Reservoir Classifications

[SLP]

The vast majority of my experience has been fishing natural lakes rather then reservoirs. Since reservoirs is now is what I will be regularly fishing, and I am told that the two can often be quite different, I dusted off my twenty-five year old In-Fisherman Bass book to read up on reservoir fishing. Overall some real interesting reading

Is anyone familiar with their classifications of the different types of reservoirs, and if so which class would you say Barren River, or Nolin would be? Would they be a Highland, or maybe Hill-land?

I have searched online and didn't have much success. Maybe because the books are so old

[kybassin22]

Nolin is a highland reservoir

[SLP]

Thank You

[smashdn]

Barren is not a highland. Hill-land sounds about right.

If you want to learn the lake the best time to go is now. Take a camera and take a gps and start walking. You will find all kinds of interesting stuff.

Since a thermocline sets up on Barren in the summer you really don't have to worry much about what is underwater now. If the fish are on structure or cover in the summer, what they will be on you can see right now.

[SLP]

Barren is not a highland. Hill-land sounds about right.

If you want to learn the lake the best time to go is now. Take a camera and take a gps and start walking. You will find all kinds of interesting stuff.

Since a thermocline sets up on Barren in the summer you really don't have to worry much about what is underwater now. If the fish are on structure or cover in the summer, what they will be on you can see right now.

Thanks, that is a good idea. I could use the excercise also.

When do they start raising the water levels?

[Moveon]

The vast majority of my experience has been fishing natural lakes rather then reservoirs. Since reservoirs is now is what I will be regularly fishing, and I am told that the two can often be quite different, I dusted off my twenty-five year old In-Fisherman Bass book to read up on reservoir fishing. Overall some real interesting reading

Is anyone familiar with their classifications of the different types of reservoirs, and if so which class would you say Barren River, or Nolin would be? Would they be a Highland, or maybe Hill-land?

I have searched online and didn't have much success. Maybe because the books are so old

Different sections of the reservoirs can be classified differently. I'm familar with the In-Fishermen books classifications of reservoirs but not with Nolin.

The In-Fishermen Books all start out talking about how to classify the reseviours and then discuss the seasons of the years as well. They waste a lot of paper going over this an each type of book, from walleye to LM bass to small mouth bass and then to crappie.

[Les Young]

Cumberland is a prime example of a highland reservoir

[SLP]

The In-Fishermen Books all start out talking about how to classify the reseviours and then discuss the seasons of the years as well. They waste a lot of paper going over this an each type of book, from walleye to LM bass to small mouth bass and then to crappie.

LOL, they do tend to do that don't they.

[smashdn]

Thanks, that is a good idea. I could use the excercise also.

When do they start raising the water levels?

http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/wc/res...plots/brr.html

The green line in the middle chart is the typical plan for the lake level. Generally the middle of march they start a slow rise to summer pool. Target for full pool is mid april I think. Rain or lack thereof can hasten or slow the filling.

You can put together quite a "milk-run" of spots now when the water is down. I would also recommend checking out and marking several creek arms and the upper, middle, and bottom of the lake. Different conditions may dictate that you will want to fish different areas. The main one that comes to mind is water clarity. It could be a muddy mess on the far upper end but be jsut lightly stained down by the dam. In reverse the upper end will clear first while the mid to bottom end will look liek chocolate milk.

[SLP]

Thanks for the link

[BigBlueJake]

I am not 100% but I am pretty darn sure that nolin, barren, and rough are all barely below summer pool right now. With the wet winter the lakes did not stay down for long this year. May want to check before you plan a walking trip because you may need your boat!

[BigBlueJake]

This is from a couple of days ago.


Current Lake Levels

Caesar Creek - 846.0 / At pool
W.H. Harsha - 729.1 / 0.1 Over pool
West fork - 675.2 / 0.2 Over pool
... C. J. Brown - 1009.1 / 0.1 Over pool
Brookville - 740.1 / 0.1 Over pool
Cave Run - 724.5 / 0.5 Over pool
Carr Creek - 1017.2 / 0.2 Over pool
Buckhorn - 758.8 / 1.8 Over pool
Taylorsville - 545.4 / 0.4 Over pool
Green River - 668.4 / 0.4 Over pool
Nolin River - 492.6 / 2.6 Over pool
Barren River - 528.7 / 3.7 Over pool
Rough River - 475.2 / 0.2 Over pool
J.E. Roush- 737.5 / 0.5 Over pool
Salamonie - 730.6 / 0.6 Over pool
Mississinewa - 712.2 / 0.2 Over pool
Cecil Harden - 640.1 / 0.1 Over pool
Cagles Mill - 636.0 / At pool
Monroe - 540.5 / 2.5 Over pool
Patoka - 540.3 / 8.3 Over pool
Lake Cumberland -711.77 Current water temp at surface , 50.6 degrees measured at State Dock.