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Reelfoot Lake Water Level & Ducks

6K views 34 replies 9 participants last post by  beakremover09 
#1 ·
11-8-2008 Reelfoot Lake News

Due to the cool weather over the last few days -- we have new flights of waterfowl coming in nightly from the north - large numbers of puddle ducks along with coots. Reelfoot Lake is full of ducks in most areas due to low water levels in West Tennessee. All areas on the lake that normally have 2 feet of water are dry. But all open water areas are holding ducks and other waterfowl.

Lots of Gray Ducks, Mallards, Teal, Pintails along with divers are on the lake now -- Thousands of ducks are in the Grassey Unit of the Reelfoot Lake National Wildlife Refuge along the Bayou Du Chien River Basin.

Today, Reelfoot Lake water level is at 10.40 feet on the USGS gauge which makes it 280.60' feet mean sea level.

News note to everyone -- The USFWS has stated to Cong. John Tanner in a letter that when the water level gets around 281.2' feet mean sea level again - they and TWRA staff will use the cookie cutter again to open up all boat trails. This is good news for duck hunters. Due to low water levels some of duck blind areas are dry at this time and may be dry on Nov. 15 & 16. - maybe before the second opening date of Nov 29th we will get some rain.

Thanks to Joe Denton of Samburg -- he got up a local petition along with writing letters to Cong. John Tanner for this to happen, this year. USFWS is waiting on rain to do the work.
 
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#4 ·
I was thinking the TWRA Mgr cut dowm most of the steel stakes the Park Service put on the lake to mark a boat trail for their Eagle Watch groups.

Not sure but TWRA Comm. M. Hayes wanted this done before duck season
 
#8 ·
Checked the USGS gauge reading this morning - no increase in water level from yesterday rain. Rain did not help at all.

Reading this morning was USGS - 10.39 level or 280.61' msl mean sea level

282.40' msl is the top of the small gates at the Reelfoot Spillway/Dam

Reelfoot Lake is still holding lots of ducks in areas with water. Burnt Woods area - Forked Pond area - Kirby Pocket area -
Gassey Island Unit of federal refuge is full of ducks - mostly mallards, teal, gray ducks, and divers -- several coots are on the lake also.
 
#9 ·
The woods area probably soaked up any increase in water level. A lot of the flooded timber had tried up so the silt probably acted like a sponge. I'm glad the front didnt push the ducks away though. The two day hunt should be hellacious, if the damb a$$es dont shoot coots all day like they usually do.
 
#16 ·
Most areas in Cranetown, Meadows, Upper Grassey Ben, several areas on the Upper Blue Basin area next to the Long Point Unit of the federal refuge are dry also.

Most timber duck holes are dry and unless it rain in the next two weeks they are going to be dry the end of November also.

Still lots of ducks on the lake as of this afternoon - many mallards, gray ducks, divers, teal and a few pintail.
 
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