Red River Generation Chart

[wgm]

Can anyone provide me a simple explanation on how to use this chart... as to how it relates to ones chances on catching trout Fly Fishing both wading & fishing from a boat on the little red?

Below are the headings... and one line from the report

Greers Ferry Lake Top Flood Pool: 487.0

Little Red River Top Power Pool: 461.3

(GRRA4) Bottom Power Pool: 435.0

Turbine

Time Elevation Tailwater Release Generation

Date CS/CDT (ft-msl) (ft-msl) (cfs) (mwh)

7APR2008 0300 485.81 271.67 2660 40

fyi - you can click on the below link to see the complete chart... the link below works... but when I put it into a post... it does not show up as the exact url ? so you can't cut & paste it into a browser... just fyi

http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Repo...ata/Greersf.htm

[Cody Smith]

CFS - Cubic Feet Per Second- The amount of water the corp of engineers is pulling through the generators at one time. 1 Generator is capable of pulling up to roughly 3500 CFS , which translates into about 4.5 feet of water on the river...... So Both Generators running wide open can produce about 7000 CFS, which is about 9 feet of additional water in our river.

FT-MSL Feet above mean Sea level, This is the level the water sits above mean sea level, So at dead low water on the little red, you will see levels of 266 feet. At times of heavy generation you will see levels of 275 - 276 feet above mean sea level

The FT-MSL for the Lake, Normal lake levels for the Corp to generate power is 461.4 feet above mean sea level, As you can see from the chart the lake levels currently are 485.?? feet. This is a record level for us here on Greers Ferry, The old record was 483.// feet. We actually reached 486.// and I'm positive if we receive some more rain we will hit Flood Pool, Which is 487 feet above msl. At 487 feet the corp will open the flood gates to relieve pressure on the dam raising water levels in the river by 12 - 25 feet depending on how far they crack them.

Basically what all this translates to is how much water is entering the river and how fast it is coming down stream. EG. With both generators on WIde open the rising water will reach Libby Shoal in approx. 6.5 hours.

This shows in detail what chances you have at finding wadable water and will also dictate what fly patterns and methods must be used in order to catch trout and have a safe day on the water. As water levels change so do the methods for being successfull.

If you have any more question's please feel free to ask~

Cody Smith

Trout Troller Guide SErvice

[wgm]

Cody - thanks much for the great post - I think I almost got it now

Am I correct then that to be able to find finding wadable water you then need the FT-MSL to be at or near 266 feet?

Only a couple more questions... can a good fly fishing guide, fishing out of a boat, normally put their clients on fish with both Generators are running wide open? What about when only one Generator is running wide open at 3500 CFS? What is the maximum CFS you like to see for the best chances at having a successful fly fishing boat trip?

[Cody Smith]

You should be able to catch fish on any given day with any given condition's... Now with that being said, there are alwasy excepetion's to any rule, However, 1 unit is ideal Big fish water, It pumps the river full of DO Dissolved Oxygen< (this is another term you should familiarize yourself with) and the trout get HAPPy! It's kinda like Nitrous Oxide at the Dentist~It also provides more food in the system from areas that are dry in low water periods.

I prefer fishing with the equivalant of 1 unit or less, 2 unit's if the water is falling. My client's have had some of there best days of 100+ on 1 unit. Of course alot depends on skill level of the fisherman as well as the guide. Some bode better than others.

Cody

[Danoinark]

Excellent questions and superb answers...a great thread. Thanks to you both.

Dano

[Cody Smith]

Hey DANO~ Good To HEar From You! How have you been faring up North?

Cody

Trout Troller

[Danoinark]

Hey DANO~ Good To HEar From You! How have you been faring up North?

Cody

Trout Troller

Hiya Cody. How are things. You keeping the ol Maddog straight?.

You ought to post that same question about trophy trout here on OAF....I bet that would bring up some lively discussion.

Dano