The water level is down about a foot or so, this is really changing some of your favorite spots... I noticed up by the church last night how much difference that has made in that slough, it's really low... Didn't have a pole to try it, but looks to be making things more difficult... Just wanted to give everyone a heads up in case you need to modify plans... Haven't had a boat in the water since the drop so I can't say how that will affect getting to where you want to be, but suspect you may have to be very careful and possibly push to get into the river channels now... Or maybe start at the upper ramp instead of the marina.. Rumors say next week they may bring the water level up a little, but then the big drop will hit 7 October... Later J
PS... If you hunt ducks up here, keep this in mind it may be a terrible bird year due to no water...
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My friend tried to fish the river below the dam yesterday. He said it was raging. Sounds like I missed the boat on Cutler this year. Oh well, Idaho has been good to me [
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I think alot of birds will move on real fast this year. Its going to be a if you know where the water is thats where the birds will be kind of season. As far as fish go im worried about the low levels and the winter kill on alot of lakes/ponds.
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Well let's hope next year it will recover fast. I'm really bummed it was getting fun. I may try this weekend anyway and hope I can stick to the deepest spots so my trolling motor will at least run. Afraid it might be too shallow for the main motor. Well my prop is all chewed up anyway I'll see what happens if I can launch. Later J
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I agree with ya, this will be an interesting season. Don't know if its worth buying a stamp to hunt this year or not. If I didn't have a crew coming I think I'd just go fishing instead. Good luck and let's hope the fish survive. Later J
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A foot low isn't so bad I can still get around to where I want to go. I'll try to get my wife to go out with me this weekend. You can still drop your toon in any where though.
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The real bad news will be the big draw down. It isn't a rumor. Apparently they are planning on working on the dam, so it will be drained really low in the next few weeks. This comes from a water user right on river. As soon as watering season is over, the water goes bye bye!
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Hey Rod I agree with the toon comment, I'm in the boat this weekend if I get to go. Got the in laws up so I'll have company. My boat sits deep enough I'm concerned I may have issues, but it will be fun to try.
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You are correct, this is a planned maintenance action so get ready for mud flats. Later J
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I hit one of the bridges for a lunchtime quickie, but couldn't pull the pic from my phone. 30 mins, a dozen bass, all largies - it was fun, some dinks, a number good sized, though no hogs.
I might still try the inflatable. It's dropped a good foot, so wonder about the launches. But maybe if I could pull off one more float!
Sounds fun, good job. Doesn't sound like I'll get a kitchen pass tomorrow but glad you got a few more before the drain. Later J
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Will they be able to get the repair done this winter or is this going to take several years, like it took to fix Echo?
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From what I've heard they plan on being done in December. Hope they get it back up before it freezes over. Would be better on the fish. Going to be a different fall without water. But I guess there will be a lot of that going around this year. Later J
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I'm not too worried about Cutler. I think the fish will just move into the river channel and all should be well. Plenty of fish winter over in the river above and below the dam, so I think they'll be okay. There are a couple of waters north of the border that don't have any water coming into them that are super low though. Those ones have me the most concerned.
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Yeah, Porcupine isn't pumping any water into the little bear at the moment. The Logan river is trickling. Hopefully we get a good snowfall this year.
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Definitely. If we don't I'm afraid we're going to lose a lot of fisheries.
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That will be a lot of fish compressed into a small area. Probably reduce the numbers a bunch just from increased competition. May help the larger fish grow well. Probably be tough on the baitfish both from being ate and from lack of food for them that will probably be the cause of the damage that will result to the bigger fish later.
I forgot the youth duck hunt this morning, they are really going to town. I keep trying to sneak out today but I think I'll wait until the shooting dies down. It's slowing up some now but it was wild earlier. Well, hope your northerly ponds get some rain to recharge a little before winter sets in I sure hate seeing good things fall off. Guess it happens though. Have a great day. Later J
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Too many things goen today I didn't make it out. But the water is sure down a long ways. A lot of the upper sloughs look like only a few inches of water left. I was going to get some pixs but didn't get a chance. Later J
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