|
0 Comments Lake Shelbyville.. As of 7:00 a.m. January 15th, 2020 the pool elevation at Lake Shelbyville was 606.31 feet, referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), with a release of approximately 4340 cubic feet per second (cfs). The inflow was approximately 8880 (dsf). Crappie are being caught on main lake drops and brush piles. With the water rising this will slow until the lake crest. With current precipitation on the ground, Lake Shelbyville will crest at 607.0 feet NGVD on 1-17-20 Lake Shelbyville Dam is operating as designed, helping reduce flood stages on the Lower Kaskaskia River, Carlyle Lake, and the Mississippi River. Boat launch facilities should remain open in all major recreation areas. During this high water period, boaters should use extra caution on the lake and be aware of floating debris and submerged hazards. As the water at Lake Shelbyville continues to remain above normal levels, visitors should be aware that some areas will be temporarily impacted. If an area is posted closed please do not enter the area. Do not put yourself and others at risk. For more information, contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951 or email at [email protected] Ken says: Lake level stand 597.81 as of today's report. Discharge rate is 2370 cfs and infow is 1050. Lake is on the fall at the rate of 2-3" per day with the north end of lake still a little muddy. The crappie have left there winter homes already following the shad back in major creek arms for a easy meal and warm water ( watch for the gulls diving ). At one time we had water temps. in the high 40's close to 50's on the south end of lake in some places. When cleaning the fish I examined some of the Crappies stomachs and everyone was full of shad. Looks like the 3 inch shad was on the menu for the most part. At one point a crappie hit our Baby Shad bait (black & chartreuse ) with a 3" shad hanging out of it's mouth. The fish look healthy. Some were on the skinny side but with a good appetite and should rebound nicely. This could be expected with the cold and 4 inch of ice plus the snow cover for the hole month of February. The Crappie population as a hole looks good for the up and coming spawn. Get your rods out and knock the dust off put oil and new line on them and get ready for great fishing season.. Just remember water temps are still very cold so pair up when you can wear your PFD and be safe.. Tightlines
Ken says: With this cooler weather the crappie realized it is fall and the crappie are on the move and they are feeding up for the winter. As of this report the water temps have hit the low 40's on the south end and high 30's on the north end. Lake level stands at 600.13 ft. which is a little over normal summer pool. Draw down starts around Jan.15th and then the crappie will pull out to there normal winter areas. The fish we've been catching now are mostly from sand creek north to the Wilborn ramp. We have been tight lining jigs with our baby shad baits in all chartreuse or a blue back pearl belly in the 2 3/4 inch. Also we have been using a 1/6 oz. jig and a cork casting over shallow stumps and brush. We use a 2 inch tube for this presentation. On windy days we just tight line a 1/4 oz. jig and baby shad to control the bait better. Casting a cork and small jig in the wind can be frustrating to so the least. So if you what to catch some nice fish this fall and winter give me a call (217-454-2672) and we'll get you on the calendar for some great fall and winter fishing. Be safe out there and try to partner up for safety reasons and wear your PFD's... Tight lines
Ken says: The lake level stands at 599.5 as of today's report and is at normal summer pool is 599.7 The tail water flow is 40 (cfs). Tail water fishing report has been fair to good on the crappie, white bass, catfish with the Muskie bait the best. Evenings and first light our your best time. On the lake the crappie are good and still out In 8-15 feet of water so we have been trolling 200- 300 series Bandit crank baits and bottom bouncer with spinner rigs. We look for the shad schools on main lake and the mouth of coves on the depth finder and you can see the crappie and white bass underneath the shad schools. Use line counter reels so you know how much line you have out and run your speed at .08- 1.6 on gps . The learning curve on this technique is short so by midday you should have it down. White bass are slow to fair with some coming on two jig rigs on days you have wind on sand flats on what's left off the flooded vegetation. If no wind it is a hit a miss so we been targeting the crappie which are more reliable and better table fair.. The large mouth bass should be on main lake points up in the day and shallow early in morning. Buzz bait early in morning will work here. Then when sun gets high in the sky go to black and blue brush hog or 10" red shad worm on a heavy shaky head jig to get through the heavy cover. Heavy rod and line are a must to get these fish out of the cover. Walleye are slow are fair and can be caught from first light and evenings up feeding on sand flats and rocks and the outside of boat ramps rock. Also they can be caught trolling shad raps on main lake points up in the day. Be safe and watch for other boaters... Tight Lines
Ken says: The lake level stands at 596.52 as of this report. The crest will be 594 winter pool. Water temps are climbing into the 60's on south end. With the spawn just starting and the crappie headed to the bank and feeding up they are very predicable. We have been targeting the fronts of major creek arms and big spawning coves on the south end. Spider rigging or slip bobbers set at 10- 15 feet will work here fishing standing timber or brush piles. White bass and walleye are being caught on lindy rigs with night crawlers or trolling shad raps or Bandit crank baits. You what to target main lake flats and ledges in 10-15 foot of water at point #3-5 and 6. Large Mouth Bass are being caught on spawn areas as well. 1/2 0z. jig and plastic or 10 in. red shad rubber worm or shallow diving crank baits would be you best bet here. Have fun an be safe. Enjoy some up and coming summer fish on Lake Shelbyville... Tight lines
Ken The lake as of todays report stands at 594.83. This is less than a foot over winter pool. The lake is froze from north to south. With a warm up and the wind it should open up soon. Spillway fishing has been slow as of late with a few Muskie being caught. The discharge rate is 510 cfs. Power plant lakes we have been fishing have been good to fair. Water temps have been running about 48* to 54* in the warm water areas. Spring will be here before you know it and we will be back on he water soon..
