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Post by Marmot on Jul 10, 2007 12:06:31 GMT -5
Have really been layin off of the small streams lately.. Have only been once in the last month and a half or so.. It was the weekend after we got several afternoon storms during the week.. What is everyones opinion on fishin the Mtns in under current drought conditions..
Marmot
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Post by Varmit on Jul 10, 2007 12:31:28 GMT -5
Since Mid May all I have fished is skinny water but after last week I will stop until the weather hits an upswing. I went last Wednesday and this past Saturday up into the GSMNP and was amazed at how low the water is right now. I wouldn't blame someone for fishing the park if that is what they want to do, but I am certain that unless a great movement of rain heads our way, there will be a bunch of fish die if they have low water and anglers to contend with. I guess unless I hit 81 and head northeast to the SoHo or Watauga, I'll be totin my own rock to the Clinch so I'll have a place to stand. That also brings up a point worth discussion. If the lakes continue to drop and energy demands continue to increase what will that do to the tailwater fishing?
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Post by Petey on Jul 10, 2007 14:58:24 GMT -5
I think it depends on when and where..... If you get up in elevation and the water is still cold and the fish are active I think they will be OK. They maybe congregated and food might not be as plenitful as before but as long as you release them with care, as I am sure you normall do, then I don't think it will be hard on them. If you are fishing water that is mid to high 60's and possibly low 70's, and the fish are lethargic and weary, then I think fishing them will have a direct impact and the stress of being caught might be enough to do them in no matter how you release them. These are waters I would stay away from for sure. No need to put more stress and pressure on a stream that the fish are fighting to survive in. Petey  |
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Post by labrador on Jul 10, 2007 16:45:08 GMT -5
yeah, I don't mind hitting the mtn streams as long as the temps are good. Low water doesn't deter me from fishing, but high temps do. If the temps creep too high, I will pass. Haven't found that yet, but haven't been out in a couple of weeks, but if the past droughts are any indication, the higher elevations streams fish well, and stay cold.
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Post by appangler on Jul 10, 2007 18:43:47 GMT -5
I quit fishing trout water as a rule at 68*F sustained temperature. No need to stress fish when the D.O. levels are steady dropping. Fish the tailwaters! I am fortunate enough to fish them regularly during the week when most folks are working!
BTW TVA is generating from Hydro only 50% of their normal rate for this time of year. As a TVA employee, this is coming from the source. There should be plenty of cold water in the lakes to get through the summer. TVA has gained some generation with a restarted Nuclear unit capable of delivering 1150MW to the grid. Hydro is doing their best to balance the whole equation...recreational releases, Lake levels, generation to maintain D.O. levels for the tailwater trout fisheries...power generation from their releases is a minor added bonus.
aa
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Post by damer3 on Jul 11, 2007 17:40:49 GMT -5
I'm with Petey and labrador on this one. Low water never really deters me from fishing. High temps are a different story...
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Post by Marmot on Jul 12, 2007 12:29:00 GMT -5
I wrote some people yesterday to try to help us find some answers to this question... I will post the answers I get as they come in... Here is the first answer I have got...
Sent to GSMNP yesterday
Dear GSMNP
I am a member of the local trout fly fishing community here in East Tennessee.. We are having a discussion on our message board trying to decide what the effects of catch and release fishing on our local (non stocked) mtn streams is during this time of drought. Are the trout at greater risk of dying with the water so skinny or is it pretty much the same as usual as long as the water temps dont get to high.. Also how about the dissolved oxygen content in the water at these low levels.. Any info you have for us would be greatly appreciated..
thx
Jay Arp marmot@thewaywardweb.com
answer received today..
Sir; The answer to your question is not a simple one. Based on the information we have from studies in the Smokies, extended droughts do result in declines in the total number of trout in a stream. This appears to be the result of the loss of habitat due to very low water levels. The low water levels also dry up a significant part of the food producing area for aquatic insects. Less food means fewer fish. Based on the severity of the drought this year, I have little doubt that the number of fish in the stream this fall will decline. However, there is no way to predict how much. This will depend on the amount of rain we get and how warm the streams get. As for dissolved oxygen levels, the streams levels will be saturated.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks for asking.
Steve Moore
Supervisory Fishery Biologist
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-1250
A very quick and informative reply from the GSMNP... Thx Steve Moore
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Post by appangler on Jul 18, 2007 9:27:56 GMT -5
I am kinda surprised by the low turnout on this poll. This is an issue that effects most of us lovers of trout. Unless you desire to kill a few fish to put on the supper table, I would strongly urge you to consider resting the fish. Take a stream thermometer with you when you go. if the temps are pushing 70*, don't C&R . Go down river and fish for smallies and red eyes! C'mon ya'll, lets give the wild trout a break!
aa
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Post by Marmot on Jul 18, 2007 16:32:06 GMT -5
Still waiting on response from the TWRA on this but I would assume that when and if they do get back to me that their answers will be similar to the one I got from the park.. Agree AA.. I thought we would get more votes on this poll.. I think the board has been pretty slow lately.. Im with ya on the conditions.. Might haft to take your suggestion on the smallies and red eyes.. Haven't been after those guys this year.. (In the mtns anyways..) Been spendin about all my time on tailwaters.. On a good note.. We have gotten several decent showers here in Lenoir City this week.. Maybe its the start of a trend.. Marmot |
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Post by appangler on Jul 18, 2007 19:14:03 GMT -5
On the Little River below townsend, If you fish the riffles or the head of a hole with a weighted sz 6-2 hellgramite pattern you wil definately get into some smallies. I pitch 'em into the fast water and dead drift 'em through high stickin'!  Of course big olive buggers seem to work as well...be sure to put alittle sparkle/flash into the pattern. Gotta luv some river smallies!!! ;D AA |
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standard
South Holston Wild Brown
A Boulder Mtn., UT Brookie
Posts: 106
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Post by standard on Mar 18, 2008 13:26:02 GMT -5
Drought? How bad is it and how long has this been going on? We're just entering our 10th year of drought around here. Just to give you an idea, Lake Mead is down about 115 feet and towns submerged since the 30's are reappearing.
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Post by Marmot on Mar 18, 2008 15:22:41 GMT -5
Not near as bad as what yall are dealin with... We were pretty behind for here last year.. This year so far only about 1.25" behind..
Marmot
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