Smith-Continued

[dublhaul]

Thanks!

[creakycane]

Was up there 1030-3ish today.   Sporadic mayflies and caddis, but nothing I would call  close to a hatch.  Fish here and there on bh nymphs and the odd fish teased on surface.   Unless super-eager to get out, I'd probably wait till the rains come through next week and see if fall activity starts after that during last week of Sept or Oct....

[Woolly Bugger]

#24 -- 87 partly cloudy

I don't usually go on sunday and I wasn't sure where I wanted to fish, I was blocked by some others who got there ahead of me, but I settled in at another location, where I managed only a few punes. I drove on up to the damn dam and checked things out there.

These guys were chucking some heavy stuff on their fly rods, I've never seen a angler in this spot before at the current flows, I think the waster is moving too fast. They didn't catch anything.

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[troutboy_II]

For those of not fishing the Smith, what are the improvements being done to the damn dam?

 

TB

[Woolly Bugger]

For those of not fishing the Smith, what are the improvements being done to the damn dam?

 

TB

Back several years ago the decided that they needed to move the high voltage switch gear from inside of the old building to an external building. Nering completion of the new switch building there was an arc explosion inside the old building. That required extensive asbestos abatement.

After cleanup and repairs and the completion of the external switch building power generation resumed. Then a torrential rain storm caused a catastrophic mud slide that destroyed the new switch building.

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They decided that the hill needed to be stabilized before they rebuilt the switch building and resumed power generation. The project is scheduled to be completed sometime next year.

Without generation the dam became a flood control project with an average outflow of 280 cfs. During normal generation the river went from a minimum flow of 75 cfs and 1500 cfs when generation.

[dublhaul]

Then a torrential rain storm caused a catastrophic mud slide that destroyed the new switch building.
.
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They decided that the hill needed to be stabilized before they rebuilt the switch building . . .

Do you suppose the civil engineers, soil scientists, erosion control/stormwater engineers, etc. who almost certainly analzyed the soils and runoff patterns for the FIRST new switch building will be asked to do the same analysis for the SECOND new switch building?

[creakycane]

Just before the rains came today, the dam reduced flows to 1/3rd of what Philpott has been running.   

[trout-r-us]

Just before the rains came today, the dam reduced flows to 1/3rd of what Philpott has been running.   

Was wondering when they would cutback. Launch ramps on the lake are getting difficult with the low water.

https://philpott.lakesonline.com/Level.asp

[Woolly Bugger]

Reposted from Als email


On Tuesday and Wednesday this past week (September 24-25, 2024) Virginia DWR pulled together a crew of biologists and volunteers to sample the Smith River Fishery. We sampled from just below the Philpott Dam, downstream to The Great Road access ramp. Recent rains had colored the water which does not make for ideal sampling, however tight schedules dictated we go now or not go at all.

Each day the DWR lead biologist outlined the sample plan and gave a safety briefing.

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We started at the improvised DWR ramp just a little downstream of Philpott Dam. The water was foggy and it drizzled off and on both days. The sample raft goes ahead. The "work up crew" follows in canoes, kayaks and a volunteer owned raft.

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Once the sample raft's holding tank is full they pull over to a shallow spot and the data collection process begins.

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To the layman it may appear confusing but these folks have worked together for years and operate as a well oiled machine. After the the initial "work up" volunteers are integrated into the process.

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Every fish is identified, measured and weighed. They are then returned to the stream to swim off likely wondering "what the heck just happened"

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It doesn't count if the data is not written down. This information is later entered into a computer program which helps biologists make management decisions for the overall health of the fishery.

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We collected some nice fish. These two hatchery grown rainbows have eluded fishermen so far this year.

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We even collected a walleye that somehow made it through the sluice gates at Philpott Dam. He looks like he is doing just fine on a diet of small trout.

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Once the tank on the collecting raft is empty they are sent ahead to fill up again. When all fish are documented the "work up crew" quickly move forward to meet the raft and the process starts all over again.

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And so it went for two days. We almost got rained out when a strong downpour muddied the water on the 2nd day which allowed numerous fish to swim away before they could be netted. We collected about 750 on Tuesday and 450 on Wednesday.  It's estimated that under ideal conditions the sampling raft collects 7-10% of the fish it passes over in the stream. With stained or muddy water we are lucky to collect 5%. Here's a few more photos to show you what the two days looked like.

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As previously stated, there's no shortage of fish. We'll sample the lower river below Martinsville Dam in the middle of October. Once all data is collected it will be analyzed and DWR will give it's annual "State of the Smith River Fishery" at the end of the year Smith River TU meeting on December 5, 2024. The meeting is open to the public and held at 6:30pm, Hugo's Restaurant in uptown Martinsville.

[Fishbug]

Always love seen the DWR reports and the potential gems hidden in there. 

Just curious - if conditions are not good why don't they just reschedule to get a more accurate assessment?

[JCB3]

Those 2 guys holding the rainbows!

[Woolly Bugger]

#24 -- 90

I pulled a Doug!

That didn't end well


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reglue with barge cement? or trash?

[driver]

Trash, Sierra had a good deal on boots awhile back

[dublhaul]

Second the trash option.  Have tried re-attaching soles and felt, using Barge cement, the 3M Super Weatherstripping adhesive (aka by racers as "gorilla snot" - - - long before Gorilla glues were around), and others.  Dried and cleaned, roughed surfaces, clamped or taped together.  Some fixes lasted longer than others, but all failed much sooner than any of the original boots.  One repair failed catastrophically on day two of my first trip to SW Montana decades ago.  Mike Lawson (bless him) stayed in his shop after hours til I could get there to fix me up with a new pair of boots.

[creakycane]

Clear, low water through town; a bit silty up near dam.   Beautiful clear sunny days make the fish skittish, but nice to be on the river.   A few olives, but saw no regular surface feeders from 9 am until I left at 2pm.  Gravel roads very dusty and air had that very dry feel.  Could use a few cloudy days with showers...