On Your Mark... Get Set...

Get ready ta GO!!!

I've been watching the weather forecast, Lake elevations and flow rates, and water temps on the TN. river from Guntersville down stream to KY. Dam. This has been an unusual year to say the least with ice showing up in lakes as far south as Knoxville. Water temps are WAY down (compared to the norm) through out the river system.

Typically we can count on considerably warmer water being introduced into KY. Lake from down south. Not so this year. I can't remember ever seeing 35 degree water in Guntersville Lake until this yr. This cold has been far reaching and long lasting. Depending on the weather, KY Lake may be slow to warm this year. I LIKE IT!!! Slower warm up means later spawn and possibly higher/more stable lake elevation by the time they spawn. A couple of weeks could make a big difference in the survival rate.

The weather's looking up! We could be look'n at 60 degree weather in the next 2 weeks. With the main lake being as cold as it is, a shot of warm rain, some sunshine, and a south wind could warm the shallower bays up pretty good compared to the main lake. With the current that's in the lake a few degrees difference in water temps of the bays verses the main lake, will pull baitfish and crappie in. This time of the year it doesn't take but a couple of degree difference to pull those fish outta the lake and into the creeks.

Don't forget... Them ol'blacks'll come up SHALLOW quick under these conditions! OMG!!! I just felt a little tingle! :yikes Get'n excited!

Get yur rods ready boys and girls! It's fix'n ta get RIGHT!!!

9 more days and I'll be home to prove it! :biggrin

I'm ready

Me too , finally gonna get to fish this year.

Keep talkin whiskers! I'm liking what your selling!

I'M READY!!! Let's GO!!!

Good post wiskers, thanks. If I did'nt have my shop and my little antique lawn tractors to rebuild in the winter I'd be more nuts than I am. Looked at the watershed lake we fish today and it was frozen. Thought I might put in little river at Cadiz sat if water isnt to muddy. Only place I know that isnt frozen. Thanks again for the info wiskers

Yeah good post Wiskers. A little sun on those muddy waters will warm things up quick. I especially like fishing some of the south facing banks this time of year, the sun heats them and they act like a big radiator. It won't be long, temps are rising next week.

I'll be there a month from today!

You should be a motivational speaker. At least to us fisherman.

Hey wiskers, with such a cold and brutal winter, can you give us your best Nostradamus and predict what the lake might be looking like that first week of April? You think the bays and river areas will be the spot or is still too early to tell?

Thanks for all the great info

Your killing me I was ready to go 2 weeks ago, great post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DaveBuckeye01

Hey wiskers, with such a cold and brutal winter, can you give us your best Nostradamus and predict what the lake might be looking like that first week of April? You think the bays and river areas will be the spot or is still too early to tell?

Thanks for all the great info

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Dave... As far as the Lake elevation, that's flip of the coin. I can guarantee you it will be above winter pool. Weather it's falling or rising is a toss up. Lots of folks think you can't catch fish on a falling lake. I used to be the same way. Be on'um 1 day, they start pull'n the lake down and BOOM, big goose egg! I have since learned to use a falling lake to my advantage.

Say you're catching fish in early April 5' deep in 8' of water close to spawning areas. First off those fish have found and acclimated to a 5' depth but... The lake is starting to fall. They go into survival mode. Don't wanna get caught high and dry so they'll back out closer to, or right on a creek channel or ditch for the security of that deeper water. They just wanna keep a little water under their belly. Remember they are relating to that 5' depth though. They may still wanna be 5' deep but instead of 5' deep in 8' of water it may be 5' deep in 12' of water. What I'm saying is find deeper water close to where they were before and search it at about the same depth you caught them in before. You may have to set back and cast to'um to keep from spookn'um. They'll be close to where they were though.

It really don't matter what the lake is do'n. Just adapt to the conditions.

Now with that said... With the hard freeze and precipitation that we've had this winter the ground is gonna be spongy and loose when it thaws. That's probably gonna mean any rain is probably gonna stain or dirty the water a little more than usual. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Those White Crappie like dirty water.

Just come on and deal with what the ol'girl gives ya.

NOTE: I reserve the right to be ABSOULTLY WRONG! :biggrin

Wiskers that is probably the best description of a normal spring that I have ever read.
Conditions continually change, just change with them.