The lake level is 559.71 and has dropped about 2-1/2 inches in the last 24-hours with several hours less generation than the day before. It is very dry here and we could use some rain but the oncoming hurricane does not have to move very far west to give us more than we need. We are right on the edge and should get some rain out of it next week. It is for reasons like this that the lake needs to be dropped to a level that allows for some rise. They have had all summer to accomplish this and we are now just getting most day use services and campgrounds back. It is a good thing we have had a dry late spring and summer or it would have never dropped with the current management policy. There needs to be a review of the minimum and maximum water releases from all of the area lakes. Just hold and hope is no plan. There is a difference between just holding water and flood control. The ambient temperature has moderated a bit with highs now in the low 90's and then get into the 80's next week as it should. The surface water temperature is about 87-88 degrees now and has been about the same for several weeks. It looks to be a very busy holiday weekend but the day use areas are in much better condition to handle it. I will be glad when it is over and hope everyone stays safe. More and more wood is showing up, especially near the shore on main lake points. Stay out in the middle and do not cut inside main lake points. Some of them go way out there before getting into deeper water. If you are anchoring and swimming around a boat make sure you are in about 20-ft. of water so you do not jump into a bunch of brush. A lot of it has line and hooks broken off. The fishing remains the same with shad moving shallow in the early morning and evening. The brush piles that were just right in depth are getting a little shallow now so you might want to look for some different ones that are still in 30-35ft of water no matter how shallow the tops are. There are few fish below 35-ft. When the water cools this will change and 25-ft. will be a good depth. Watch for pop up storms in the heat of the day about 3:PM from the west. If it gets black from there stay close to the dock so you can get in quickly. The evenings have been very nice with light winds. The fishing will get better and better until the lake turns over and that will be sometime in October. There are several big Bass Fishing tournaments all month and it will be interesting to see how the fishermen handle it. Some of them could have a hard time if all they do is beat the bank. I will bet on the Missouri boys from the West Plaines area. They know how to fish this lake. Especially for bass.
