Lake levels ???

[jig bob]

I heard Kentucky Lake will drop the water to 357 by March 30th. Then they are going to hold it. That would be 2 feet below summer pool.

[R19]

I was told by a person that works for the corps of engineers that each lake has a projected pool level for every day of the year...Example lake X is suppose to start holding water March 15 and reach summer pool on May 1 under "perfect" conditions. If the lake is over targert pool they will discharge water until the lake is close to the target level for the particular day of the year.

If what I was told is true and the lake in question is over the projected pool level, then yes they will pull water below summer pool.

[roughriderbill]

I was told by a person that works for the corps of engineers that each lake has a projected pool level for every day of the year...Example lake X is suppose to start holding water March 15 and reach summer pool on May 1 under "perfect" conditions. If the lake is over targert pool they will discharge water until the lake is close to the target level for the particular day of the year.

If what I was told is true and the lake in question is over the projected pool level, then yes they will pull water below summer pool.

Yes this is correct in a perfect year, then they will let the lake come up to summer pool with what rain we get after that time.

[roughscott]

there goes the spawn for the squirels to eat .

[Bumblebee110]

there goes the spawn for the squirels to eat .

im hoping the waters were rising and falling to much. i think fish will hold off. and hopfully the waters will be under 65 deg and stable by the 17ths full moon which might trigger them. MAYBE??

[bplgocards]

im hoping the waters were rising and falling to much. i think fish will hold off. and hopfully the waters will be under 65 deg and stable by the 17ths full moon which might trigger them. MAYBE??

My thoughts exactly. Hoping to tear them up that weekend.

[Bumblebee110]

My thoughts exactly. Hoping to tear them up that weekend.

IMO i dont think the fishing will be good.
ive never done any good with fishing during spawn. i think the only way to fish the spawn would be to sight fish. which i dont like and dont do anyway.
i think most of the lakes in Kentucky are highland reservoirs. Which i dont think are good lake to sight fish. Unlike ky lake where you can have a mile long flat in 3 ft of water. i would say that most of our lakes are not sight fishing lakes.
I just like to think I know what the fish are doing. so at least i have something to start out with.
but in reality not all fish are going to spawn at the same time so i will be out there fishing anyways.
When im on the water during this time of transition from prespawn-spawn-postspawn. I will say that on the lakes i fish i try a prespawn pattern and then if that dosent work i go to a post spawn pattern. but if fish dont all spawn at the same time then they have to be movin in or movin out.

[swimjigboy]

I'm not as lucky as you all, and don't get to come down but once for the big yearly trip. Dream all year of throwin the blade over the flowers and flippin flooded bushes the 1st wk of May. So I kinda like the water being sucked out and getting cooled down the slow the spring down. And give all of us a chance come down during the usual hot time periods. Love to see all three phases in swing when there in May. The early high water I'm afraid of 2008 all over again. High water to soon means no flowers, fish come in too soon and leave quicker. I know lead in banks secondary pts are super productive but thats not the reason for being there. One tries to time your favorite types of bites, just like people try to time float n fly on Dale in Feb., of Jerkbait bites in March on Ky. Never wish anyone bad luck but would think it would be better for the spawn if they were held off to later for more stable and better conditions for the fish/spawn's survival rate.

[BassBest]

I'm not a fan of them dropping the water as far as 357 on KY Lake, but luckily I've fished it almost every day since 2/10/11. I noticed the recent warm days put a male on just about every spawning place their could be, and they are hard workers too let me tell ya they love their job, one male had a disfigured jaw from previous catches and still attacked my worm. I haven't found any females shallow since the first week of March, but the worm bite was so awesome with the smaller shallow males I took advantage and handed the kids a rod for themselves and they caught a few. Some were finicky and some were easy. The only fish I caught that had eggs was a 4 lb drum that attacked the worm so hard that she coughed up a couple golf ball sized rocks AND my bait!!) Some males have tail damage most did not. And the beds were in about 3-5ft of water and none had signs of feeding. Recent tournament results on Ky Lake have had same scenario. So hopefully these beds werent used much by the ladies and most won't run dry, I'm comfortable with the action we might get in a couple weeks. I fish mostly north Ky Lake on north banks. I heard the smallmouth were hitting before the warm weather, wonder if they are back at it now?

[RedBud]

In light of the water level changes, do you think early April is a good time to go fishing? In the past, it seemed to be the best time.

[BassBest]

dont see why not