Thread: Barren River Lake Level

They recovered a body at Bowling Green from the river yesterday. I dont know if that was a factor.

Finding the body was the reason. Now that they found the man, running at .11


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Other than what you guys brought up, I have heard also that the corps or whomever does not have an easement very far up above bank level downstream of the lake and therefore cannot just let it rip if they were inclined.

I know Barren seems to be the corps whipping boy when it comes to holding water. The last three years it has been well over summer pool in the spring. I have quit going there to be honest. We used to spend time every winter putting in brush, pvc trees, bamboo buckets and what-not. We have basically stopped doing that A) because there is no sense doing it when what you put in to fish during the spawn is 20' deep (or high and dry other years) and B) the water is up in the winter too and you have to work from the boat to get it put out.

I hope the fish have got off a few good spawns despite the water being crazy.

As I understand, they have a date to drop to winter pool and a date to hold to summer. They've been letting it rip for weeks other than yesterday. It's been dropping consistently 1/2 ft or more a day for a while now. If it rains, they have to hold back.

The last three years have been abnormally wet in the fall.

The corps are quick to tell you the lake is for flood control. Fishing has little to do with decision making unfortunately.

Now before you become like my wife , give me a blank stare, and call me an idiot, hear me out. For the last three years we’ve had high water (REALLY HIGH), along with some some tough fishing. But when I ask our area biologist about spawning checks through test net methods, it’s good to great. So if the fish are have positive spawns, are they spawning in those areas of 20+ feet? This springs fish that I’ve caught and those I’ve talked to are deep on Barren. We expect fish to spawn in four to six feet when maybe they spawn by geographically? Barren’s winter to summer depth range of up to 25’ is unique, don’t know of another lake with the range it has. The fish spend their whole life in it and know the lay of the bottom better than me. Just something to keep me awake nights.


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Originally Posted by slabseeker1

Now before you become like my wife , give me a blank stare, and call me an idiot, hear me out. For the last three years we’ve had high water (REALLY HIGH), along with some some tough fishing. But when I ask our area biologist about spawning checks through test net methods, it’s good to great. So if the fish are have positive spawns, are they spawning in those areas of 20+ feet? This springs fish that I’ve caught and those I’ve talked to are deep on Barren. We expect fish to spawn in four to six feet when maybe they spawn by geographically? Barren’s winter to summer depth range of up to 25’ is unique, don’t know of another lake with the range it has. The fish spend their whole life in it and know the lay of the bottom better than me. Just something to keep me awake nights.


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.....blank stare......


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I shot an email to today asking about spawn success. I don't think they are spawning at 20' though. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they spawn in the trees, in fact that probably works well for them, until the lake starts getting pulled. Just from fishing experience I see fish move in and up with rising water and drop back out on the fall. Fishing is always better for me with rising water than falling.

You put in brush with the expectation of fishing it in winter you maybe put it in where it will be 15-20' deep at winter pool. Lake comes up it's normal 25' and that is now in 55'. It comes up its new normal of an additional 20' and it is in 75 fow. I try to put brush where in the spring it will be 6-10 foot deep, it may be on dry ground one year or 30' deep the next. That's why I gave up putting beds in over there. We'd also walk the banks in winter with a hand held gps and mark spots.

I guess I have just come to prefer lakes than don't fluctuate near as much like Barkley, Ky and Old Hickory. I've found the fishing to be better there as well.