Thread: Muddy Waters

uhhh....red...lets just think logically here for a minute. If you for a second believe the floods at shelbyville the past years havent helped the fishery then your plum stuck on your ways (not that you arent anyway) and silly. The fish have spawned, they always find a way to spawn, but they key point is that since the lake has been flooded that has covered SO much more stucture (weeds, grasses, bushes etc) that normally isnt covered, making shelbyville almost overwhelming to conquor it seems. All this does is allow all the young fingerlings and fry to be able to tuck back in these places not usually covered and hide from the predator fish. Why do you think shelbyville has been one of the top lakes for crappie in the area the last 2-3 years and why do you think the walleye numbers and size have shot through the roof all of a sudden and why are the white bass numbers all of a sudden outrageous on the lake? Its just simple...more cover to hide in plus way less fishing pressure, fish are going to thrive, and have.

Originally Posted by shild

So you're implying that he would make false statements in order to promote fishing at Lake Shelbyville... hilarious!

I am not implying any such thing. I will say that he is naturally going to have an optimistic outlook in regards to a newspaper quote. I have met Mike and he seems to be a dedicated guy. I sure would love to see him put some blue catfish in Lake Shelbyville and another favorite lake I fish.

Birdy, the turbid water can not be good for spawning fish. And, because of the water fluctuations due to Shelbyville being a flood control lake, can not be good for the spawn either. Crappie could lay eggs in places that may be dry ground in a week. I am sure the eggs need sunlight that thay won't get in muddy water.

I hope I don't have to read about you guys getting in and out the lake again this year. The slime on the ramps will be the same as last year. I think some of the ramps are already flooded.

Piggy, I have a couple of Derek Trucks videos. He does Highway 51 with Johnny Winters on one of the videos. He is Butch Trucks son but no one can deny he looks like and plays guitar like Duane Allman. I have some Ry Cooder stuff around here also.

Red the lake isnt even at summer pool yet so the ramps are still very usable.

Its like some statements you make you just say before thinking. Let me ask you this...since you claim the muddy waters will ruin the spawn, how do lakes in mississippi like grenada (home of the biggest crappie might I add) which are constantly muddy to very very murky waters, sustain a sucessful fishery then?

I will agree the fluctuating water will affect some of the spawn, but there is so many crappie in that lake, and mattoon, that there is still going to be a spawn and sucessful hatch. Besides, not every crappie spawns in 2 foot of water or less.

These fish have been living for a long time and somehow seem to survive year after year, although some years are a whole lot better than others. I think the years of high water, that may hurt some of the spawners, help the fry that do make it, by giving them more cover. Who knows??? I still wish it would let up a little.

Birdy, have you added in this morning's rain? Or, the storm that will be here tonight? I saw forecasts calling for 2-3 inches of rain total today in Shelby and Moultrie counties.. On top of what we have already had with the ground already being soaked, Flood City.

Personally, I like fishing floods. Every river rat worth his salt will tell you fish bite best during rising water. I used to fish the flooded Kaskaskia all of the time. I looked forward to the water rising. Those same river rats will tell you the fishin' is usually poor when the water is dropping.

They do stock alot of fish these days, even in Mississippi. I hope there is a good spawn but I am skeptical.

Originally Posted by Redtick

I might ad that I read in the newspaper this week that Mike Mounce (the local state biologist) stated that last year's floods improved Lake Shelbyville fishin'. Of course, it is his job to promote Lake Shelbyville fishin".

I have also noticed this about Mike Mounce. Every time I've talked to him all he wants to do is talk about Shelbyville. A few years ago I called and asked him about the muskie stocking in a certain lake and how long before there will be a decent fishery. He quickly brushed aside my question and said Shelbyville is the place to go. Now I realize it's the biggest lake in his area, but geez there are some other lakes around that people like to fish.

No I have not added in the rain were 'supposed to get.' But iv added the rain we have already got... I have two different sites for the lake. One tells me the income rate of water coming into the lake, whats its predicted to crest at, how much they are letting out, how much its dropping or rising etc. This updates once every 24 hours. I then have another site that tells me up to date information about current levels and income and outflow etc.

Its all in your beliefs, iv said way more on this than I should have but it just urks me about some stuff that is said when its not true. I know others have their opinion too but just stay hush. I will have to learn to do that too..but im a youngin.

Have a good fishin season red, if you dont want to fish in the upcoming weeks because you think its to muddy by all means thats fine. Ill make sure to catch some off the trees in your little cove and especially the docks right outside it, always was good fishin there!

I know a place in Mattoon that will always have good Fishable water even though the rest of the lake is muddy. What I have found most of the time if the water gets muddy it turns the fish off for a couple day maybe a week, They get used to it then fishing goes back to close to normal. It is those sudden transistions that goof them up. For me at least.