Humphreys County Outdoor Report for June 4th

Published Jun 6, 8:28am

Lake levels haven’t changed much, and I don’t expect any significant changes over the next week. Lake levels are at 359ft at New Johnsonville, with flow rates averaging 18,000cfs. Surface lake temperatures are now in the upper 70’s, and expect a continued rise over this week into the 80’s. I’ll start reporting on a few other “water” conditions throughout the summer, including; dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH, as these affect fish, and therefore fishing activity during the summer months. The pH level is 7.83 and the DO is at 7.87. with the dry weather, expect local rivers and creeks to continue to drop. The Duck is at 2ft, and the Buffalo is at just under 4ft as of last Friday.

Fishing seems to be transitioning towards the summer patterns now that most fish have spawned, the offshore bass bite continues to improve, with some good catches already being taken on the ledges and drop offs on the river, when current is present. The shallow water bite is still a good pattern early and late. Crappie seem to be back in the mid-depth patterns, with most fish being taken in water 12-20ft deep over stakebeds and stumps. A few long line trollers pulling jigs and small crankbaits just off the bottom over flats and along old creek channels are coming up with some good catches as well. Catfish action continues to be good, with channel cats being taken shallow around rock cover, and the Blue cats coming off bedding areas, moving back out to deeper water. The yellow cats are moving on, or are on bed now. Catfish will spawn in shallow water “in cover”. Catfish are “cavity” nesters, and will look for hollow logs, rocks, and other places to get in or under to spawn. Many catfish boxes have been put out throughout the years in shallow protected areas, so fishermen can “hog” or “noddle” the catfish in late May and early June.

Here are the totals for the spring 2023 turkey hunt; Benton-333, Dickson-753. Houston-372, Humphreys-534, Hickman-608, Perry-270. The statewide total came in at a whopping 31,886 birds, with the top harvesting county for the state Maury county with 1,043 turkeys.

Now that summer is here, I would like to remind everyone that many of our area outdoor pests can infect individuals with some lesser known diseases. Ticks can transmit many different diseases, there are over 9 different know diseases which ticks can transmit. Here in Tennessee, we have six key species of ticks that live across the state, American dog tick, Black-Legged tick, Gulf Coast tick, Asian Longhorned tick, Brown Dog tick, and the Lone Star tick. These ticks can transmit diseases including; Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis (SFR), which causes rocky mountain spotted fever, Lyme Disease, which is the 3rd highest reported tick-born disease in Tennessee, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Its best to take preventative measures if possible, like using tick sprays containing Permethrin, which kills the tick, or other EPA approved repellents. Also treating outdoor areas for ticks can help reduce exposure.