Lake Catherine
Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service, reports that water temperature below the dam is 46 degrees with clear conditions in the tailrace.
Both lakes Hamilton and Catherine have been drawn down 5 feet. This drawdown will remain in place until March 1, when the refilling process is scheduled to begin. Numerous underwater hazards are now visible in the tailrace due to the low water conditions and boaters and wade fishermen alike should use caution when navigating the area.
Entergy has lowered Lake Catherine another 2 feet in order to do repairs on Remmel Dam. This work is expected to take until around Christmas to complete. The lack of water in the tailrace has made navigation to the dam and powerhouse area nearly impossible. Extreme caution should be used by boaters during this time.
Rainbow trout are highly scattered now from the bridge to the dam, which is normal for the early part of the fall season. Decent numbers of fish have been caught by fly-fishermen that are now able to access areas that hold fish. Egg patterns in orange or yellow have accounted for several limits of quality rainbows presented under a strike indicator. Micro-jigs in black or white have also worked well when used in the same manner. Boaters trolling shallow-running crankbaits that imitate shad or crayfish have taken numbers of trout during times of generation. The majority of trout are in the 11-to-12-inch class and are full-bodied. Bank fishermen are also catching trout on PowerBaits and nightcrawlers cut in half used under a bobber or just off the bottom with a marshmallow floater.
Schools of white bass are inhabiting the tailrace and feeding on threadfin shad. Topwater action has been observed in the early morning below the bridge.
Walleye still remain in the tailrace and can be caught on minnows tightlined in deep water just past the bridge. These fish normally spawn in the tailrace around the second week of February. The deepest areas consistently hold walleye that live and feed in the tailrace.
No striper activity has been reported this week, but these predator fish migrate in and out of the area frequently.