Thread: Muddy Waters

Red- Considering im going into fisheries biology I do know a bit about what i may be laying down on the table. But I also may be wrong and I realize that. The spawn is still several weeks away, water temps are in the mid 50's and its going to take a week of solid water temps in the 60's to get them fired up again. The forecast shows for mid to upper sixties about everyday but when its rain everyday that water isnt going to warm. Mattoons fish are no where close to being ready, and luckily for you and others, mattoon doesnt stay flooded but maybe a day or two unlike shelbyville before it is back to normal level. While it still may be muddy the fish will be fine with the spawn. Some silt may affect the eggs, but I wouldnt fret to much. Shelbyville is the one with slight worries, luckily for that lake its huge, and every fish wil not spawn at the same time. Some fish on the north end may spawn a month before those on the south end. Its just playing around and figureing it out. Yesterday, I caught fish out of MUD water. The fish still bite, just not as well. Post front conditions, rising water, muddy water, and colder water temps...this is when the fishing gets a little tougher and you find out who knows what they are doing a bit and is able to adapt!

well put. i hate negative people

The lake being muddy doesn't bother me. I know right where the crappie are and how far they are from the spawning beds. I also know the temperatures and how close they are to spawning temperatures. With the upcoming rain, the water may not clear up for weeks. So, everyone should go to Shelbyville and fish. LOL.

I ain't going to say much about my catch but there are some videos of fish wiggling on a tarp.LOL I won't be posting them.

As for a glass being half emty or half full, I just say there is a half of glass of water. It is a known fact that crappie have good and poor years spawning. I think all of the flooding will affect the crappie spawn and the Spring crappie catch. Feel free to prove me wrong.

You Don't have to worry about me Tick. You know I will take your advice. Shelbyville is where I will be,with Johnny Winter on my back.

I wonder how fish spawn in the river? Muddy all the time, water rising and falling all the time, silt is always going on, I'm surprised there are any fish in there.

Look at those fishes tales, they will keep the silt off the eggs, temp is the key.

Junie

Originally Posted by birdman

Red- Considering im going into fisheries biology I do know a bit about what i may be laying down on the table. But I also may be wrong and I realize that. The spawn is still several weeks away, water temps are in the mid 50's and its going to take a week of solid water temps in the 60's to get them fired up again. The forecast shows for mid to upper sixties about everyday but when its rain everyday that water isnt going to warm. Mattoons fish are no where close to being ready, and luckily for you and others, mattoon doesnt stay flooded but maybe a day or two unlike shelbyville before it is back to normal level. While it still may be muddy the fish will be fine with the spawn. Some silt may affect the eggs, but I wouldnt fret to much. Shelbyville is the one with slight worries, luckily for that lake its huge, and every fish wil not spawn at the same time. Some fish on the north end may spawn a month before those on the south end. Its just playing around and figureing it out. Yesterday, I caught fish out of MUD water. The fish still bite, just not as well. Post front conditions, rising water, muddy water, and colder water temps...this is when the fishing gets a little tougher and you find out who knows what they are doing a bit and is able to adapt!

Well put Birdman. I fish a lake that 4 out of 5 years its flooded and muddy before, during and after the crappie spawn and yet it's one of favorite places to catch crappie.
I feel about the only thing that will really wipe out a spawn is the lake levels. Falling or rising too much to fast at the wrong time. But have no fear they prevail!

Well, at this point all I can say is that they are calling for up to 3 inches of rain today. That is bound to affect crappie fishin' and will likely affect the crappie spawn (in my opinion). I am pulling my boat out of the water, I am prepared for water backing up in my yard (not close to the house), and don't know when I will fish again.

River crappie spawn in sloughs and back water areas. Too much water, no spawn, too little water, sloughs dry up, no spawn. But, like you said, they do manage to spawn. I don't want Birdy to know it but I catch a ton of crappie in the river behind my house in some years. But, not this year. And, in late summer, I have seen some massive crappie kills due to lack of oxygen in the same river.

Piggy, I love blues slide guitar. My favorites are; Elmo James, Hound Dog Taylor, Duane Allman, and Johnny Winter. Eric Clapton can play a little slide sometimes. I saw Hound Dog at Krainert (sp) Center in Champaign once.

They may change the blues song Texas Flood to Lake Shelbyville Flood. Some of the black men from Chicago that come to the fish the local lake knew some of the Chicago bluesmen.

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".