Mississinewa lake , summer pool by May 1 ?

Heard on the local radio station an Army Corps of Engineers telling the host that the flow will be shut down/slowed down on April 1 with plans to be at summer pool by May 1. This seems very early, and I never remember them trying to get the lake to summer pool so early, usually they shoot for around Memorial Day. This means bank fishing at Hogsback for crappie or white bass run will be most likely impossible. Not to mention the heavy rains we get in late April early May causing flooding concerns, remember 2017 ? Last years levels were almost to low during that time and I had been told they were keeping it lower to manage heavy rain fall better. Any info. or comments ? -Thanks

No way your going to out guess what the Corps is doing as no 2 years are ever the same. They will change their minds like the weatherman’s daily forecast on what is going to happen. In Indiana we are a couple of inches of rain above the norm for the year already. The Corps may hold water back up there to let water out that flows into the Wabash River due to the Cat and Monroe being so high down here.

Good point. I heard the full interview on sunday morning, it's new guy , just promoted. He was saying they wanted to be at summer pool at all three res. by May 1 so people could get out and enjoy the lakes. That made no sense since they have always made clear flood control is their only concern. Levels look good right now, just need that water temp to come back up and turn them on.

That must be why they slowed the outflow then and kept lake at 722. With rain coming i thought they might release a bit more water but its beem steady since monday. I caught some nice crappie last week in the red bridge area and then on monday caught about 20 but not as big. Water was pure trash both days but fish were up on cliff walls. With spillway being so low shouldnt take long for that bite to start..its usually hot first week of april although i hate going there. This weather sure has sucked im praying this rain isnt going to be heavy and put us even more behind.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

That must be why they slowed the outflow then and kept lake at 722. With rain coming i thought they might release a bit more water but its beem steady since monday. I caught some nice crappie last week in the red bridge area and then on monday caught about 20 but not as big. Water was pure trash both days but fish were up on cliff walls. With spillway being so low shouldnt take long for that bite to start..its usually hot first week of april although i hate going there. This weather sure has sucked im praying this rain isnt going to be heavy and put us even more behind.

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Yep, I agree, a week of upper 60's low 70's will kick it off. However looking ahead the weather looks to be on a very slow warm up trend. I find that 3 or 4 day with 70's high and 50's lows this time of year can getting the white bass moving up river in a fury, with the crappie not far behind. I always skip the spillway bite, not worth the head ache. I prefer the Hogsback area, more room to spread out. I was also at red bridge last week, got about a dozen keepers and water was 45* and muddy.

Looks to me like you have 2 crests on the Wabash which keeps the Corps from releasing depending where the lake is. Down here, it would be more like end of next week for the Wabash Crest to move south without rain for the Corps to release at the Cat and Monroe as East Fork White River crest has to go down first. With more rain no telling how long they will hold the releases as Cat is now 27.5 ft up and Monroe is 9.7 above summer pool. They have started a modest release today. https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=IND

Ya, a lot depends on the rain, but those temps barely get out of the 50's for the next few weeks. High muddy cold water is not a good combo.

Anyone been out recently. I tried over the weekend and only place i found crappie was below the dam and even that was slow. I was still catching crappie last monday north west side of red bridge but this weekend they were gone. I tried a spot east of red bridge and a spot east of 13. Found white bass east of 13 but no crappie. Water looked great up that way.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

Anyone been out recently. I tried over the weekend and only place i found crappie was below the dam and even that was slow. I was still catching crappie last monday north west side of red bridge but this weekend they were gone. I tried a spot east of red bridge and a spot east of 13. Found white bass east of 13 but no crappie. Water looked great up that way.

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Went out around Hogsback Friday morning. Water looked great, clear and a little on the low side. Water temp was around 47*. No action as I explored up and down the bank. Went back yesterday, and got a couple small white bass . If the heavy rains hold off I think a 3 to 4 day warm front is what we need get things going soon.

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Originally Posted by kyron4

Went out around Hogsback Friday morning. Water looked great, clear and a little on the low side. Water temp was around 47*. No action as I explored up and down the bank. Went back yesterday, and got a couple small white bass . If the heavy rains hold off I think a 3 to 4 day warm front is what we need get things going soon.

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Yeah really need some warm weather everything else looks good. I think next week its suposed to warm up some finally. I went over again tonight and tried the resi up by slocum. Managed one nice bluegill and about a 12 inch crappie. Only one i could find though. I went below the dam after that and caught 15 or so with 6 being keeper size. Very few people there with the rain.

Got a tip yesterday so decided to hit one of my favorite spots just east of 13. Found quite a few fish there both crappie and white bass. Decent size crappie mixed in with some dinks.No real hawgs. I kept 15 to bring home. Quite a few white bass too..at some points it was every cast. Ill be out again may e tomorrow but deffinitely some time this weekend.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

Got a tip yesterday so decided to hit one of my favorite spots just east of 13. Found quite a few fish there both crappie and white bass. Decent size crappie mixed in with some dinks.No real hawgs. I kept 15 to bring home. Quite a few white bass too..at some points it was every cast. Ill be out again may e tomorrow but deffinitely some time this weekend.

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Good job ! Going to try again Sunday. Wind is howling fierce today and it looks like rain, wind, and snow for Friday and high of 37* on Sat. May need to get the auger back out lol

They our definitely taking there time getting lakes back down to normal levels. You can't out guess the corps. They don't care about fishing they will have it down to summer pool by memorial weekend. Remember it's all about money. Wouldn't won't to loose that long weekend money on the water.

