Question - 4 generators last few days TEMP Shock Fish?

[Fozzy]

The pattern generation wise before the last few days has been 1 generator on for a few hours then rest of the time zero generation. Temps seemed to be in the mid 60's water wise in the up above the bridges & up to fall creek (boat fishing with bait).

Done very good fishing wise during this time.

Then suddenly they ran 4 generators...fishing went from excellent to horrible. Nobody else was catching either. Around the bridges, the Island, cooper creek area etc....

Tried it again in those spots the next day again = no luck, skunked. I noticed the water probably is in the 50's then

Drove the boat the other direction the next day from branson to rockaway beach area...water probably was 60's or so, some cold but not as much. There i limited out on trout in 1 hour or less. Some very nice ones...

Friday fished that area again at rockaway, stuck my hand in water, must have been in the 50's like the upper lake, again No bites, Skunked!

Is this a thing to watch in this lake? Does the temp change "shock fish"? I saw a few guys in creeks fishing where warmer water mixes with cold water, (and out of the current) and they were doing good....catching fish.

Any opinions?

[Bill Babler]

Location, sometime is way more important in fishing than realestate. Yes, the cold water will shock the fish, but not for an extended period of time, they acclimate fast.

Right spot, right bait and you will get bit. Clear, Extremely Cold and Fast in the restricted area yesterday and they chewed the fur off the flys.

Bait guys had a terrible time from Fall Creek to Branson. I wonder how many fish are in that stretch right now??????

Those bait fish seem to being staying tight together, and moving quite a bit. Just not lots of spread out fish. If we get a generation pattern, we'll be able to tell more.

Last couple of weeks, they were in the short creek to riverlake area by the hundreds. Everyone knew this and limit upon limit was removed. Then the generation started and now that area is just flat. You would think they either moved to cooper or lilleys', But they might have also moved up during the generation.

You cannot however see very many fish in the restricted area, but there are enough to get a pretty good nip.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think the long period without generation raised the temps to uacceptable levels in many areas of the lake, when the temps dropped over a wide range the fish scattered and moved back to these areas.

[Bill Babler]

Wayne, I don't understand your post the way it is written. I'm sure your right, but take another stab at it, so an idiot like me can understand your thoughts. Thanks.

[crappiefisherman]

i think what hes tryin to say is normal cold water over the entire lake will spread fish out, kinda like people we dont like to bump into each other all the time

[Wayne SW/MO]

Sorry Bill, the written word is one more thing I'm not skilled at, but Crappie pretty well summed it up. I would imagine that the Trout were stacking up where they found the cooler water and when the generation spread lower temps over most of the lake, they moved to more desirable areas.

I would think a flush of cold water and some current would have them stacked in new locations.

[Bill Babler]

Gotya! Good a theory as any. Personally, I don't think there is a lot of fish in the lake to start with. I am a huge sight fisherman, and am just not seeing any fish.

How can I see them on deep water? Hardly a day goes by when these fish won't midge a bit. Myself or any of the guides are not seeing much activity.

I can usually tell when I come across the 65 bridge how my day is going to go, even in the restricted area. Most times I can see hundreds of trout in the railroad bridge area, thru 65 bridge, right now I see almost none, yet there are swarms of midges coming off. They are playing around your head from the time you get in the boat.

If something isn't eating them, then I don't believe they are there.

[Danoinark]

Bill, maybe moved closer to the dam?

Dano

[gonefishin]

I think Bill is right. I dont think there are nearly as many fish in the lake. I dont believe there are as many being stocked. I dont know about others but I sure havent seen any trucks stocking trout. I still believe the MDC went for the $Gold$$. They raised the fees, lowered the limits and at the same time stock less fish because of lower limits all of which equals big bucks for the state and a big ripoff for fishermen.

[Bill Babler]

Dano, I can't get any closer than the cable. Rumor has it from non-revealable sources, we are about 6 figures under the ammount normally stocked by this time.

Maby, Maby Not Thats all I have on the stocking or I'll be in big trouble.