Bull Shoal last 3 days

[flyflinger]

Fished Bull Shoals day before yesterday. Caught a few that were too small. Water is rising fast. Went again today, no crappie, but 8 Kentucky's and 2 Largemouth, plus several big bluegills. Lake was up over 2 feet from previous day. Corps says lake will rise another 7 feet by Monday. So most of the ramps will be closed because of high water. That's three years in a row. I think the Corps must be getting advice from BP (to pump or not to pump). They seem to be holding water longer and longer every year then when the upper resivors start dumping water Bull Shoals has to hold it all to keep the farms downstream from flooding. You'd think some or the other lakes would hold some water so we could all fish all spring. But no, now it will be the end of July or August before the ramps emerge.

[DRPEPPER]

Sometimes I think it is my fault. I bought a toon boat to play in the river during the Summers about 5 years ago. The river don't go down until about August every year now.
DP

[flyflinger]

Oh, so now we know. I do wish the Corps would use better planning on holding and releasing water. They know this happens every year. So, why not draw down the lake in Jan or Feb, to allow for the influx of water from the other three impoundments. Jusy say'n.

[blairarnold]

Our farmers are getting killed down here. We're at the end of May and they still haven't been able to plant rice (which needs to be done in April), and if they have, then it's flooded. Not to mention that all our lakes have been flooded all spring, and right now it looks like it will be the middle of June before they'll be fishable (normal levels and not muddy). As was stated about Bull Shoals this is the 3rd year in a row. Truthfully we would be better off without the dams. Without them we would have a worse flood, but it would blow on through. With them we basically are flooding into June or even July every year. The Corps has lowered White River enough to get it off the low ground in the White River bottoms and lower Black River bottoms 3 times this spring, but they just lowered White enough to barely get it off the low ground. What this means is that any rain was going to put it out again, and this is what happened.

I totally agree that they ought to be letting a lot of water out in January and February, and I would even add December and maybe early March as well so they can catch the water when farming season is coming up without flooding the dickens out of the lakes. This would also have the benefit of helping the ducks and duck hunting. As it is, everyone up and down the River and up lower Black River is getting screwed.

[flyflinger]

I worked for USDA for over 20 years and had to deal with the COE on numerous occasions over water allocations for local water use. Believe me, they are deaf when it comes to any suggestions that "they" might find a better way. They rely on flawed science, political influnance, and some of the most stiff necked officers I have ever encounterd. If you don't believe me just look at the minimum flow issue. over 15 years of study, now finally recommended but unfunded. This alone would remove water from the lake every day at the rate of having one generator running round the clock. Likely still not enough, but it would be a start. I agree that the COE should release water maybe starting as early as November then see what the March rains bring. But something has to be done, because we are effected at both ends of the river, us with the lake and you with the river. Tight lines, and maybe we can fish together sometime.

[blairarnold]

I talked to a friend of mine who has had a lot of political pull in the past. (He was appointed U.S. Senator to fill out John McClellan's term.) My question was how to approach the Corps officials about getting White River down. His answer was to forget it. He said those guys could come up with more gobbledegook for a response and never would give a straight answer and never would change what they were doing.

[flyflinger]

Exactly, the're an independant bunch of %^&)%$#@#$.