Help understanding current vs release rates

[offdtop]

Can any one help me understand how much current is created when they pull water for power generation? Or should I say at what release rates seem to be the best for positioning fish on ledges? This has been baffling me for a number of years and I know it is key for success when targeting a school of fish and I've heard so many different stories that I would like to print it out and keep it in my wallet for good. I am sure this will help alot of guys like me trying to understand.

[buzzking]

well there is always water moving through the gates on KY, its a river, it has to. On KY here is water I've seen as far as current flows.
20K- no noticable current unless you are within 2 miles of the dam.
40K- some noticable current with 5-7 miles of the dam, rest of the lake nothing.
60K- somewhat noticable current all the way down to jonathan creek or so.
80K+ - good current, don't leave until they stop pulling it because the ledges are on fire.

You will get feeds during the summer with our without current but without current if you aren't at the right place at the right time, you aren't going to get in on the feeds. Once it hits that 60K and on up, a LOT more of the schools start locking on the sweet spots to feed and its not so much of a timing deal at that point. And they get pretty easy to catch, if they are pulling 80K and you aren't getting bit every 5th cast....MOVE!

[offdtop]

thx BK I was afraid no-one would help out with this, it seems simple enough. I also wanted to thank you for the dam's number you gave on another post that saves alot of hassel

[carman]

I'm like you, wanting to learn. Does everybody else see the current results in the same light? I'm not questioning BK, just would like to see more imput.

[elnutsmalljaws]

For ONCE in his life Buzzking is right on in his evaluation of the current vs release vs the bite. The way it was originally explained to me by THE MAN, that is Dave Stewart, is the baitfish are on the ledges looking over their shoulders at the Predator fish (Bass) and wondering when the feeding frenzy will begin so they can try to stay alive. They start pulling current thru the dam and it moves thru the river and creek channels like highways stiring up the bottom of the plankton and photoplankton and stuff, which in turn makes the baitfish turn on into feeding on the stirred up stuff, which in turn makes the predator fish start feeding on the shad and baitfish. Never really thought of it that way until he told me but it makes sense. I further had this thought (thoughts for me are few and far between mind you), imagine a 5 gallon bucket full of water with a layer of sand in the bottom, drill a hole in the bottom and watch the sand and bottom stir up as it is moving thru the hole but the surface remains calm, that is to me a good example of the disturbance on the bottom of the lake when pulling current. Just my childish way of thinking on it. Don't know if it is true but I know that I catch more fish on ledges when they are pulling current versus when they are not. I check the release schedule every time I fish Ky and Barkley, but especially beginning the first of May thru the end of summer. Dont' forget the ledge bite at night as well, night time is not just a point bite time. I fish ledges, humps and point ledges a lot at night in all the lakes that I fish. Good Luck hope it helps.

[offdtop]

Ok, the ledge fishing at night - are you still relating to the release schedule? Because (forgive me for my ignorance) I don't understand the phrase you used "point bite time", 'cause it seems you are saying during release times or times with more current you go more towards "underwater" points? I sorta understand topography and use of the terms humps/ledges and I believe I undertand "point ledges" (I think?). I fully understand the positioning of the fish as it relates to the bait, I am just trying to put them both together for myself and other knuckleheads like me. I have been studying my maps and hitting and missing for a month now (more missing) and I hit one "hump" in particular and wacked 'em good came back a week later and it was still good, yet been back at different times (earlier and later than when I seem to catch them between 6 and 7:15 pm) over the past 2 weeks and nothing. I know they wont bite all the time - everytime, but I did notice current on the good days and not just wind current, and I don't expect to wack 'em everytime or even most times, just when everything is aligned I won't feel like I am leaving a spot to early or staying too late especially when "they should be biting"

[elnutsmalljaws]

Ok, the ledge fishing at night - are you still relating to the release schedule? Because (forgive me for my ignorance) I don't understand the phrase you used "point bite time", 'cause it seems you are saying during release times or times with more current you go more towards "underwater" points? I sorta understand topography and use of the terms humps/ledges and I believe I undertand "point ledges" (I think?). I fully understand the positioning of the fish as it relates to the bait, I am just trying to put them both together for myself and other knuckleheads like me. I have been studying my maps and hitting and missing for a month now (more missing) and I hit one "hump" in particular and wacked 'em good came back a week later and it was still good, yet been back at different times (earlier and later than when I seem to catch them between 6 and 7:15 pm) over the past 2 weeks and nothing. I know they wont bite all the time - everytime, but I did notice current on the good days and not just wind current, and I don't expect to wack 'em everytime or even most times, just when everything is aligned I won't feel like I am leaving a spot to early or staying too late especially when "they should be biting"

My comment about "point bite time" should have been a little more clear. I meant that night fishing is not all related to just fishing points at night. I see more people relating to points when night fishing and was only trying to say that ledge fishing was not only a "daytime activity" and can produce at nights as well. I still try to follow the release schedule whenever I am fishing ledges but will stay with it longer even if they are not biting when I know they are pulling current. I will move around to different ledges or try different techniques when the bite is not GREAT, but if they are pulling current I will stay with the ledges longer than if they are not biting and they are not pulling that much current.

[DaveStewart]

The only current that I have seen this summer is happening between about 2pm and 7 pm...if you can call about 40,000 cfps current. There are some bursts of current during the day now and then only lasting a few minutes..remember...the numbers you are reading are the "average" for the hour. I am seeng very little prolonged or no current during the time I am on the water which is from around 5:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m....but we are still catching plenty of fish. Here is my take on current during the summertime here anymore during the morning and early afternoon: don't expect it and if it happens it is a bonus. If you want a better chance for current...go out during the hottest part of the day...in the late afternoon and early evening..it is your best chance for current.

[offdtop]

I believe it was Tim Horton during their recent Elite visit that there are only 40 or so good ledges between the dam and Paris, do you believe this to be true? And I know some ledges can stretch a long ways, but only 40 in that distance? This seems like too few for what little knowledge I have, because I know from Jonathan Creek to the dam there are ledges on both sides of the lake, with that said it also seems a little far (past 68 bridge) from the dam to have the current cause alot of effect on a slow release day on the ledges past that, so I guess I'm asking is the ledge fishing better the closer you get to the dam?

[DaveStewart]

In my estimation there are only about 3 to 5 % of the ledges that fall into the catagory of highest percentage to be holding fish on a consistant basis....so I would say Horton is on the right track with his numbers....a little low maybe but not much. There are days when the bite can be better closer to the dam and days the bite can be better down south. Just because you cannot feel the current yourself does not mean it is not present when you are upriver on slow release days (which is most days anymore). Fact is...the most they are pulling lately at peak pull is about 40.000 and with that you can't even feel current when you are a couple of miles from the dam...if a north breeze was blowing you would be drifting up river with that amount of pull.

[carman]

Guys thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I fished Sunday mid-afternoon, current could be seen & felt as far south as Jones. Checked release rate ---- 43,000. Does it take about that mark to be noticed that far south?

[apextrail]

From what I know about current ( and that is limited) I would say you were feeling wind and not current.