have been throwing spinnerbaits, jigs, and Texas rigged worms in the shallows, with some success. Many fishermen have been finding catfish and bluegill/shellcrackers in the shallows as well, although I really don’t think it’s time for them to spawn yet, as the water temperature need to be in the 70’s for them to spawn. Catfishermen have been fishing nightcrawlers, either fished on bottom, or on floats in the shallows, and coming up with some good table fair.
Here are a few things about the redear sunfish (shellcracker). The limit on shellcrackers is 20/day, spawning takes place once the water temperature reach 70 degrees, and will continue up to the upper 80’s. This is usually around the last week of April into May for our area. Look for spawning shellcrackers around protected bays and coves with nearby vegetation in water depths of 3-6ft deep. They usually spawn over hard bottoms including sand, pea gravel and rocks. The shellcrackers main diet is invertebrates, like crawfish, snails and insect larvae. The shellcracker has an enlarged pharyngeal jaw, which allows them to crush the shell of invertebrates to get at the meat inside. When looking for spawning shellcrackers, most fishermen will use worms fished on floats, moving in the shallows until a spawning area is found. During times other than the spawn, they will be on the river flats, usually over hard bottoms, looking for their food. Fishermen can find them during these times by fishing on the bottom over hard bottoms, usually near the old river channel. The state record for redeared sunfish is 3lb 6oz with a world record of 6lb 4oz fish from Arizona.
We now have two weeks behind us in the turkey season, and here are the totals as of last Friday; Benton-224, Dickson-532, Houston-211, Humphreys-389, Hickman-491, the statewide total is at 21,106 turkey, with the top harvesting county, Maury with 681 turkey. The big news with TWRA is the approval to hunt Coyotes and Bobcats at night. Hunters are reminded that this doesn’t go into effect until 30 days after the state signs the proclamation, and this may be July 1st this year. The new hunting regulation would allow night hunting for coyotes and bobcats on only private lands, and would require a hunting license and written landowner permission.
Upcoming events; Twin Oaks Bowhunters 26th. Annual “Tennessee Classic” on May 3-5th at 1097 Ashley Rd. Chapmansboro Tn. 37035 (615-456-5961/931-362-3717). Perry Co. Bass Club “Budweiser Open” on May 4th West Tennessee Crappie Trail on May 4th on Ky lake, USA BASSIN Danville Division on May 5th at Danville (931-801-8520), ABA division 40 on May 4th at Birdsong resort (931-622-5273/615-922-0775), 37th Annual Charles Harper Memorial Bush Tournament on May 4th at Spring Creek/Mousetail landing (731-845-7212), Tennessee Mad Catters on May 5th at Cheatham dam, Cumberland River Catman’s association on May 11th at Ashland City (931-216-7174/931-980-5153), Tn National Wildlife Refuge “Family Spring Fling Festival” on May 11th from 10am-12pm at the refruge visitor center in Springville Tn. (731-642-2091), Stewart Co. Boater ed class on May 18th at the Stewart Co Visitor Center from 5pm-9pm(629-201-0140), Hickman Co Bass Club on May 25th at Masons Boat dock(931-623-2021), nUSA BASSIN NewJohnsonville division on May 25th at NewJohnsonville(931-209-7795), Clarksville Bass Club May 25th on Old Hickory lake (931-980-1009/931-302-5556)