Can somebody please explain...

[kentuckytroutbum]

Originally Posted by Jim Casada

Waterwolf--You may have a point. I can't remember exactly when it was--sometime in the last few years--there was a huge scandal in the Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries (or whatever the exact title is). There were mass firings at the top and court indictments. I don't recall all the details but I know it included things such as highly questionable use of funds, hunting trips in Africa, and much more. It was a huge mess.
Jim Casada
www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com

Another example of government out of control, and running amuck!

Bill

[Knothead]

Instead of venting hyour anger and frustrations here, why not be more constructive and give your thoughts at the commission meetings and when the TWRA asks for public comments for fish and wildlife regulations before seasons and limits are set? Public comments are solicited twice a year on the TRWA website, www.tnwildlife.org.

[Flat Fly n]

Originally Posted by Knothead

Instead of venting hyour anger and frustrations here, why not be more constructive and give your thoughts at the commission meetings and when the TWRA asks for public comments for fish and wildlife regulations before seasons and limits are set? Public comments are solicited twice a year on the TRWA website, www.tnwildlife.org.

I and others have on previous issues in the past. I have personally attended those commission meetings numerous times over the years. This was more or less a question posted here for others to see for information. If you don't know, how to you get anything changed?

[77punk]

i'm still trying to understand the wier dam on the clinch. i know the addition of this device is a big part of what makes the tailwater such a great fishery. and i have read that without it the river bottom was basically an oxygen devoid mud pit when the water was off. however in the fall when the generators are shut off and the water dropping, the trout, especially the browns, take advantage of the lower flow and instinctively move upstream to spawn. the problem is, i have witnessed dozens of breeding size trout get stranded on the grates and die. this happens every time the water is shut off during the browns' run. i was there in november, and could not stand the sight of so many fish about to perish. i took off my shoes, rolled up my pants legs, and climbed down onto the cold dam while there were still "pockets" of water poking up from the rocks beneath the grates keeping the fish alive. i put back at least thirty fish ranging in size from 12-30" that day. i brought this up to a ranger who stopped by to inspect the fishing a little later on. at first he didn't believe me and argued that the trout make it across just fine. but after he crossed the island and witnessed the ravens feasting on trout on the other side, he had no argument anymore. i posed the question to him, why are our licenses paying for twra to stock fingerlings into the river, only for them to kill so many of the breeding trout who could help offset the costs of stocking? if you do the math, the dam is killing hundreds of breeding size trout each fall

[waterwolf]

Originally Posted by 77punk

i'm still trying to understand the wier dam on the clinch. i know the addition of this device is a big part of what makes the tailwater such a great fishery. and i have read that without it the river bottom was basically an oxygen devoid mud pit when the water was off. however in the fall when the generators are shut off and the water dropping, the trout, especially the browns, take advantage of the lower flow and instinctively move upstream to spawn. the problem is, i have witnessed dozens of breeding size trout get stranded on the grates and die. this happens every time the water is shut off during the browns' run. i was there in november, and could not stand the sight of so many fish about to perish. i took off my shoes, rolled up my pants legs, and climbed down onto the cold dam while there were still "pockets" of water poking up from the rocks beneath the grates keeping the fish alive. i put back at least thirty fish ranging in size from 12-30" that day. i brought this up to a ranger who stopped by to inspect the fishing a little later on. at first he didn't believe me and argued that the trout make it across just fine. but after he crossed the island and witnessed the ravens feasting on trout on the other side, he had no argument anymore. i posed the question to him, why are our licenses paying for twra to stock fingerlings into the river, only for them to kill so many of the breeding trout who could help offset the costs of stocking? if you do the math, the dam is killing hundreds of breeding size trout each fall

This is just bad luck on the fishes part. TWRA has nothing to do with the weir, that is TVA.

If you or anyone else wants it fixed then contact TWRA and they maybe can change the design.

The weir has vastly improved the river to the point if it kills a few fish each year, the benefits out weigh the costs.

[kentuckytroutbum]

The weir actually provides a controlled release of water when TVA is not sluicing or generating. Granted that there is going to be some fish lost, but I think that it is better than having the river bed run "dry" without a continuous flow.

The weir on the Clinch reminds me of the salmon ladders that you see in Oregon, Washington state, etc. to allow salmon to travel upstream to feed, spawn, and do other things.

On the other hand, the weir dam on the SOHO prevents any fish from moving upstream between the weir and the dam discharge pool. Those fish are basically landlocked with no where to go.

Bill

[Flat Fly n]

Originally Posted by kentuckytroutbum

The weir actually provides a controlled release of water when TVA is not sluicing or generating. Granted that there is going to be some fish lost, but I think that it is better than having the river bed run "dry" without a continuous flow.

The weir on the Clinch reminds me of the salmon ladders that you see in Oregon, Washington state, etc. to allow salmon to travel upstream to feed, spawn, and do other things.

On the other hand, the weir dam on the SOHO prevents any fish from moving upstream between the weir and the dam discharge pool. Those fish are basically landlocked with no where to go.

Bill

Obviously the browns on the S. Holston do quite well in their "landlocked" state.

[kentuckytroutbum]

Originally Posted by Flat Fly n

Obviously the browns on the S. Holston do quite well in their "landlocked" state.

I agree, I've caught some nice browns above the weir around the canoe launch.

Bill

[Corbo]

Well; I spose I have a question for you all.

What role do the Trout Unlimited Chapters play in TWRA and TVA management decisions?

Please excuse my ignornace.

[Knothead]

The Tennessee TU council and chapters work with TWRA and TVA in management issues. The council has a very good relationship with both agencies. Been involved with the council and a local chapter for about 15 years.