Water Report from Prairie Creek

[J-Doc]

I do not know the water temp other than....it's cold.

I would assume mid-to-upper 40's if not lower 40's after today.  

I did snap these two photos and checked the water clarity.  Roughly 6-8" visibility at the ramp.  Not a boat trailer in the lot so no one was crazy enough to venture out.  Not even a wet trail from the ramp where someone had left earlier.

I dropped a white Road Runner with a fluorescent orange/red head to see what the visibility was.  It was quickly engulfed into the muddy chocolate colored water.  Made a few casts at the ramp and headed back to town. 

For those wondering, no.  You're not missing anything today.

[Quillback]

Thanks for the update, I hope that water starts clearing soon.

[J-Doc]

It's still much dirtier than expected.  I haven't checked the generation lately though so that could be it.  That and more run offor but nothing like it was. 

[J-Doc]

I know this, standing on the dock for 5-7 mins was enough to confirm how glad I was I didn't take the boat out!! Lol!!

[jeb]

Water temp down in the dam area on Friday was a very consistent 50 degrees. We found one small area of 49 degree water.

[Champ188]

Table Rock still had lots of 50-plus degree water as recently as Saturday. These last couple of frigid nights may knock the surface temp a few degrees but it won't send us into a rapid deep freeze. Barely cold enough for any semblance of a jerkbait bite. Some dying shad would sure help.

[Notropis]

17 hours ago, Quillback said:

Thanks for the update, I hope that water starts clearing soon.

I doubt the water is going to clear up anytime soon in the mid-lake area.  The main process for clearing water involves clumping together of the small silt and clay particles to a size where they become big enough to settle out (flocculation).  Clay particles, in particular resist clumping due to their negative charge (like charges repel each other).  Flocculation typically happens in warmer water temperatures when natural organic compounds form and help the clay particles clump together and settle out.  

Unfortunately, we may be looking at muddy water for several months until the water starts warming up.  

[J-Doc]

That

Will

Suck.

[Champ188]

I wondered if the density of the colder water would affect the settling of the particles. I wasn't aware of the clumping process.

I think it would probably clear faster if those dang stripers weren't swimming around breaking up the clumps. I'm blaming it on them.

[Notropis]

48 minutes ago, J-Doc said:

That

Will

Suck.

Yep!

We may see some clearing as the larger particles (silt) settle but the clay particles will take a while.