Ken says: The lake level stands at 599.07 as of todays report and is at normal summer pool is 599.7 The tail water flow is 70 (cfs). Tail water fishing report has been fair to good on the crappie, white bass, catfish and Muskie. Evenings and first light our your best time. On the lake the crappie are good and still out In 8-12 feet of water so we have been trolling 200- 300 series Bandit crank baits and bottom bouncer with spinner rigs. We look for the shad schools on main lake and the mouth of coves on the depth finder and you can see the crappie and white bass underneath the shad schools. Use line counter reels so you know how much line you have out and run your speed at .08- 1.6 on gps . The learning curve on this technique is short so by midday you should have it down. White bass are slow to fair with some coming on two jig rigs on days you have wind on sand flats on what's left off the flooded vegetation. If no wind it is a hit a miss so we been targeting the crappie which are more reliable and better table fair.. The large mouth bass should be on main lake points up in the day and shallow early in morning. Buzz bait early in morning will work here. Then when sun gets high in the sky go to black and blue brush hog or 10" red shad worm on a heavy shaky head jig to get through the heavy cover. Heavy rod and line are a must to get these fish out of the cover. Walleye are slow are fair and can be caught from first light and evenings up feeding on sand flats and rocks and the outside of boat ramps rock. Also they can be caught trolling shad raps on main lake points up in the day. Be safe and watch for other boaters... Tight Lines
Ken says: The lake level stands at 603.94 as of todays report and is on the way down. Normal summer pool is 599.7 As it stands now we are a little over 4 feet over summer pool. The tail water flow is 1435 (cfs). Tail water fishing report has been fair to good on the crappie, white bass, catfish and Muskie. Evenings and first light our your best time. On the lake the crappie are good and still out In 8-12 feet of water so we have been trolling 200- 300 series Bandit crank baits and bottom bouncer with spinner rigs. We look for the shad schools on main lake and the mouth of coves on the depth finder and you can see the crappie and white bass underneath the shad schools. Use line counter reels so you know how much line you have out and run your speed at .08- 1.6 on gps . The learning curve on this technique is short so by midday you should have it down. White bass are slow to fair with some coming on two jig rigs on days you have wind on sand flats on what's left off the flooded vegetation. If no wind it is a hit a miss so we been targeting the crappie which are more reliable and better table fair.. The large mouth bass should be on main lake points up in the day and shallow early in morning. Buzz bait early in morning will work here. Then when sun gets high in the sky go to black and blue brush hog or 10" red shad worm on a heavy shaky head jig to get through the heavy cover. Heavy rod and line are a must to get these fish out of the cover. Walleye are slow now but can be caught from first light and evenings up feeding on sand flats and rocks and the outside of boat ramps rock. Also they can be caught trolling shad raps on main lake points up in the day. Be safe and watch for other boaters... Tight Lines
Ken says: The lake level stands at 612.23 as of this report. The crest will be 613 on May 25th. Water temps are climbing in to the 70's on south end. With the spawn winding down and the crappie headed back out to deep water and feeding up they are very predicable. They will leave the spawning coves the same way they came in. We have been targeting the fronts of major creek arms and big spawning coves on the south end. Spider rigging or slip bobbers set at 17-20 feet will work here fishing standing timber or brush piles. White bass and walleye are being caught on lindy rigs with night crawlers or Manns jigging spoon or trolling shad raps or Bandit crank baits. You what to target main lake flats and ledges in 10-15 foot of water at point #3-5 and 6. Large Mouth Bass are being caught on spawn areas as well. 1/2 0z. jig and plastic or 10 in. red shad rubber worm or shallow diving crank baits or a frog or rat bait in the flooded bushes would be you best bet here. Have fun an be safe. Enjoy some up and coming summer fish on Lake Shelbyville... Tight lines
Ken |
