Jones Bridge...

[star8]

Canoed on past Jones Bridge a couple of weeks ago. There were some dead trout floating on the bottom upside down at various still water points along the way down stream. My guess is some of those in the large crowds of fishermen at Jones Bridge and elsewhere eager to catch another were not being very careful when unhooking their catch. Best to use barbless, and care when releasing, my opinion. After 30 seconds a trout out of water will suffer damage to its gills. Do not forget to wet your hands. Dry hands feel like a hot poker to a stressed out trout gasping for breath. Best to keep the fish in the water.
Also noticed some heavy stringers from the bank and spinner bait fishermen.
Surely, NGTO members are not eating these city fish.

[derricko1]

So I sorta-halfway know the ins and outs of the river gauges and release schedules, but not super sure what they really mean.

For example, if the dam is doing this (below) today, is JB still fishable through dusk and dark tonight? I did go out a few weeks ago when there was a 67MW pop from 2pm-4pm (seems like a summer release pattern) and I noticed the water started rising at about 6-ish...some 4 hours after, not 6.5 like some online tables say. Maybe the 6.5 number is when it crests...

Now I don't know how high it ultimately got because I left, and maybe 2 hours of 70MW or so is okay to stay and fish... I guess that's my question. I know when they're releasing, I just don't know what's workable and what's not @ JB.

I've been wanting to fish sundown there for a while now, and these 2-4pm releases have been scaring me away.

[SlowStreamer]

Originally Posted by derricko1

So I sorta-halfway know the ins and outs of the river gauges and release schedules, but not super sure what they really mean.

For example, if the dam is doing this (below) today, is JB still fishable through dusk and dark tonight? I did go out a few weeks ago when there was a 67MW pop from 2pm-4pm (seems like a summer release pattern) and I noticed the water started rising at about 6-ish...some 4 hours after, not 6.5 like some online tables say. Maybe the 6.5 number is when it crests...

Now I don't know how high it ultimately got because I left, and maybe 2 hours of 70MW or so is okay to stay and fish... I guess that's my question. I know when they're releasing, I just don't know what's workable and what's not @ JB.

I've been wanting to fish sundown there for a while now, and these 2-4pm releases have been scaring me away.

Derrick,

take a look at the chart in the Hooch Flow link. It will give you approximate times after the start and stop of a release for the water to rise and fall at given park locations along the Hooch.

Hooch Flows compliments of http://www.atlantaflyfishingclub.org

This and other handy information can be found in this thread:

Chattahoochee River - Water Release Info & Gage Heights

[derricko1]

Thanks Sam, but that was my point. That chart says 6.5 hours for the water to reach JB, but if you look at the USGS Norcross gauge, the water starts going up at, say 6-6:30pm from a 2pm-ish release. Now it just starts rising then, mind you, and it actually is about 6.5 hours when it peaks (maybe that's the number the hooch flows chart is using)

If you were to expand any one of these days below

and then cross check it with the dam release times from this site http://operations.sam.usace.army.mil...Schedules.aspx, it looks like about 4 hours after the start of release is when the water will start to go up.

Long story short, I'm reading all the charts and links and tables, but not sure how to interpret them. People are posting about sunset hatches @JB, but I see those bumps on the USGS gauge and end up not going out.

Am I missing something?

[SlowStreamer]

Derrick,

that Hooch Flows chart does say approx hours to crest. So, your assumptions are correct. I use the chart as a guide for when I know the water will be too high to safely wade. Since there are no warning sirens that far down, you have to stay aware of your surrounds and take note of water levels on rocks and shore lines.

I know you know that, but just repeating for folks new to fishing on Tailwater Rivers.

[HoochBuster]

Derrick, I haven't had a problem with the water at jb lately, and I stay out late. Very, very late.
We will have to meet at jb soon, and I still owe you a dukes trip, Derrick!

[Milton]

Derrick-

You may have realized this, but going by Eastern Daylight time, releases start an hour later than the COE online charts say. It should be two hours later, because the charts say they’re on Central Standard time, not Central Daylight time, but in fact they seem to switch to Daylight Saving when everyone else does. At least that’s what I figure from comparing the charts to the Buford Dam recordings.

Of course, this would make releases hit Jones Bridge later than you expect, not earlier, so I don’t know whether it has any bearing on your question. Anyway, if you don’t already, life is simpler if you call the Dam (770-945-1466), and listen to the recording in good old local time, to confirm what you’ve read on the chart.

-Milton

[Architorture]

Originally Posted by Milton

Derrick-

You may have realized this, but going by Eastern Daylight time, releases start an hour later than the COE online charts say.

-Milton

Bingo. If you call the number you'll hear that the release starts today at 2:55 PM and ends at 7:10 PM.

So you'll probably start noticing the level change around 7 but the water won't crest until about 9:30.

[derricko1]

Perfect. Thanks all... I've known of all these links forever (didn't catch the central time thing, though!), but haven't really fished the hooch enough to put them into practice... sounds like a phone call is the way to go.

It used to be when I got the time to fish I would head up to the hills, but now that it's a million degrees outside, I have the gear permanently in the trunk for a tailwater quickie when I can get one.

Thanks again, guys. I hope to see you guys out there soon. Thought it would be today, but now looks like first of next week.

HB: Will you be "streamering" tonight?

[HoochBuster]

No Derrick, I am mousing tonight.
Caughta ton on top this evening, mostly on a tan caddis. Even caught one really nice brown.
Another beautiful evening on the hooch.