Darrel Binkley from Bink's Guide Service with some nice ones released. 
The lake level is 554.22 and has dropped 1-1/2 inch in the last 24-hours with both generators running about 1/2 the time. The White River is 20.54 feet and dropping. We are approaching the top of the power pool of 553.75 when Southwestern Power takes over and typically slows generation way down. The top of the power pool was 552 before the minimum flow for the put and take trout in the rivers took 1.75 feet of flood capacity away. This is a good example of why the dams are not just for flood control and are also for recreation. They bring in a lot of revenue for the area including sales tax and I wish they would not let the lake flood out every year for no reason. With the Corps of Engineers campgrounds being closed most of the time for high water people are sure building a lot of RV parks and trailer parks everywhere around the area. They are ruining the countryside, scalping the forests and putting in septic tanks, holding tanks and pump stations. I wonder where the stuff from the pump stations gets dumped. All of these places need to be hooked to city water and sewer and not be alowed to have a community well. Soon we will be a trailer community and are not far from it now. Things they are a changin and not all for the best. Our property taxes and sales taxes are rising quickly, with more on the way, and are now up there with the big boys and you would think our city and county government was run by Socialists rather than Republicans but I know of no better place to live but would like to have it back the way it was. I am so happy there is a buffer zone around the lake controlled by the Corps Of Engineers that does not allow building, tree clearing, septic tanks, animal confinements, farming or pollution around the lake. We may not be right on the water but that is fine. Otherwise we would be like Lake of The Ozarks which I have no desire to ever go to again. It is ruined. The surface water temperature is 47+ degrees and the color is kind of a mixture of green and brown and you can see your lure down only about 3-feet. It is usually very clear this time of year. A few fish of all species are being caught but not a lot. It is a typical late February and early March with cold fronts coming through about the time the fish start to bite and slowing it drastically. People are still calling and asking the same questions. Are you closed? Are you on vacation spending our money? Are you for sale? Do you have price increases this year? The answer is no to all of the above. We are open all year and are busy making improvements for your visit and not raising prices on anything. You will like the changes you see when you get here. I am happy here and have no reason the go elsewhere for a vacation even if the fish are not biting very well. They will and you will be the first to know.
