CR has changed!

[troutcrazy]

Went to the CR for the first time since it was flooded and the gravel bars have moved!!! Went down from helms to the first gravel bar on the left and it was gone! Let me rephrase...it was there, but it was moved down a few yards and was much thinner and the channel that I used to be able to cast across while wading was at least another 30 or more yards wider.

As we went up river the large gravel bar on the right was pushed up onto the bank and there was section when there is nothing but silt. It looked like beach on the CR.

I didn't get a water temp, but it didn't feel as cold. The water was stained and bottom is covered in slime.

Fished for almost 3 hours and caught 10 or so between my friend and I, 13" being probably the biggest. So it wasn't stellar by any means, but it was a nice night to be on the water and eat some junk food without my wife looking over my shoulder.

Don't leave fish to find fish.

[PRO V LE]

I hope we do not get anymore flooding rains here. When the lake went up over 18ft. and they pulled it hard from the sluice gates they lost a lot of the deep cold water from the lake.
I heard that the water entering the hatchery is 10 degress above normal for this time of year, not only the trout in the river but the stripers in the lake could be affected.

[98zr2]

Was down there last weekend and the river temp at burkesville was 61.5 and 60.5 about 5 miles upstream of the ramp. We caught around 20 RB and Browns all under the 13 in mark

[mhall]

I hope we do not get anymore flooding rains here. When the lake went up over 18ft. and they pulled it hard from the sluice gates they lost a lot of the deep cold water from the lake.
I heard that the water entering the hatchery is 10 degress above normal for this time of year, not only the trout in the river but the stripers in the lake could be affected.

Good thoughts Dave, Andrew and I were talking about this with concern. It has rained cats and dogs here today I mean 1 inch plus easy. The weather boys are saying heavy mega rains here tonight and again tomorrow, will it ever end. Some places actually need the rain though but some areas do not need the Biblical stuff anymore this year for awhile. Some areas today have recieved well over three inches of rain already.

[RICHYD4U]

Thanks for the update on the CR conditions. I guess I'll have to make it up there and find out where my favorite bar has moved to!

-Rich

[troutcrazy]

It was weird...the banks are cleaned out and roots are exposed. Where there were gradual drop offs there are now deep holes straight off the banks. The water was green instead of that beautiful clear blue. And the water wasn't very cold. With one generator all our gravel bars were under water where they used to be exposed with just one running. One of my favorite holes was now just part of a channel instead of the backside of a channel until it reached the bank. We might have to learn some of the river all over again which is exciting and frustrating all at the same time.

More rain is coming...so it's not going to let up any time soon.

The one thing I didn't say was I caught a little brown and pulled him to the edge of the boat to release him. Grabbed him to unhook and his body was rippling from head to tail. It was like he was having muscle spasms or something. You could see his flesh moving like a bunch of little waves down his body...really odd.

[etcfishin]

I've got some concerns on the river as well. Unfortunately not a lot anyone can do about it. They have said all along that the worst cast scenario is a lot of summer rain causing them to release the cold water on the bottom stored up from the winter. We could be in trouble with this continued rain. I went a couple weeks ago and the fishing was pretty good. Caught several fish on the fly rod. I noticed the stained water. I figured this was temporary and the lake was still all stirred up from the April/May flooding, but you're right, they got another slug of rain yesterday with more on the way. All you can do now is wait and see.

[bookworm]

Interesting discussion. I was fly-fishing down below Burkesville last Sunday. Brought my waders but didn't need them--not a good thing. I wet-waded for six hours and never felt chilled. In past years I've needed waders to keep my legs from quivering in August down there, even as the sun is broiling down. Could someone explain why the water being released right now is so (relatively) warm? Why would ACE have needed to release the coldest water at the bottom of the dam when the lake was filling up? If that cold water is now gone, the trout won't make it through the summer when ACE drops discharge to 750 cfs and the August heat warms it up to the mid 70's. I thought we'd already been through the worst situation the past couple years, when in July and August the flow got low and the air temperature was in the upper 90's. This sounds even worse.

[RICHYD4U]

Interesting discussion. I was fly-fishing down below Burkesville last Sunday. Brought my waders but didn't need them--not a good thing. I wet-waded for six hours and never felt chilled. In past years I've needed waders to keep my legs from quivering in August down there, even as the sun is broiling down. Could someone explain why the water being released right now is so (relatively) warm? Why would ACE have needed to release the coldest water at the bottom of the dam when the lake was filling up? If that cold water is now gone, the trout won't make it through the summer when ACE drops discharge to 750 cfs and the August heat warms it up to the mid 70's. I thought we'd already been through the worst situation the past couple years, when in July and August the flow got low and the air temperature was in the upper 90's. This sounds even worse.

IMO the water is so warm do to the continual rain fall and the rapid release of all the cold, oxygen rich water from the bottom of the lake. That cold water has been discharged, and what is left is warmer and definetly not trout friendly! Doesn't look good CR brothers!

[kygorski]

yesterday the river was dark brown from the run off, the last time I fished from burkesville the water is stained the temp was over 62 degrees, and yes it has changed, no big fish at all, just the 12 inch RB and browns, also caught a drum, the first time I ever caught one of those on the river.it may take years for the river to rebound, and thats what I dont have!

[RICHYD4U]

yesterday the river was dark brown from the run off, the last time I fished from burkesville the water is stained the temp was over 62 degrees, and yes it has changed, no big fish at all, just the 12 inch RB and browns, also caught a drum, the first time I ever caught one of those on the river.it may take years for the river to rebound, and thats what I dont have!

That's sad to hear. Being from the west, I always felt like when I was fly fishing at the CR, It was the closest I could get to fishing at home. Unfortunately, water conditions like that will destroy the trout fishery, and to catch a drum...look-out! Looks like the CR will shorten dramatically in the length of trout waters from the dam (maybe to about 15-20miles, IMO). Sorry to say it my Burkesville bretheren, but your section of the CR might has seen the last of its big trout. This is going to hurt alot of the industry built along the CR that depended on trout fisherman for business.

-Rich

[troutcrazy]

I can handle the changes in the gravel bars and fishing spots, but the cold water is an extremely important issue. The lake is absent of cold water now and it will take a month or more of no significant rains to restore the cold water temps. In all this dam repair talk the biologist said once the water hits 65 trout begin to die off...it looks like 65 is going to be the norm the farther down river you get. Not to mention all the creek runoff that is occuring everytime there is a big rain...that warms things up too.

The green sluge on the bottom is also a concern. There was some discussion last year on the board about "dittiomoe" (don't know how to spell it). From what I understand, once you've got it's there for good. I know this sounds crazy, but I'm looking forward to a few weeks of no rain, just so we can see the bottom again! Hopefully we haven't lost the big ones' in the river!

TR