Shad

[Phil Lilley]

Talked to James today- no movement in DO or temperature yet. I think when if happens it will happen quick unlike last year when it took a week to turn.

[fish hunter]

Hey FJ80. Could you splain to me this hypolimnion business again?

[jdavis]

Is the shad kill an annual event? This is the first place I have heard of it. I would like to see this for myself. Are there any precursors that let you know it's coming? How long does it last?

[Phil Lilley]

Shad die because of cold weather/water on lakes- it's a natural occurance. But it depends on how cold the water gets. Some winters it doesn't get cold enough to kill many shad- some winters alot of shad die. I've heard the temp has to drop below 42? but I'm not sure.

For shad to flow thru the turbines at Table Rock Dam into Taneycomo, they have to drift near the intake at 130 feet deep. There have been winters where there's dead or dying shad all over the lake's surface but nothing comes thru the turbines because they aren't getting deep enough. Why? I have no idea. One thing that helps is alot of heavy generation, creating a current in the lake pulling water down to 130 feet. This winter we have had cold enough weather to have a shad kill but hardly any generation and no hard generation- so far. Rain would help- and more cold weather.

So to answer your question- it could happen anytime (but doubtful) and I've seen shad come thru the turbines as late as April.

[FJ80]

Hey FJ80. Could you splain to me this hypolimnion business again?

fish hunter,

they hypolimnion is the bottom layer of water in a stratified lake. Cold water is more dense and sinks, warmer water sits on top. In the spring, when the temperatures begin to heat the surface water, the lake will stop mixing and the warmer water will sit on top of the denser, colder water.

[fish hunter]

FJ80--

Thanx for the refresher. I thought hypolimnion was the sensationion ones feets get at ~3 am while standing in Taney!!