Dam/Water Information

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey y’all,
 

When looking at information gathered by the Corps of Engineers about a particular lake, what do you consider to be valuable information and how do you interpret it? There is info about inflow, outflow, water level, water temp (of course), etc. I’m particularly interested in how inflow or outflow interact with your perceived rate of success fishing near the dam on the lake. Other places too. 
 

Weather unfortunately gonna get colder here soon and I expect I might need a larger body of water to keep open water. This lake has quite a large dam. 
 

Good thing I’ll be back in NC for a little while soon

[WRB]

If the dam is used for hydroelectric power generation the outflow is taken near the lake bottom deeper water.

Power generation lake tend to have multiple thermocline layers created by the lake turning over every time water is drawn to operate the generators.

Inflow water gets pulled along the lakes original channels in lieu of dispersing and mixing the lakes upper third water.

Deep water is usually low in dissolved oxygen but mixes with upper layers during power generation. 

Below the dam the water water temps are actually around 50-60 degrees warmer the lower river water attracting bass.

If the dam face is covered with rip rap should be good.

Tom

[LrgmouthShad]

15 minutes ago, WRB said:

If the dam is used for hydroelectric power generation the outflow is taken near the lake bottom deeper water.

Power generation lake tend to have multiple thermocline layers created by the lake turning over every time water is drawn to operate the generators.

Inflow water gets pulled along the lakes original channels in lieu of dispersing and mixing the lakes upper third water.

Deep water is usually low in dissolved oxygen but mixes with upper layers during power generation. 

Below the dam the water water temps are actually around 60 degrees warmer the lower river water attracting bass.

If the dam face is covered with rip rap should be good.

Tom

Thank you sir

 

Would you say the following is true? 
- cold water bass want to be near current but not in it

- runoff in winter colder than existing lake temp because specific heat of land is less than that of water

 

I am also not sure if the dam on this lake is used for power generation. It is the Pomme De Terre in MO

 

6 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

am also not sure if the dam on this lake is used for power generation. It is the Pomme De Terre in MO

Update: it is not used for power generation even though it was designed for that purpose. Found that on a Missouri MDC Gov document regarding the lake. The dam is purely for flood control

[roadwarrior]

Water release trumps all other variables on the Tennessee River System.

Right now we have a bit too much....130,000 cfs below Pickwick Dam later

this week.

 

 

 

                                           

[WRB]

17 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Thank you sir

 

Would you say the following is true? 
- cold water bass want to be near current but not in it

- runoff in winter colder than existing lake temp because specific heat of land is less than that of water

 

I am also not sure if the dam on this lake is used for power generation. It is the Pomme De Terre in MO

 

Update: it is not used for power generation even though it was designed for that purpose. Found that on a Missouri MDC Gov document regarding the lake. The dam is purely for flood control

Flood control earthen with rip rap dam and over 7,000 long!

The lake more then likely has turned over so the bass could be any depth they prefer.

I would fish birds to locate baitfish schools using structure spoons. Also fish soil breaks clay to rock with wood using jigs and drop shot wacky hooked finesse worms etc. crank baits along the rip rap dam face.

Run off water during the winter is usually colder water near the air temps.

 

Tom

[Tennessee Boy]

5 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

When looking at information gathered by the Corps of Engineers about a particular lake, what do you consider to be valuable information and how do you interpret it? There is info about inflow, outflow, water level, water temp (of course), etc. I’m particularly interested in how inflow or outflow interact with your perceived rate of success fishing near the dam on the lake. 

I think the answers to your questions will vary a lot from lake to lake and everyone will answer based on their own local experience.   As already mentioned,  on the Tennessee river the release schedule has a huge impact on the current and current is very important for fishing.   On flood control lakes the water level can fluctuate dramatically and rapidly changing water levels can make finding fish difficult.  On deep highland lakes you can have very tall dams where the water temperature and dissolved oxygen issues that have been mentioned come in to play.

[WRB]

The OP had a specific question regarding where he fishes and added the lake-dam name. 

It’s helpful to read beyond the title before adding a response, otherwise we get everyone’s local lakes reply.

Interesting reading but doesn’t help the OP, does make for interesting conversation to learn about everyone’s opinion’s.

Tom

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Clearlake is the odd duck.  they use an unit called a Rumsey.  example.  right now the lake is at -2.44 Rumsey.

 

i think a dude named Rumsey stuck an elevation monument on some rock outcropping and the entire region just went with it.  wish he used his first name.  Dick Rumsey.  "how deep is the lake right now..?"

oh, its is 2 ___ deep.  cold too!"

 

I MADE UP THAT FIRST NAME PART.  his name was Dewitt Rumsey.  hahaha..

[slonezp]

The USGS should have the flow data you are looking for in real time, or close to it.  

[WRB]

9 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Clearlake is the odd duck.  they use an unit called a Rumsey.  example.  right now the lake is at -2.44 Rumsey.

 

i think a dude named Rumsey stuck an elevation monument on some rock outcropping and the entire region just went with it.  wish he used his first name.  Dick Rumsey.  "how deep is the lake right now..?"

oh, its is 2 ___ deep.  cold too!"

 

I MADE UP THAT FIRST NAME PART.  his name was Dewitt Rumsey.  hahaha..

Clear Lake is a natural lake the outflow is Cache creek a natal rock escapement acting like a dam. Maximum lake lake lake is Zero Ramsey named after the man who made a man made wooden dam  at the Cache creek outflow. 

The wooden dam raises the lake level for each board added above the natural lake level.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

At the lakes I fish, I look water elevation and release to see if the lake is high/low and if the water level is stable or not to get an idea of how the fish may be behaving before I even arrive at the lake. Examples would be a lake that is dropping fast, I'm going to assume those fish will be positioned off the bank and probably more main lake. A lake that is rising quickly, they might be pushing up onto the bank and towards the banks of pockets and creeks where water may run into the lake.

 

Pomme is a fun winter time lake. Lots of little ones but there's big fish to be caught plus the chance at a muskie. I like to target the channel swing banks with A-rigs, jerkbaits, warts, and jigs in the winter time. 

[TnRiver46]

Rule number one of plumbing: **** runs downhill

 

in all seriousness , I google usgs water data for waters without a dam, tva.com for waters with dams 

[Tennessee Boy]

12 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Rule number one of plumbing: **** runs downhill

 

in all seriousness , I google usgs water data for waters without a dam, tva.com for waters with dams 

Waters without a dam?

[TnRiver46]

13 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Waters without a dam?

Hahaha!!! You are too far downstream………

 

we have little river, little pigeon river, tellico river, nolichucky, French broad upstream of Douglas, clinch and Powell upstream of Norris, etc.

 

there might even be some of your west TN haunts on the list (big sandy, obion, etc)