Thread: Need help with Cave Run fish attractor map

Originally Posted by gopreach

Has anyone converted the coordinates on the Cave Run Fish Attractor map to the standard WGS84 coordinate system used on most GPS units? I am baffled why they do not provide these coordinates in this standard format.

Gopreach

Yes, I have. I used this converter website : GPS Coordinate Converter, Maps and Info

But, my Lowrance Elite 5DSI does not recognize WGS84 (Decimal Degrees) ... so I had to use the GPS Lat/Long numbers that came up on the converter. Otherwise, my coords showed up on the converter map as being somewhere in North Africa

Since I first used the KDFWR attractor site, they've updated it to show more than one set of coordinate numbers. Before, it would only show one set ... and I believe that was Decimal Degrees.

Just be sure and test your input numbers by zooming out on the converter site map, just to make sure the coordinate marker is actually on Cave Run Lake and not somewhere "overseas" !!

Thanks CrappiePappy. I just copied the info down on paper using the conversion site. That was a chore!!!!! Have you found the habitat to be helpful? Numbers 1 and 7 were not even close to the lake but the others seemed to be correct.

Originally Posted by gopreach

Thanks CrappiePappy. I just copied the info down on paper using the conversion site. That was a chore!!!!! Have you found the habitat to be helpful? Numbers 1 and 7 were not even close to the lake but the others seemed to be correct.

I did the same thing ... wrote them down first, after conversion, then manually put them in my unit (while sitting on the couch !!)

I haven't fished Cave Run in a couple of years, and only tried to find one marked brushpile last time I was there, which I did find ... though it was about 10' off from my waypoint mark. But, that's still within the range of what the GPS units we are allowed to have are calibrated to produce.
When I was there last, in the Fall, a couple of years ago ... I did see quite a few boats scattered out on the flats between Zilpo and Twin Knobs, probably fishing those piles put out by the KDFWR. The KDFWR has placed many more in the lake, since then.

Looking at the KDFWR map coords, I did see some that showed up on dry land ... but, I'm not sure if the coords are off or if the map outline isn't correct. I also failed to find a couple of shallow water brush piles down at Watts Bar Lake. But, they could have been moved, or have deteriorated by the time I went looking for them.

Another thing I did, back when I had Google Earth on my computer, was look over the previous years maps. My focus was on those maps from Winter, when the water level is down, and looked for brush & stumps & partially submerged logs that would be in a few feet of water come Summer Pool. I got the coords, converted them, and put them in my unit ... but, I haven't had the chance to check them out "on the water". This was done, primarily on Green River Lake, and last Spring I spent more time on Taylorsville. I was just catching such quality fish at Taylorsville, that I didn't make many trips to Green.

I wonder how securely some of this stuff is anchored. Cave Run can get really high! A few years ago the water got well up into the parking lots of several of the boat ramps and stayed there for a few weeks. I had a bad experience several years ago there. I wanted to put in at Clay Lick but discovered the parking lot was under water. It was about a half mile backup before I could find a place to turn my rig around. Yesterday was my first day of retirement after working for nearly 45 years. I look forward to getting out a lot this coming year. I live in Louisa, Kentucky so most of my fishing is done at Yatesville, Grayson and Cave Run. I will try to post some of my results as the year progresses.

I do believe that some piles do break loose, get moved (by man or water), or just fall apart. High water, then heavy discharge of that water can move or destroy piles that are put in certain places. This has happened at Taylorsville, over and over again. This pile lasted less than 2yrs :



And several of the larger laydowns that I used to fish, suddenly disappeared after some major flooding events at Taylorsville. I'm sure Cave Run has experienced similar goings on.

Congrats on your retirement !! I'm enjoying year 3, after 45yrs of healthcare service, myself.

Looking forward to your reports !!

And here's another website link you might find useful, and may help you to not experience another flooded parking lot scenario :
Louisville District Daily Lake Report

This page is updated daily, usually around 6am or so ... and gives you the current water level.

Click on the blue numbers under Todays Pool Feet and it gives you a chart showing the precip., water level, and outflow over the past year.
Click on the blue highlighted lake name and then on Water Temps ... and it gives you a chart showing water temps & dissolved oxygen levels from surface to bottom. But, it's only kept up to date during the period when a thermocline sets up. It's also taken at the dam, so it may not be consistent with other areas of the lake.

One thing I did notice the last time I was there, Oct 2014, was that the creeks I went into were nearly choked with moss, around every piece of standing timber. That was a new one on me. I'd seen grass out on the Zilpo flats, before .... but, never so much moss around the trees in the creeks. Almost thought I'd been transported to Cedar Creek Lake.

Great info Pappy & congrats on the retirement gopreach

A friend told me today retirement is 6 Saturdays and 1 Sunday every week! He no longer wears a watch!!! I am looking forward to a change of pace for sure. Thanks Pappy for all of the good info. The guys are this site are always so helpful.

Gopreach

Congrats on the retirement. I had my 1 year anniversary on Christmas day. Best thing I ever did.