The lake level is 579.52 and has dropped about 3-inches in the last 24-hours with one generator running continuously and enough spillway gates open to equal about 1-1/2 more generators. It was windy and cool yesterday but is beautiful today and it should continue for several more days. When I went out yesterday the surface water temperature was 79+ and the creeks were stained and the main lake is not nearly as clear as it was. I could see my lure down about 2-3 feet. I saw very little debris in the Blackburns Creek area. I worked a Bobby Garland Baby Shad as close to the shore as I could get back in Hensley's Creek and caught a couple of nice crappie and a bass. Bink reports that he is still catching some stripers and hybrids on top water early some days and then going back out to about 80-foot and dropping a spoon. They are going deeper and deeper as they always do in the summer. There is no size limit now and all of the fish will die when you bring them out of deep water so just get your limit and quit. Venting does not work. It lets them to be able to go down but they die anyway. I do not fish for them when they are deep. I still see pictures of dock floors full of dead small stripers and people think they have accomplished something. They have not. The only thing that is being accomplished is that a big striper was 30-pounds and now it is 15 and we will pay for it later since none were stocked this year and they do not reproduce in fresh water. Fishing overall is just fair but some nice bass are being caught as are catfish on jugs and limb lines. Big bluegill are biting off docks on crickets. Watch out for Box Turtles on the roads and help them cross in the direction they are heading. They are getting ready to lay their eggs. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental still has the best prices on both cabins and boat rentals and your first regular sized boat stall is free. You can practice social distancing here.
