Shad!

[Phil Lilley]

Just got the report from some guys who just came in.

Lots and lots of shad coming over the top of the dam.

Catching fish on white jigs.

Trout have so many shad hanging out of their mouths it's a wonder they are still biting.

I'm heading up to see for myself

[Fly_Guy]

Did that smallmouth last topic wash over the dam you reckon? And if it did (and imo so), are there more? And do you think any wallys came with him? Just musing... I didn't know if the spawn was on yet, but i guess if walleye are in the James, they'll be on the dam as well... Anyone know anything?

[Phil Lilley]

I made a drift and caught 2- one close to the cable and another further down on white jig. The first was packed with shad. I did not see any shad but they had come thru. Not sure from over or under though.

No idea on the bass or walleye question.

[laker67]

Did that smallmouth last topic wash over the dam you reckon? And if it did (and imo so), are there more? And do you think any wallys came with him? Just musing... I didn't know if the spawn was on yet, but i guess if walleye are in the James, they'll be on the dam as well... Anyone know anything?

Funny you mention fish coming through the flood gates. I had this very discussion today. I do not believe that the rough fish come through the flood gates. When this occurs at bagnel dam, the fish are floating on the surface stunned and dying. I doubt that any survive. You never see that at taney. Shad through the flood gates yes, fish no. Those smb, walleyes, whites, crappie and others come from the lower lake where they reside most of the year. Only during flood gate events do they venture into the upper lake for a feeding bonanza. Very rarely are these fish caught during normal generation. Tagging and releasing fish in the lower lake, other than trout, would be a good way to prove this theory. I think now would be an excellent time to find some walleye between the cable and outlet one, including "in" outlet one.

[Fly_Guy]

I have wondered about that... it seems like an awfully big fall for a heavy fish to survive. I may give er a shot tomorrow am - I did well on smb a couple of years ago.

[Leonard]

Hey phil...

I heard about a hour (or so) ago..

A 4th gate has been open... can you confirm this?

Laker.

Some of those fish probably came from the lower lake.. I really think a few came over.. there was way to many of them not to have came over..

Back when they had all 10 gates open wide... we were catching quit a lot of fish that had a spots where their scales had been removed (almost as if they had "rubbed up against something")....

Last fall when the gates were open just a little... they was very few "ODD" fish caught.. (I believe it was 6in that the gates were open...right)

again..

I agree some came up from the lower lake... but I also think a lot came over..

[laker67]

Hey phil...

I heard about a hour (or so) ago..

A 4th gate has been open... can you confirm this?

Laker.

Some of those fish probably came from the lower lake.. I really think a few came over.. there was way to many of them not to have came over..

Back when they had all 10 gates open wide... we were catching quit a lot of fish that had a spots where their scales had been removed (almost as if they had "rubbed up against something")....

Last fall when the gates were open just a little... they was very few "ODD" fish caught.. (I believe it was 6in that the gates were open...right)

again..

I agree some came up from the lower lake... but I also think a lot came over..

Hey Leonard. Yeah like I said, my belief is only a theory with no actual proof. The fact that they end up there during flood gate events is a bonus to all of us. Save one for me.

[Phil Lilley]

Hey phil...

I heard about a hour (or so) ago..

A 4th gate has been open... can you confirm this?

Sure I'll drive up and see...

[eric1978]

Did that smallmouth last topic wash over the dam you reckon?

Those smb, walleyes, whites, crappie and others come from the lower lake where they reside most of the year. Only during flood gate events do they venture into the upper lake for a feeding bonanza.

I have wondered about that... it seems like an awfully big fall for a heavy fish to survive.

Some of those fish probably came from the lower lake.. I really think a few came over..

again..

I agree some came up from the lower lake... but I also think a lot came over..

Hey, if Harrison Ford survived that fall in The Fugitive, anything is possible.

Seriously though, there's just no way that smallie Phil caught flopped over the dam and fell into Taney. That fish was a pig and gravity would have wreaked havoc on his internal organs...and even if it didn't he'd probably stroke out from the stress. I guess there's no way to prove he didn't come over from TR, but man, I really don't think so. I could accept the argument that some fry or even fingerlings could wash over and survive, but that big boy? Doubt it. Very nice fish by the way Phil.

[DoveTail]

Tagging the fish would help establish a theory where the fish are coming from. They do stock trout from airplanes in mountain lakes (not float planes), so it's hard to say what is happening.