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Hey guys pretty new around here been to sardis a few times and have always enjoyed myself. I have question about the Sardis Curve i hear you talk about. My question is quite frankly, what is it? What lake levels are considered normal? We normally go come down in April will the water be alot shallower in lets say Feb? Thanks guys great site and you fellas have a ton of knowledge i hope to learn.
Here's a good link that will give it to you, its a graph when you clock on Sardis or any of the others listed. Once you get used to following it and where it was when you fished at a certain time it will help you a lot.
http://ftp.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/ed/edh/resrep.htm
The curve is the water level they want to maintain at a given time. They want it low before the spring rain. Go to the site rees guide gave you and you will understand. A few years ago the coe had rangers walking the levee 24/7 because of a 19 inch week of rain. They said they would not that again if all the fish die.
Said what would not happen?Quote:
Originally Posted by stormcloud
the water is that high right now? you been getting alot of rain down there.
UP 6 foot in the last 5 days!!!!!:yikes
Look at Butla, its up more than 10 foot in the same time span. Inch of run off goes a long ways up there.
Yep and Butla going to get worse. All the fields around the feeder creeks are flooded. Flooded pretty good below the house and I'm about 35 miles from the lake as the crow flys. All of it will end up there in about a week.
Sardis is a flood control reservoir it's in place to keep from flooding the delta. The rule curve is there guide to keep water when it rains the most and drain it when it rains the least. You can drive your truck on the lake bed in the winter and in the summer water is "about" 20' deep there. Every year is different from the next due to unpredictable rain or drought. You learn to hate it or enjoy it. Best thing is to deal with it and learn from it.
handicrappie, they didn't want to have to walk the damn 24/7 again if they could avoid it. They are not in the fish business.
How did walking the dam pertain to the fish?Quote:
Originally Posted by stormcloud
they don't want it that high , even if the high water helps the spawnnonono .the possibility of dam damage is not a choice compared to helping fish .:donoQuote:
Originally Posted by ATM
Thanks for the replies guys and thank you for the link I have it bookmarked. Do you all think there will be a drastic difference in the water dept if i came down in feb compared to when I usually come down in April? We have few spots that we always seem to catch fish on just wondering if they are going to be dry this time of year.
Drastically different. Unless something out of the ordinary happens. Your spots right now are probably high and dry. If not they are covered with muddy dirty water that has risen real fast. I wouldn't waste my time and money and I'm only 1 1/2 hr from there. Just had a ton of rain and talking snow next couple of days.
Look at the chart in that link, just click on Sardis. water now is 2 foot lower than what it was last year the first of April but way above where they want it, if it quit raining you can count on the gates being flung open wide, they can get 6 inches a day off her if they feel the need.
Here's another link, on the right of it there are some plot charts that will take you back and tell you water levels/dates since the lake was built.
http://rivergages.mvr.usace.army.mil...68C0&fid=&dt=S
Them opening the gates wouldnt necessarily be a bad thing if you can fish the lower lake right? We are thinking of coming down in a couple weeks so not this weekend or anything.
With real cold water (as it is now) and wide open gates, lots of crappie go into lower lake. Some of them are lost down river since water level in lower lake is usually higher than the weir that forms the lake. So, opening the gates during the winter causes a net loss of crappie....not a good thing.
They don't want it how high?Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle 1
You would think anything above rule.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATM
True. But I also expect the dam is designed to hold water to the top of the emergency spillway without any adverse effectsQuote:
Originally Posted by hotrod1
Also true. But I would be one nervous camper.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATM
You can be assured that it is designed for water at top of emergency spillway with a substantial earthquake occurring plus a factor of safety on top of that.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATM
The only way to know where the fish are in the spring is to keep a log of where, and when, you have caught fish in the past. On a flood control lake like Sardis, it is impossible to remember actual lake levels from year to year. Five feet of water can make a hugh difference as to where the fish are.Quote:
Originally Posted by smoker
Wish I had an old buddy of mines books. He started fishing the lake after it was filled. Every trip he had Notes of where when and how along with water temps and levels. When he passed away a few years ago. I thought about offering his wife a $1000. for those logs.. But his grandson got them. And he does not fish Sardis or care about it. But that is life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pops
Forgot he fished the lake the first year it was ready to fish. Thinking he was around 15 years old. Sculling paddle and a 10ft wooden home build boat. I learned a lot fishing with him in a few years. But man to have had to pleasure to fish with him say 20 years Priceless. He would talk about when this place was all Buck brush and you could get lost in it fishing. Or when The river channel was wide open and you had no issues staying in it.
Pete
I wish someone would post some pics of how sardis looked back in the day. Back when my dad first took me over 30 years ago, I remember all of that buck brush. Couldn't see nothing hardly but the river at Wyatt's putting in and yep, you could get lost. I remember fishing some of that buck brush out in the main lake and the water was so clear you could see the fish fighting to get off the hook at least 15 feet deep. Only time I ever saw it like that though. Couldn't drag your line thru the water w/o a bass hitting it. I guess the log books are ok, but it really all depends on the water lever and what time of year it is. They pretty much gonna hold the same areas at the same time of year IF the water is the same dept. But that's the catch all right there, because it doesn't.
Just left Indian mound you can launch with no problem. Lake looks to be at Wyatt's now. Last weekend it was at Holliday. Come on fish.
Going to be some good jig fishing if it stays up for the spring.