Scuba Steve with the fish of the day.
The lake level is 553.35 and is creeping up with no discharge from the dam for over a week. Both generators are still inoperable The top of the power pool is 553.75 and we are just a fraction below that and the level is a couple of feet high for this time of year. We would be below 551 normally, what ever that is now. The White River at Newport is 3.39 ft. and dropping and remeains very low indicating not much water is being released anywhere. The surface water temperature is back up past 70-degrees again with the warmer ambient temperatures. We are dry again but there is a good chance for rain most of the latter part of this week starting Thursday for several days. The water is trying to clear up a little but the visibility is still not good like it should be in the latter part of October. It seems like the months are flying by. October is usually one of the worse months for fishing and this year is not an exception even though the lake turned over early and it usually gets better after that with November being good and the last part of November being very good. The fish are there but just not feeding very much yet. The ones that I am cleaning have nothing in them except a crawdad now and again. I am seeing some fish coming up on shad part way back of the creeks in the evening but they are mostly small bass. Some White Bass are feeding on shad in open water but not very often. Kentucky Bass, bluegill and crappie are the best bite in front of and in main lake brush in 18-25 ft. of water suspended at various depths. Use a small spoon or a live minnow on a slip float directly over the brush or cast a 3-inch creature bait on a jig head to the bank and work it slowly to the brush early and late. Use your trolling motor sparingly and shut off the anchor or spot lock. The crappie are roaming and spooky. After you catch one or two they are gone. If your trolling motor is running constantly you will have a hard time catching very many. One good thing is that the Kentucky Bass are nice sized. The lake overall is in good condition and at a good level and the weather has been great but fishing is just fair at best. The fall foliage is steadily changing but mostly on the roadways and not much on the hillsides but is still on track for a peak the very last of this month or early November. There is some color but more browns than there should be. I know what I see but am not good at predicting this. Blackburns Resort and Boat Rental is still the home of the $59/day 1-bedroom cabins and $79/day two bedrooms and they come with a free stall for your boat at our dock. If you are in town looking for real estate, waiting for a house to close, working from out of town or just peeping leaves come on down. It is nice here and we will not charge you too much. Why pay more unless you just have too much money? Call Debbie at 870-492-5115 for a reservation. You will like it here.
