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Tom Hughes Guide Service Fly & Light Tackle Fishing the Chesapeake Bay |
Understanding the Susquehanna River Flow
RE: Green Works
http://www.greenworks.tv/radio/earthtones/susquehanna.htm
Susquehanna River
One of the great wonders of the Chesapeake Bay watershed is that you can stand
in southern New York state and place a small wooden boat in one of the
tributaries of the Susquehanna River and follow it into and through the
Chesapeake Bay and then out into the Atlantic Ocean.
In the mid-Atlantic states, it's called the "Mighty Susquehanna." It's the
largest river lying entirely within the United States that drains into the
Atlantic Ocean and the 16th largest river in the United States. The River's
27,500-square-mile watershed covers parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New
York. This is about 43 percent of the Bay's 64,000 square miles of drainage
basin.
You might be standing by Otsego Lake, near Cooperstown, New York, when you put your boat into a stream and watch it float along with the current as water drains off the land and flows downstream. You realize you're about 290 miles from Baltimore, as the crow flies, but the way the streams and river wind their way over the land, your small boat will travel over 400 miles before it arrives at Havre de Grace, MD near the River's mouth.
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The information below is written by Capt. Tom Hughes
Note: There are many dams along the Susquehanna River, the last one is approximately 12 miles north of Havre de Grace, MD, and is named Conowingo Dam. The Susquehanna Flats start at Havre de Grace, MD run south 7 miles and ends at Sandy Pt. on the western shore and Turkey Pt. on the eastern shore.
If the Flood Gates open it's because the Susquehanna River has a strong flow. This strong flow is caused by a large amount of ice melting swiftly in PA or a heavy rains in PA. When these Flood Gates open muddy water and debris covers the Susquehanna Flats and the fish will shut off. It it becomes too muddy they will back completely off the flats.
Flood Gates: 0 open......is outstanding.
Generation gates open up to spin the generators to create electricity.
The readings I posted at the start of this thread are normal for this time of year according to my past records.
Capt. Matt I hope I didn't get too technical and all readers under what these reading mean.
This current cold front has chilled the water 5 degrees less than last week and it will probable take until next Monday until fishing becomes productive. But who really knows...that's fishing.
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Putting it all together.
2) Discharge Chart - water movement feet per second
4) Gate Height - in feet
April 2, 2007 the readings at the Conowingo Dam were as follows:
Spill Conditions: (RE: 1-877-457-2525
Spill Condition Hotline)
00:30 -
2 flood gates open
Next 8 hours - 2 flood gates open
Operating Under Spill Conditions
Flow = 102,000 Cubic Feet per Second
Generation: (RE:
1-888-457-4076 Generation Hotline)
12:00 to 05:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
05:00 to 21:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
21:00 to 24:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
NOTE:
This was the last time the Flood Gates have been open to date
(4/10/07)
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April 3, 2007 the readings at the Conowingo Dam were as follows:
Spill Conditions:
00:30 - 0 flood gates open
Next 8 hours - 0 flood gates open
Generation:
12:00 to 05:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
05:00 to 21:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
21:00 to 24:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
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April 10, 2007 the reading at the Conowingo Dam were as follows:
Spill Conditions:
08:30 - 0 flood gates open
Next 8 hours - 0 flood gates open
Generation:
24:00 to 05:00 - 4 Small
05:00 to 11:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
11:00 to 17:00 - 4 Small 1 Large
17:00 to 22:00 - 7 Small 4 Large
22:00 to 24:00 - 4 Small
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The above information is only one variable to consider when to fish on the Susquehanna Flats, but a very important one.
When the Susquehanna River is high and moving fast the flood gates open at the Conowingo Dam. And like most rivers running high and fast, erosion will occur causing mud and debris will wash down the river.
The hotlines will supply you with date needed to understand the current water conditions of the Susquehanna River. From April 3, 2007 the flood gate have been closed and the water gage at Harrison, PA has been decreasing. Each day, the once muddy water, has been clearing up and of April 9, 2007 (I was guiding on that date) the visibility is 12" to 16".
Start documenting these conditions from year to year and you will gain the knowledge on the best time to start fishing the Susquehanna Flats.