That lake is full of nice bass !!!!!! my two brothers caught around 100 nice bass few weeks back and won the tournament one week and got 2nd the next.... they said they got tired of pulling in 14 to 17" swimmers ......I think the fish kills helped the bass ....they are the dominate species again in the lake ....red fish are few and far ...and the cast netters are keeping tilapia under control....The lake is only going to get better. Oh don't tell anyone its nice to have this secret bass hole 3 miles from house...

What time can you get on the lake? Should I leave now to beat the rush?

I didnt mean for it to sound like i was saying you were lying. I wasnt there so idk for sure. I just said what I was told.

Not a problem. I just wish it was running the day I went. It would have made the lake fish better.

You are talking about the southern ramp in the state park furthest away from the dam, just to the left after you enter the park? If you go left/south from ramp you go into the end of Powell Branch. Are you saying that its stumpy from the ramp to the end of the cove but that everywhere else north towards northern ramp and dam is safe running? Also, has this became a "backup" plant now? Sounds like the temperatures that everyone is posting here is not far off other lakes. Sounds like any redfish not killed by fish kills would have died anyway. What are the actual water temps around the discharge area by anyone who has been here recently?

Yes 361v the ramp furthest from the dam. There are a line of old trees and stumps that start about 100 yards to the south of that boat ramp and the only ones showing are on the east side bank just down from the ramp (good spot). But all the way to the south end there are random stumps scattered throughout. Ive hit several, so I just idle this area. The only other stumpy spot is in the big cove east of the fishing pier (next cove up from south boat ramp on the same side. I will go in about 200 yards then idle. When the waters low, watch out for big hump/island in the mouth of the discharge. PM me for any details and reports. Other than those spots i'll haul it. Discharge temps have been in the low to mid 70's. Its a full time power plant, but has had some recent shutdowns to update some things, and another 90 day shutdown to add more emissions b.s. is in the works just not sure when.

Matt

Good info. Thank you bigdonkey. Going to make the trip soon. Anyone know when they should be operating full time? Or are they now? Don't want to make the drive to find out. TY

Want to catch some talapia.

Talked to a buddy who works out at the plant and he said that they were running both units full blast.

well darn they must have turned the generators off when he left work yesterday.

made an early /quick trip this morning, ZERO stacks in operation.

FYI the southern ramp is closed for dock repairs,

was on the water by 6:45am and off at 11am caught some active fish early, but the bite slowed for me as I went to a few northern coves. I don't have a temp gauge in the buster boat, but some guys launching as I was leaving said the water temperature at the ramp was 53.

I think they are only running it during peak demand times, wednesday when it was really cold I could see both stacks running from 287, they did the same thing with tradinghouse before it got shut down for good, the older these plants get less efficient/cost effecive they are, may also have something to do with new federal air quality regs.

Did yall get a temp in the discharge? Alot of times we have been recently and its not pouring steam from the stacks, but waters rolling out of the discharge in the upper 70's. I may head out tomorrow and will report back since im only about 45 minutes away.

I went on Jan 3rd and it wasn't running either. I had heard from a buddy it was running great several weeks before but when I went not one stack was going and water temp were 15 degrees lower than what they were. Don't know if they shut it down at beginning of year or what

We went fishing saterday and the water temp on the north end was 53 and the South end was 62. They started the plant at 3 oclock but didn't make much of a difference that day. Fishing was very slow .if you go to fairfeild I wish you luck.