not likely lose all of the hybrids that were stocked recently but if the lake goes over the spillway again many will go over the wall and end up in the spillway basin. With the recent history of flooding in 2015 and 2016 it really made the fishing below the dam in the spillway better once the lake settled down. Fish follow their food so if a bunch of shad go over the spillway wall you can bet that the whites and hybrids will be in hot pursuit. It doesn't appear that the lake will breach the spillway this time but with another hurricane brewing comes the risk of more rain and more flooding.. that will be bad news all the way around

Lake Level is 254.6. 16.6 ft above normal and leveling off.

Lake Level is 254.8. 16.8 ft above normal.

Welsh park is still open with very limited bank space near the check station and down to the right. There have been a few people fishing for catfish but with very little luck.

I haven't seen any white bass surfacing.

I went to Overlook park this morning in my kayak. The attendant told me that no motorized vehicles are allowed on the lake at this time. I'm not sure if this is true as I saw a couple large boats and jet skis out on the water at Welsh both last night and today.

I launched in the cove near the boat ramp and worked my way along the bank towards the marina. I fished with a popper dropper for LMB first, but only caught one and lost a couple more. I tried fishing with a rubber legged dragon and a small bluegill popper along the bank at the marina with no luck. I put on a couple jigs and tried crappie fishing around the boat houses with no luck either so I called it a day.

Lake level topped out at 255 ft. 17 feet above normal. COE opened the gates. Flow is 2362 cfs.

So does "closed" mean the launches are closed or you aren't allowed on the lake? Can I get in trouble if I go put in on one of the many flooded spots?

Hey J moe I'm coming down to visit the Mother in law this weekend. Is it safe to plan on fishing the spillway?

It is safe to fish but they had both roads going into the parking lot closed. At this point you would have to park at the visitors overlook and walk across beneath the emergency overflow area. I am going to check it out tonight.

Great post to let us know. How long of a walk is that ? I'm getting kinda old and fat

Lake isn't closed. People need to understand the wording of marinas closed and lake closed.
Welch park is open and you CAN launch there. Just not using the ramp.

The road is still closed off on both ends. Its about 1/3 or a mile or so to walk there. Another option might be to fish below 36 bridge.

I fished the spillway this morning and didn't get any bites. I parked at the visitor's overlook and walked to the spillway beneath the emergency overflow as J-Moe suggested. I met another fisherman there and he walked across the emergency overflow area where the water was less than knee deep so that is also an option.

Thanks for the report bowler49.

Thanks for the posts J-Moe and bowler49. Bowler 49 were you using bait or lures? I'm amazed nothing was biting the sandies and crappie are usually on fire below the dam in a high volume water release situation

Just lures. I tried rattle traps, pet spoons and sassy shad. There was only one other person and I didn't see him catch anything either. Something I just thought of: I saw a post saying there was a thermocline all over Somerville this past weekend. I think this might be why fish wouldn't be going through the spillway since they are probably hanging out in shallow water.

The road to the visitors overlook is now closed