messier49
Active member
anyone on here know when the chic is coming up to full pool? heard rumors that it will be later this year, any truth to that rumor?
when's the chick coming up to full pool
- Thread starter messier49
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DHaun
Well-known member
rsimms
Well-known member
Go where David said (he's quicker on the trigger) to see the standard "Operating Guide" for Chickamauga.
http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/op_guides/chickamauga.htm
We're in the second year of a new river ops schedule... so if you're asking, "is it coming up later than two years ago," the answer is "yes." But they were on this same schedule last year. Of course it can vary widely based upon rainfall... and right now we need rain badly.
http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/op_guides/chickamauga.htm
We're in the second year of a new river ops schedule... so if you're asking, "is it coming up later than two years ago," the answer is "yes." But they were on this same schedule last year. Of course it can vary widely based upon rainfall... and right now we need rain badly.
messier49
Active member
thanks david and richard. i had heard rumors that it would be mid may or something close to that.
TR20bh
Well-known member
I've always wondered if bringing the water up in Mid-May leaves many beds in such deep water that the sun cannot incubate the eggs & they won't hatch. What is the gestation time from the fertilization of eggs on the bed til the time they hatch. Case in point, a bass goes onto bed in the next 2 weeks. Builds the bed in 3-4' of water given the light penetration they instinctively know is needed for incubation. Eggs are laid & fertilized. Then the water rises to near full pool over the next few weeks. Those beds are now 8-10' deep. Are those beds & offspring just doomed? Always wondered this with the way the water level is jerked around near spawning.
RangerRob
Well-known member
That's been my arguement for years Ben. It makes no sense. They monkey with the levels during the spawn and monkey with it again during the busiest feeding time of the year in the fall. Flood control, schmud control. The lake could be at full pool right now and as dry as the ground is, Noah would have to be nearing construction before flooding actually occured. Leave it up or leave it down ... it makes no difference to me as long as the spawn isn't affected.
Fishin Fool
Well-known member
I agree with Ben here. It has always been a worry to me since they began jerking the water levels up and down that they are flooding the bedding fish with excessive water, or on the other hand, leaving the beds high and dry. I went last year and found bass bedding in 2 to 3 feet of water in shallow flats and had a ball with them. Went back a week or so later and some of the beds were competely out of the water and others were so shallow the bass couldn't stay on them and defend them. The same is true for all species of fish that bed in shallow water. I wish TVA would become more responsive to the fish and protecting them but it ain't gonna happen.
DHaun
Well-known member
I remember many Bass anglers having discussions about fluctuating water levels and the impacts on bedding bass last year.
In additon, I think I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons (out of several) for the reduced creel limit/catch rate on crappie is due to TVA's decision to raise water levels to full pool later than usual in May rather than April. This has a negative effect on spawning fish and their ability to find good cover since a large majority of it is out of the water during the April spawn...I'm pretty sure I read it in Feb or Mar issue of TN Sportsman and it was pertaining to Chickamuaga.
So...Thanks to all the those who put out brush piles this year emoThumbsup
In additon, I think I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons (out of several) for the reduced creel limit/catch rate on crappie is due to TVA's decision to raise water levels to full pool later than usual in May rather than April. This has a negative effect on spawning fish and their ability to find good cover since a large majority of it is out of the water during the April spawn...I'm pretty sure I read it in Feb or Mar issue of TN Sportsman and it was pertaining to Chickamuaga.
So...Thanks to all the those who put out brush piles this year emoThumbsup
TheFisherman
Well-known member
ok - here's the story as I perveive it. May or may not be true!!! Upper trib lake boat and dock owners complained (he who yells the most...) to TVA until they gave in and modified their long standing general schedule which has always worked very conservatively, even handling 100 year floods with only small amounts of flooding, to keep lake levels up longer in the fall. Well, as long as they were going about it, they did a complete study and decided that if they made someone happy then they had to make someone else unhappy to balance it out (I know, lousy logic, but it seems that way). To disguise it a little, they start raising the lake two weeks earlier, but by mid-April, when it used to get to full pool, they decided to make the halfway point, so "the fish would have shallow water to spawn in." Then they go ahead and wipe that out by bringing it on up to full pool by mid May! Well, in truth I don't think they truly had bad intentions, but their logic is just as flawed as mine. I just see no reason for the spring change in water levels on the Chick. Bring it on up to full pool by April 15, I say, and make everyone happy. Heck, they had a hard enough time making that schedule in drought years.
Now, here's my real point. there is no point in this ultra conservative river schedule any more. The lakes don't have to be so low in the wintertime. Come on, TVA is already got the best weather forecasts in town. THey KNOW when a big rain is coming. They can keep the lakes at a higher level and lower them when it's obvious a rain will be heavy enough to need additional pool capacity. The idea of keeping Chick a little lower for a little longer doesn't recognize that fact. Period. I firmly beleive we are about to see fishing head south unless milfoil comes back - I think the spawn was lousey last year and the year before too. It just doesn't have to be that way. I believe that with all my heart.
Now, here's my real point. there is no point in this ultra conservative river schedule any more. The lakes don't have to be so low in the wintertime. Come on, TVA is already got the best weather forecasts in town. THey KNOW when a big rain is coming. They can keep the lakes at a higher level and lower them when it's obvious a rain will be heavy enough to need additional pool capacity. The idea of keeping Chick a little lower for a little longer doesn't recognize that fact. Period. I firmly beleive we are about to see fishing head south unless milfoil comes back - I think the spawn was lousey last year and the year before too. It just doesn't have to be that way. I believe that with all my heart.
