Dam Releases

I'll have to check the inflow and outflows regularly while on the water to better understand their relationship to current.

Bill

yea its a tricky thing to figure out. Wheeler level is measured at wheeler dam. Anything under 50,000 I consider good. Also if fishing east of the RR bridge in Decatur it is tricky when they are pulling a ton of water. All of that water has to go under the RR bridge with is pretty narrow considering the rivers width in some spots then the inflow from limestone and flint creeks. If it has came a big rain and they are pulling 100K plus you can expect Decatur area, flint, and limestone to be around 2 ft higher than what the app is saying wheeler is.

Took me a while but I had a good handle on it on my home lakes in Oklahoma. I knew what to expect before I launched the boat. All comes with experience.
Bill

Also depends if your fishing anywhere near the main river channel above Decater, High flow means high flow there.

LOL, let me try that again. High flow means high water levels above Decatur, especially above the entrance to Limestone Creek. I've seen the lake down three or four feet below Decatur, but the water four or five feet above full pool at Ditto when they're releasing 120,000 at Guntersville Dam. In a big boat you can look for fishable water. In a kayak you have to deal with what you have so I watch water water levels, flow and wind closely.

Look at release on the TVA website, then check this link for expected water heights. National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

You can down load the TVA water release page and it tells you everything. Right now the floodgates are open and the water is really moving the last time I looked it was 85000. My best luck has been anything 40000 or less.