discussion on catching crappie when they generate water?

[cranks4crappie]

I mostly fish on tva lakes along the Tennessee river. I have always had a hard time catching crappie on the lake when they are generating water. some bass guys love it when they pull water. they say they can catch more. what do you do? fish tight to structure? do they spread out and suspend...is it better to troll? seems like I have noticed the fish go to the bottom and hug the bottom and I can catch a few there when they are pulling really hard. lets start a discussion on what to do, where to fish, when they are generating water and what are the best techniques to use. thanks in advance and I hope everybody chimes in.

[DockShootinJack]

On Guntersville they bite pretty good when the water is falling. It pulls allot of the bait fish out of the back waters. Bridges and and any choke point has fish ambushing bait fish. The bite will usually stop when the water flow does.

[usafret99]

Always bite better for me when pulling water! Bass and crappie

[rhinofishing]

They seem to bite best on Weiss with 1 turbine running.

[M R Dux]

Current is your friend on KY and Barkley Lakes when the water temps are above say 65 degrees. Below 65, it makes the fishing tough. I just base that on almost 50 years of fishing both lakes.

Lots of my friends are getting cabin fever and getting out on both lakes. TVA has been letting the lakes come up to a couple of feet above winter pool then pulling the plug. If they are pulling over 40,000 cubic feet per second at KY Dam, fishing in the winter and early spring is going to be much tougher than normal. Lately the discharge has been over 100,000.

[TowboatTroller]

Mrdux I agree on the crappie for sure on pickwick. Now small mouth is another thing 100,000 is there kinda water seems like.

[cranks4crappie]

I agree with everything said. A little current I can catch them but when they are dropping the water, I struggle. So, what is the best approach to catching when they are dropping or pulling 50k or more? Why do you think it is harder to catch during the winter when they are generating as mrdux suggests. Thanks for all the replies guys.

[M R Dux]

Mrdux I agree on the crappie for sure on pickwick. Now small mouth is another thing 100,000 is there kinda water seems like.

My post was strictly for crappie fishing and what I have noticed over the years about the effect current has on them.

[TowboatTroller]

My post was strictly for crappie fishing and what I have noticed over the years about the effect current has on them.

Yes sir just noting that small mouth like the stronger currents. Sorry for confusion

[tenncrappie]

On Chickamauga most of the time current is a must. When it quits go home. Sometimes it's too much but run of thumb with current you will have your better days