Floodgates were opened last week at Table Rock Dam to move water from Beaver and Table Rock lakes. The last three rains poured a total of 6 to 10 inches in the area. One unit is down at Table Rock Dam, so floodgates make up for the loss of flow, plus some. Beaver’s level is not dropping yet, but Table Rock is at a clip of four inches per day. Table Rock’s level has dropped from 918.5 feet to 917.4 and should be down to 915.0 by next weekend.
Report amended: The floodgates have been shut off, and the fourth generator is back on line.
All this water has intimidated a lot of anglers. As I’ve been sharing with them, it’s not the water flow itself but the 15-20 mph winds that’s making fishing tough. As I’ve preached for many months, you’ve GOT to be on the bottom to get bit. With this flow and the added effect of wind, it’s challenging! Trout have been biting pretty well if you can present something to them in a good way – and that’s the trick.
We’ve been sending most of our guests downstream, basically advising them to find less windy spots to drift minnows or Gulp PowerBait eggs -- one white and one of another color like pink, orange or yellow -- on the bottom using a drift rig. Up in the creeks, we’re finding a lot of trout looking to get out of the current. Throwing spinners and spoons is good because these rainbows seem to be in the mood for chasing. Also put a Gulp egg on a small jig hook and fish it under a float four-to five-feet deep.
Guide Bill Babler had a fantastic trip fishing this morning. Especially from 7-9 a.m. with one-eighth ounce white jigs. His clients caught some incredibly nice rainbows ranging from 18 to 22 inches in length. With the gates off and dim prospects for more shad, these trout will be eyeing anything white for weeks to come.
