Mississinewa lake , summer pool by May 1 ?

Heard on the local radio station an Army Corps of Engineers telling the host that the flow will be shut down/slowed down on April 1 with plans to be at summer pool by May 1. This seems very early, and I never remember them trying to get the lake to summer pool so early, usually they shoot for around Memorial Day. This means bank fishing at Hogsback for crappie or white bass run will be most likely impossible. Not to mention the heavy rains we get in late April early May causing flooding concerns, remember 2017 ? Last years levels were almost to low during that time and I had been told they were keeping it lower to manage heavy rain fall better. Any info. or comments ? -Thanks

No way your going to out guess what the Corps is doing as no 2 years are ever the same. They will change their minds like the weatherman’s daily forecast on what is going to happen. In Indiana we are a couple of inches of rain above the norm for the year already. The Corps may hold water back up there to let water out that flows into the Wabash River due to the Cat and Monroe being so high down here.

Good point. I heard the full interview on sunday morning, it's new guy , just promoted. He was saying they wanted to be at summer pool at all three res. by May 1 so people could get out and enjoy the lakes. That made no sense since they have always made clear flood control is their only concern. Levels look good right now, just need that water temp to come back up and turn them on.

That must be why they slowed the outflow then and kept lake at 722. With rain coming i thought they might release a bit more water but its beem steady since monday. I caught some nice crappie last week in the red bridge area and then on monday caught about 20 but not as big. Water was pure trash both days but fish were up on cliff walls. With spillway being so low shouldnt take long for that bite to start..its usually hot first week of april although i hate going there. This weather sure has sucked im praying this rain isnt going to be heavy and put us even more behind.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

That must be why they slowed the outflow then and kept lake at 722. With rain coming i thought they might release a bit more water but its beem steady since monday. I caught some nice crappie last week in the red bridge area and then on monday caught about 20 but not as big. Water was pure trash both days but fish were up on cliff walls. With spillway being so low shouldnt take long for that bite to start..its usually hot first week of april although i hate going there. This weather sure has sucked im praying this rain isnt going to be heavy and put us even more behind.

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Yep, I agree, a week of upper 60's low 70's will kick it off. However looking ahead the weather looks to be on a very slow warm up trend. I find that 3 or 4 day with 70's high and 50's lows this time of year can getting the white bass moving up river in a fury, with the crappie not far behind. I always skip the spillway bite, not worth the head ache. I prefer the Hogsback area, more room to spread out. I was also at red bridge last week, got about a dozen keepers and water was 45* and muddy.

Looks to me like you have 2 crests on the Wabash which keeps the Corps from releasing depending where the lake is. Down here, it would be more like end of next week for the Wabash Crest to move south without rain for the Corps to release at the Cat and Monroe as East Fork White River crest has to go down first. With more rain no telling how long they will hold the releases as Cat is now 27.5 ft up and Monroe is 9.7 above summer pool. They have started a modest release today. https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=IND

Ya, a lot depends on the rain, but those temps barely get out of the 50's for the next few weeks. High muddy cold water is not a good combo.

Anyone been out recently. I tried over the weekend and only place i found crappie was below the dam and even that was slow. I was still catching crappie last monday north west side of red bridge but this weekend they were gone. I tried a spot east of red bridge and a spot east of 13. Found white bass east of 13 but no crappie. Water looked great up that way.

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Originally Posted by colt1888

Anyone been out recently. I tried over the weekend and only place i found crappie was below the dam and even that was slow. I was still catching crappie last monday north west side of red bridge but this weekend they were gone. I tried a spot east of red bridge and a spot east of 13. Found white bass east of 13 but no crappie. Water looked great up that way.

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Went out around Hogsback Friday morning. Water looked great, clear and a little on the low side. Water temp was around 47*. No action as I explored up and down the bank. Went back yesterday, and got a couple small white bass . If the heavy rains hold off I think a 3 to 4 day warm front is what we need get things going soon.

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Originally Posted by kyron4

Went out around Hogsback Friday morning. Water looked great, clear and a little on the low side. Water temp was around 47*. No action as I explored up and down the bank. Went back yesterday, and got a couple small white bass . If the heavy rains hold off I think a 3 to 4 day warm front is what we need get things going soon.

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Yeah really need some warm weather everything else looks good. I think next week its suposed to warm up some finally. I went over again tonight and tried the resi up by slocum. Managed one nice bluegill and about a 12 inch crappie. Only one i could find though. I went below the dam after that and caught 15 or so with 6 being keeper size. Very few people there with the rain.