Spillway gates to open 5/27

[netboy]

Looks like it is finally happening., 

https://ozarkflyfisherjournal.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/bull-shoals-spillway-opening-wednesday/

[JamiePatterson]

Any clues to what kind of flows they are gonna have? I haven’t seen more than 26-28k CFM since we’ve had our place on the white. 

[Ham]

13 hours ago, JamiePatterson said:

Any clues to what kind of flows they are gonna have? I haven’t seen more than 26-28k CFM since we’ve had our place on the white. 

I hope they run less than 30K 

[netboy]

On 5/26/2020 at 6:11 AM, netboy said:

Looks like it is finally happening., 

https://ozarkflyfisherjournal.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/bull-shoals-spillway-opening-wednesday/

I launched at Wildcat this morning and the water was running  at 13k. It is odd that they are running around 10k thru the spill gates and then only have one unit generating. The water temp at Wildcat was 61 degrees and it was 49 degrees a couple of days ago. I can never figure out their logic... why not just run 6 units for the same result and keep the water colder and make $$$ on the electricty?

At any rate fishing was good with some fat rainbows including this one...

 

[Quillback]

Nice bow.

Yeah, why not run the water through the generators and generate some green electricity?  I'm sure there's a reason why they are doing it the way they are, but they do operate in mysterious ways at times.

[snagged in outlet 3]

20 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Nice bow.

Yeah, why not run the water through the generators and generate some green electricity?  I'm sure there's a reason why they are doing it the way they are, but they do operate in mysterious ways all the time.

FIFY.....

[Phil Lilley]

The only thing I can think of is that there's not a big demand for power.  They can't store it.  And hydro must be in full swing since everything is full. 

TR is approaching 931 with Beaver now running.  I'd say by this time tomorrow, everything will be running.  Hope they can keep it moving through Bull.  Need to get some of this water from my front yard to my back yard...

[Cameron Gillespie]

Only thing I can figure out is demand for power is so low that running water through the generators is a money losing proposition for them. I worry about the effect that warmer lake water has on the fishery.

[netboy]

2 hours ago, Cameron Gillespie said:

Only thing I can figure out is demand for power is so low that running water through the generators is a money losing proposition for them. I worry about the effect that warmer lake water has on the fishery.

The trout were still very active at 61 degrees. It was strange to handle one to unhook it and feel it's body temp much warmer than normal. I know that mid 60ish degrees is about the normal temp on the Spring river and Eleven Point most of the summer and the trout do well. If it gets up into the low 70's then there may be a problem, but I am confident the COE is in contact with AGFC about these issues. Also good to know that the water coming out is at the bottom of the spill gates which is now about 44 feet below the surface, so not quite as warm.  

[Cameron Gillespie]

I didn’t think about the water being 44’ at the bottom of the gates. I guess that puts in perspective how high the lake really is. I plan to be on the river tomorrow.