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Slow bite today but nice fish. Would not touch cast and retrieve only a bobber/jig setup. There was no consistency to the bite. Some were out in the middle of the river some were up close. Id catch 2 in a row then go 20 minutes without a bite. I kept 13 and most were big black crappies. Deffinitely a different day then what i had last week. Not sure if its weather or the fish moving on me. Next time out i may head durther up.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

Slow bite today but nice fish. Would not touch cast and retrieve only a bobber/jig setup. There was no consistency to the bite. Some were out in the middle of the river some were up close. Id catch 2 in a row then go 20 minutes without a bite. I kept 13 and most were big black crappies. Deffinitely a different day then what i had last week. Not sure if its weather or the fish moving on me. Next time out i may head durther up.

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Was the same for me, only I went longer than 20 mins. between bites lol. I was up river a little ways got a few small white bass and a couple dink crappie. Water temp had dropped almost 10* from Thursday, to the low 40's. Going to try again Tuesday, weather looks good, then Wednesday looks like over an inch of rain with a severe thunderstorm, if that's not bad enough it doesn't get out of the 50's for the next 10 days. What a year so far.

Is it going to be a mess after the rain? I was hoping to fish it Saturday.

Mississinewa will prolly be mess on Saturday. I think this is the Saturday that the ACT are holding the crappie tournament there.

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Originally Posted by 10point

Is it going to be a mess after the rain? I was hoping to fish it Saturday.

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I'm going up river Friday, so I'll let you know. Not looking good, river up 2' from yesterday and still climbing. I'm sure it's a muddy mess.

We have had 3” rain fall total for the entire week down here.

Most likely going to be muddy. River upstream went from 2 foot to over 4. I tried below dam last evening for a short time and only got 2. Only good thing about the river being up is it should get fish moving finally....hopefully.

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Originally Posted by 10point

Is it going to be a mess after the rain? I was hoping to fish it Saturday.

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Went out to Hogsback area today, water was muddy and over 2' higher than before the rain. Going need a few days to come down and clear up. The wind was a whole other story.

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Originally Posted by kyron4

Went out to Hogsback area today, water was muddy and over 2' higher than before the rain. Going need a few days to come down and clear up. The wind was a whole other story.

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Thanks Man. My Dad drove around today and found clearer water North. I am going to try it in the morning.

I tried for a little bit today up around 688. Water was dirty. Nobody was there. I did find a few fish in one eddy. All were crappie but not real big. Supposed to warm up a lot end of the week finally hopefully that helps.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

I tried for a little bit today up around 688. Water was dirty. Nobody was there. I did find a few fish in one eddy. All were crappie but not real big. Supposed to warm up a lot end of the week finally hopefully that helps.

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Ya, this coming weekend looks good if we don't get dumped on with rain. Almost 80* on Sat., that should get them turned on. Oddly the radio is calling for snow flurries Monday night. Only in the Midwest can you get all four seasons in a week.

If you want all 4 seasons in 1 day come to Kentucky ! :Rofl

Wind has been the bitch…constantly every day gusting to anywhere from 15 to 25 mph gusts. 3 inches plus rain last week again, 1/2 inch last nite.

You have a Slab Masters tourney in MISSY/Sally This Sat and Sunday.

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Originally Posted by wannabe fisherman

If you want all 4 seasons in 1 day come to Kentucky ! :Rofl

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I am. Leaving tomorrow afternoon.

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Originally Posted by 10point

I am. Leaving tomorrow afternoon.

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:ThumbsUp:woohoo

Fished up river last evening. Water just starting to backup in the area i was. I found 2 areas of slack water off steep banks that produced fish. Probably caught 35 or 40 total and kept 12 to eat. Lot of 8 to 9 inch fish. Did catch a few real nice black crappie and one white male that was close to 14 inches.Had it to myself which was nice..im sure the warm days comin will bring all the people out. Hopefully the rain dont mess it all up the water was a very good color up there. Ill be out tonight possibly otherwise it will be saturday morning.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

Fished up river last evening. Water just starting to backup in the area i was. I found 2 areas of slack water off steep banks that produced fish. Probably caught 35 or 40 total and kept 12 to eat. Lot of 8 to 9 inch fish. Did catch a few real nice black crappie and one white male that was close to 14 inches.Had it to myself which was nice..im sure the warm days comin will bring all the people out. Hopefully the rain dont mess it all up the water was a very good color up there. Ill be out tonight possibly otherwise it will be saturday morning.

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I plan to go out in the morning. Wish me luck !

Good luck. I just got home with another dozen or so. Fish moved on me since yesterday but i found em and white bass were also around. I didnt catch any of them yesterday.

Well, Friday and Saturday were tough, plenty of white bass and small large mouth, but few crappie. Still managed a dozen or so nice keepers each day with a lot of moving. Sunday was better after water temp warmed up. Water still low and fishing better but not great. Looks like a big storm tonight then another cold front. This won't help, likely kill the mediocre bite till the weekend.

I didnt do worth a crap today. Wind was so bad i couldnt even fish where i wanted. Water was whitecapping in the river. I caught a few white bass and my son got one small crappie.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

I didnt do worth a crap today. Wind was so bad i couldnt even fish where i wanted. Water was whitecapping in the river. I caught a few white bass and my son got one small crappie.

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Ya, I was off the water by about 9am, once the wind started it was over. Just can't seem to get a break with this weather.

Last weekend’s Indiana Slab Masters tourney.

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Took a trip to Hogsback and up river yesterday. Kind of a mess, river was up at least two feet from the weekend, muddy and cold. Didn't even bother wetting a line. Looks like they are getting close to summer pool on the lake, gaining almost one foot a day now. Not sure if bite will be back on by the weekend or where the fish will be. May turn into to a scouting mission.