Another DO question

[Danoinark]

I heard from several people last weekend that fishing was slow for them on Taneycomo. It sure was for me.

I suspect that the DO was low. I didn't check it. Does anyone remember looking at the graph for the 9th and what the DO level was? I have tried to see if the Corps archived the numbers and can't seem to locate any information....Dano

[Phil Lilley]

Not sure if they offer that info...

Remember, DO levels are very high in water from outlets #1 and #2 so the water directly below these, regardless of what's coming from the dam, will have good O2 levels.

DO levels registered at the dam haven't been bad yet this fall. It's early. Levels will fall below 3 and even 2 parts by November. 8-10 parts is the high end of the spectrum. 5 parts is the state standard, which the COE doesn't have to abide by, being a federal agency. Also, a dam isn't considered a "point source" so it doesn't fall under the Clean Water Act as poluting. I've been told 3 parts is the low end and animals in the water could start dying below 3 parts but our levels drop under 3 every fall and few trout every die from it. They may die under the stress of being hooked and fought when DO levels are low... though.

Combine low DO and high water temps and you really have problems with trout, esp rainbows and big browns. We should be ok on water temp this fall- we had a cold winter and dry spring and summer.

Sunlight also adds O2 to water, as with wind. So night time and early morning will be the lowest readings normally. Keep this in mind when fighting big fish at night in late October and November.

And for those who don't know, Table Rock will turn over about the first of December, depending on air temps between now and then. The colder and winder it is, the faster the lake will turn. This will end the low DO season for Taney till next fall.

[Danoinark]

Thanks Phil. I was fishing Rocking Chair and a guide friend I ran into said he suspected low DO causing the fishing to be slow in that area. I was just tthinking I would compare what was at the dam for Saturday. The graph since last Sunday shows DO to be adequate...Dano