I just drove by a few minutes ago and it has come up six inches to a foot today. I hope they plan to leave it up a little bit as it is now. Savannah bay was almost dry except for the bridge and right now it is up into the bay a couple hundred yards. They are sure building a lot of docks on the other side of the bay where that new housing area is going in.emoBawl More boat and people, just what we need in the bay right now. I bet there will be some good jet skiers over there soon that fishinfool can go after.emoBigsmile Jmax
TR20bh
Well-known member
RR,
I'm with you. Flood control, my a**! Down on Guntersville, TVA never drops the level more than about 12-18" from summer pool EVER!! It floods down there probably worse than it does here, but they seem to be able to make adjustments without dropping the lake 5-6'.
I'm with you. Flood control, my a**! Down on Guntersville, TVA never drops the level more than about 12-18" from summer pool EVER!! It floods down there probably worse than it does here, but they seem to be able to make adjustments without dropping the lake 5-6'.
bassfishingnerd
Well-known member
Another thing to think about is that when you drop the water, it exposes the muck and allows it to dry out, and this is not a bad thing either. I fish the "muck" lakes here in Minnesota, and mucky areas just do NOT hold fish. The oxygen is very low in these areas. I know that when the water is low here, and it gets filled back up, the fishing flourishes.
Regarding the spawn, mother nature has been here for a LONG time, and the river certainly fluxuated much more than it does now, even with TVA controlling it. I think the fish will adapt, and take care of themselves!
We just need to adapt and become better fishermen.
Regarding the spawn, mother nature has been here for a LONG time, and the river certainly fluxuated much more than it does now, even with TVA controlling it. I think the fish will adapt, and take care of themselves!
We just need to adapt and become better fishermen. Fishin Fool
Well-known member
I saw that the lake had come up about a foot today. But let me tell you something Jmax; the jetskiers were ALREADY out! I could not believe it. I came out of Harrison Bay and there were two of them blasting by the entrance! Then I saw two more at the nuke plant. The water temp is still 60 degrees! Just wait until the water comes up some so they can get back to the fishing boats without worrying about stumps! So yeah, I think you are right. It is going to be a merry-go-wake-making summer! I think I'll just buy a jetski and join them!
RangerRob
Well-known member
Don't give in to the dark side FF. Use the Force ... or a 3oz. lead sinker and a surf casting rod. emoEvil
Fishin Fool
Well-known member
RR I'm actually thinking of putting one of those babies on the boat just for that purpose! Maybe it will be a good year and they'll all learn manners and be considerate of their bass fishing brothers. Anyone want to put any money on it?.......emoHoppingmad emoLaugh emoLaugh emoLaugh
TR20bh
Well-known member
Scott,bassfishingnerd - 3/21/2007 9:22 AM
Another thing to think about is that when you drop the water, it exposes the muck and allows it to dry out, and this is not a bad thing either. I fish the "muck" lakes here in Minnesota, and mucky areas just do NOT hold fish. The oxygen is very low in these areas. I know that when the water is low here, and it gets filled back up, the fishing flourishes.
Regarding the spawn, mother nature has been here for a LONG time, and the river certainly fluxuated much more than it does now, even with TVA controlling it. I think the fish will adapt, and take care of themselves!
We don't have much problem with muck here. They start dropping water in Oct. I'd love to see TVA drop the water in Nov. & then bring it to full pool 1st week of Mar., plenty of time for muck to dry out & people to work on docks. My point is, since TVA has the ability to adapt schedules to help take care of the fish, why risk destroying whole year-classes of fish to irresponsible management practices. That has little to do with any of our needing to adapt & become better fishermen. Oh, by the way, we down here all had to adapt when TVA eliminated the primary habitat in our lake by using chemicals that they had very little data as to the long-term effects on the resource. No, I think it's high time TVA adapted to the fish!
bassfishingnerd
Well-known member
I know what happened with the vegetation. I grew up fishing down there. They killed the fishing when they killed the milfoil and the native vegetation. It was a shame what happened there, and the fishing has not been the same since. Unfortunately, I can't see TVA changing it's ways though.
Politics is the only way to get TVA off their a** and do what is right. They aren't going to listen to sound logical reasons for managing the water flow. Most are not fishermen and could care less about whether the fish live or die. That is obvious by the poisoning of the waters several years ago.
Someone who controls the money strings are the ones that they will listen to. How many have writtten letters to Wamp, Alexander and company to complain about the way TVA is operating? For every letter that they receive, it is counted as 1000 letters from the constituants. Politicians listen when they are concerned about votes. This is really the only way to get TVA to act in a positive manner. All else is just spleen venting and although it may feel good for the moment, it really doesn't do any good. My .02 worth. emoGeezer
Someone who controls the money strings are the ones that they will listen to. How many have writtten letters to Wamp, Alexander and company to complain about the way TVA is operating? For every letter that they receive, it is counted as 1000 letters from the constituants. Politicians listen when they are concerned about votes. This is really the only way to get TVA to act in a positive manner. All else is just spleen venting and although it may feel good for the moment, it really doesn't do any good. My .02 worth. emoGeezer
TR20bh
Well-known member
So if Cong. Wamp & Sen. Alexander received 200 emails concerning TVA, it is viewed as 200,000 voter's expressing their view? I'm in! Where do we get their email addresses? It's an election year, maybe they'll pay a little attention if a couple of hundred of us letting them know what we think of TVA's disregard of one of the most valuable resources in their district.
BackOnTheWater
Well-known member
If WE, as individuals make our case known to our elected officials, would they really pay attention? I'm gonna rip some off immediately. I think that maybe orgs such as CFF, CBA, BASS, etc, using any political clout they might have as lobbyists could help as well. Any ideas on how we can best impact the situation?