Thread: Barkley water discharge rates

I would consider it high for Barkley. Ky is over 90K but the inflow is quite a bit more than outflow. Both lakes will be coming up slightly and that should make for some good fishing.

They had 3 gates open as of yesterday afternoon when I left. I fished hard Wed-Sat and the bite was dry Fri. & Sat. Something changed, I'm not sure exactly what but I kept blaming it on the pulling of the water.

Something else I noticed that caught my attention were the debris fields that were present both, Fri & Sat mornings. I had to jog through these fields in the morning only to see a completely clean channel each afternoon. I don't know if overnight rains created these huge debris fields or what but they were gone by early afternoon each day. I personally hate to see them tugging on the lake but that's just my opinion. I have to remind myself that it is a flood control situation and fishing is a by product.

Anybody know if the bass are in the buck brush? High muddy water should be like the good old days of white crappie up shallow.

When you talk about flow rates on Barkley you have to take into account the water they're running at KY too because of the canal connecting the 2 lakes. Many times they try to keep the flow rates at Barkley as low as possible for navigation purposes on the lower Cumberland. Thats a narrow, winding, rocky, little ditch to run below Barkley when they got Barkley dumping.

Terry, I can't imagine running Barkley from the dam to the prison piloting barges!! I have a time just staying in the channel with my little fishing boat! There's a big flat on the western point of Demumbers that comes way, way out, especially when at winter pool. Davenport has a long and shallow western point too, cut it too sharply entering those bays and it gets shallow real quick.

Do you run Barkley a lot?

I hear you guys that lake is tough for sure if you don't know it or have good electronics with gps! Be back down in less than two weeks can't wait hope them gills and shell crackers are fired up!!

I found this explanation and chart online that you may find helpful

Lake elevation is based on sea-level. Strength of current is based on the discharge rate at the dams. Kentucky Lake is much larger than Lake Barkley, so 100,000 cfs at Barkley Dam produces stronger current than 100,000 cfs at Kentucky Dam. Use this unofficial chart to compare current strengths.


Discharge . Kentucky Dam . Barkley Dam
0 - 15,000 cfs . Very Low . Low
15,000-30,000 . Low . Average
30,000-65,000 . Average .Above Average
65,000-100,000 . Above Average . Strong
100,000-200,000 . Strong .Very Strong
200,000-300,000 . Very Strong . Powerful
300,000-500,000 . Powerful . Very Powerful
Over 500,000 .Very Powerful .(Highly Unlikely)

Originally Posted by Slow Retrieve

I found this explanation and chart online that you may find helpful

Lake elevation is based on sea-level. Strength of current is based on the discharge rate at the dams. Kentucky Lake is much larger than Lake Barkley, so 100,000 cfs at Barkley Dam produces stronger current than 100,000 cfs at Kentucky Dam. Use this unofficial chart to compare current strengths.


Discharge Kentucky Dam Barkley Dam
0 - 15,000 cfs Very Low Low
15,000-30,000 Low Average
30,000-65,000 Average Above Average
65,000-100,000 Above Average Strong
100,000-200,000 Strong Very Strong
200,000-300,000 Very Strong Powerful
300,000-500,000 Powerful Very Powerful
Over 500,000 Very Powerful (Highly Unlikely)

Just what I was lookin for. Thank you.