Rain is going to bring lake closer to normal pool.

[razorbackfan4life]

Looks like West Fork got over 3" and Huntsville area was similar.  We are currently sitting at 1116.14 which is about 4" higher than it was before the rain started.  It appears that it will rise an inch an hour for the next 24 hours.  That will put us up above 1118, and 2.5 ft shy of normal pool.  Depending on if they start generating or not it could slowly creep up to 1120 after the short term gain.  

 

I wish this would have happened in early March, but I'll take it anyway we can get it.  

 

I imagine fishing will be really good for the next few weeks before the fish start to transition towards summer pattern.  

[Quillback]

Yessir, fishing is good and should keep on going for a couple of months.  This rain may get some whites in the backs of the coves.  

I'd like to see it not get over 1120 for a couple of years so the buck brush can grow back.  I'm seeing some pop up on the banks, but it needs a year or two to grow.  Then it can flood in the spring over that buck brush.  I like flipping that brush.

[razorbackfan4life]

4 hours ago, Quillback said:

Yessir, fishing is good and should keep on going for a couple of months.  This rain may get some whites in the backs of the coves.  

I'd like to see it not get over 1120 for a couple of years so the buck brush can grow back.  I'm seeing some pop up on the banks, but it needs a year or two to grow.  Then it can flood in the spring over that buck brush.  I like flipping that brush.

I already started noticing some white bass today when we went out.  Not every pocket had them but they were mid way back to 3/4 of the way.  

 

Never realized that about the buck brush.  I do remember it being thick several years ago, just never gave it much thought since then.  

 

We caught probably 25 today.  12 keepers.  Lost bridge south area.  3 good blacks.  one about 3.75 one about 3.2 and one about 2.75.  Few solid brownies/meanmouth.  

 

That part of the lake is weird right now.  Water temp is still running about 57-59.  Smallies haven't spawned totally IMO.  Either that or the numbers of them have gone down significantly.  I fished all my typical spawn banks and half of the fish came in 10-12 ft and the other half were in 3-10 ft.  Didn't catch but maybe 15 of them(and I was fishing hard for them).  Main lake spawning areas I saw maybe one or two beds with fresh fish on them.  Water was slightly cooler there so maybe we were a little early.  Got more brown bites in coves and pockets than on main lake(saw a few more beds, but nothing crazy) We used to go out and catch 50 plus during the spawn, so I honestly think they still haven't fully committed.  

 

The black bass was kind of similar, one pocket I caught the two FRESH 3.2 and 3.75 and lost a couple more.  The next pocket it twas tougher.  No rhyme or reason.  Maybe they haven't committed fully either.  

 

I imagine mid lake towards the river the spawn is full boar or close to over, but up by the dam it just seemed like it's just getting started.  At least where I was fishing.