Thread: Skunked

mrdux and bigbaddad, thanks for the generator info. I too look at the number of generators and not necessarily the flow. Always room to learn more

Originally Posted by mrdux

Dave, I depend on the "TVA Info" app and watch the inflow and the outflow. Yes, 4 generators do create current but not in the range that it takes to make fishing better on the lake IMO. I want to see an "average discharge" number over 30K before I can depend on the current on the main lake having a big affect on fishing. Today's prediction is 21K with 25K for the next few days. Keep in mind that most of that outflow thru the generators will happen during the afternoon and early evenings.

Mr Dux,does the 32k criteria stand for Barkley too? Also,if the forecast is for 32 k at say noon,when would i see 32 k current at Donaldson creek?I hope thats not a dunb question.

Originally Posted by samjoe

Mr Dux,does the 32k criteria stand for Barkley too? Also,if the forecast is for 32 k at say noon,when would i see 32 k current at Donaldson creek?I hope thats not a dunb question.

32K on Barkley will be more felt current than 32K at KY. That said, I just looked at Barkley for the next couple of days. They are going to be running over 30K outflow but the inflow is higher than the outflow. IMO that means the level is going to be rising and the current will be pretty low. I want the level to be falling slightly or at least staying the same with the inflow being equal to or less than the outflow. For 7/7 the average inflow is predicted at 44.8K with the outflow at 31.7K. That means rising level with little current. I'd still go fishing but I'd be looking for the fish in locals different than I would with high current flow.

As to the felt current at Donaldson Creek, the current won't be an issue in any creek unless the outflow is well up there, like 60K-70K. You won't see a swirl behind a buoy up in a creek like you will on the main lake very often. The bait and crappie might move out toward the mouth in a heavy current. On a slack current they tend to scatter all over.

Originally Posted by mrdux

32K on Barkley will be more felt current than 32K at KY. That said, I just looked at Barkley for the next couple of days. They are going to be running over 30K outflow but the inflow is higher than the outflow. IMO that means the level is going to be rising and the current will be pretty low. I want the level to be falling slightly or at least staying the same with the inflow being equal to or less than the outflow. For 7/7 the average inflow is predicted at 44.8K with the outflow at 31.7K. That means rising level with little current. I'd still go fishing but I'd be looking for the fish in locals different than I would with high current flow.

As to the felt current at Donaldson Creek, the current won't be an issue in any creek unless the outflow is well up there, like 60K-70K. You won't see a swirl behind a buoy up in a creek like you will on the main lake very often. The bait and crappie might move out toward the mouth in a heavy current. On a slack current they tend to scatter all over.

Thanks for the reply.What i meant was if a given flow is forecast for say 2pm.Would the main lake at Donaldson creek have that flow at that time? Or does the flow take a while to move upstream?

Originally Posted by samjoe

Thanks for the reply.What i meant was if a given flow is forecast for say 2pm.Would the main lake at Donaldson creek have that flow at that time? Or does the flow take a while to move upstream?

Current is constant all the way thru the lake. You should see an increase in current in the hot part of the day as they put more generators on for power demand. It's not like a wave that moves down the lake. It is just movement of all the water from the headwaters of the lake to the dam.

So to answer your question: Yes, the current flow should be felt as an increase at any given spot. The bait and crappie tend to move out toward the mouth of creeks as current increases.

Thank you Mr Dux. I'm going to get my teenagers out on a ledge this weekend for bass.