Beware the Hazards!

[japlata]

I guess most everyone that fishes below the dam at Watts Bar knows about the hazards there. I knew about the rock piles down toward the power lines, but I had no idea about the hazards out from the wing wall. We were fishing out from 8 & 9 spillway, and another boat came close enough for us to exchange how you doings, and he told me to watch out for the huge beams about twenty yards or so out toward the lock, from the end of the spillway. Later we eased over and we were shocked at what we saw, there was at least two, what appeared to be metal boxes about six feet square, they looked to be made of heavy steal and were just under the surface, they were about 15 feet apart and were parallel with the wing wall. The man that told me about them said that he tore the lower unit out of another boat on the structures and I could certainly see why. What I can't understand is how I misted them when I first arrived, as I went right by them to fish for strippers. And why I have never seen them before. Another thing that baffles me is why T.V.A. allows this hazard to exist. If you are ever there during winter pool, don't forget they are there.

 

[drumking]

There is some more of that steel closer to the lock discharge too. At winter pool and if they aren't running very much water, you have to be extra cautious to avoid tearing up your lower unit. If they are running 4 or 5 turbines, then you are pretty much safe to run, but I still shy away from that steel at the wing wall. I do not know for the life of me, why in the world that the TVA would leave something like that standing after they finished construction of the dam. Must have been trying to save money and didn't want to pay OT to have someone take a torch and cut them off.

 

[Liveliner]

Thanks guys.