So, my son and I were below the dam fishing for stripe with spoons and had fish all around us. Even had the stripe come up and bump the spoon, but couldn't for the life of us get them to strike it. What gives with that?

Anyway, here's the real doosey that blew my mind. I watched as several bass boats went all the way up to the hydroelectric concrete building and went INSIDE the building - it looked like these guys were in there fishing! The entrances they went into were about the size of a large storage rental doorway. Tell me what they were doing, and have any of you guys ever done that? I mean these guys went up in there and stayed there! Looked dangerous as hell to me, but they went up in there like a bull in a china shop.

What are you talking about? They went into the turbine discharge hole, or somewhere else at the dam wall?

Several years ago a friend and I did the same thing. The turbines cut on without warning and we cut ropes and hauled arse outta there like you wouldn't believe. That's the last time I have ever fished "inside."

When I was younger, and alot dumber, we would tie off to the side of Wilson Dam and catch catfish like crazy. Once you got about 5 feet from the dam, instead of pushing you downstream, the current would suck you into the wall. Many people who did this the first time lost their trolling motors because they "whammed" into the wall. We would even pull into the turbine chutes that had ground up small fish when they were running. The catfish were thick in there eating the "chum" generated by the turbines. I have been in there when they cut a turbine back on and it would throw the boat about 3-4 feet into the air as the water surged back out. Scary to say the least, but we were young and bullet proof at that time. It is dangerous as a cocked pistol to do this, and I wouldn't fish in those now for the world!! Guess I'm older and wiser now. Good Luck if you try it. Make sure you have a wide bottom boat that can withstand the sudden surges.

They were probably either trying to catch bait or were actually fishing, probably for catfish. I've been under there many times to catch yellowtail for stripe fishing, mainly in the Spring. As someone mentioned, when they are generating, the water boils out past the base of the dam, so there is actually a reverse current that pushes you back towards the dam wall. This could be a little scary if you weren't expecting it. I've seen some boats stay under there all day long. The only incident we ever had was a pipe about 12" diameter and about 8 feet above the waterline suddenly started discharging water into our boat. It only lasted long enough for us to move, and that's the only time I ever saw anything come out of that pipe. CD.

Switch to a 1/2 ounce roostertail and slow down your retrieve. 3" Fire tiger jerkbaits are hell on them to.

I'm thinking that this is exactly what they were doing. One guy that went in there was in a really nice Stratos tournament boat thad a 250hp Merc on it. Others were in flatbottom boats. I don't think I'll be going in there anytime soon.

Thanks for the info.

More than likely this time of year they are catfishing. I fish below the dam regularly and going under the dam is not as bad as you'd think. I've done it more times than I can count fishing and catching bait. I wouldn't recommend it with someone inexperienced, or in a fiberglass boat. Those concrete walls under there along with the current will do a number on fiberglass. Also, if the turbines are completely off, stay away. If you're under there and the turbines are slowly runnning and they increase them it's no big deal. If they're completely off and they turn them on while you're under there....you'd better hold on....it's gonna get rough!

Clem,

Below is a pic that will give you an idea of what I'm talking about - only in this pic there is just about three feet of clearance, whereas Sunday afternoon there was about 12 feet of clearance for a boat to go in.

(pic came from someone who posted to one of my threads on FishingLakeGuntersville.com)

Yep, that's what I figured.

I've seen people do that, too. I wouldn't, especially if there is no warning horn or siren or anything. Too risky.

No fish is worth my life. To each his own, I guess.

I'm not familiar enough with the turbines at G'ville ... that photo looks like the big wheels turning at Wheeler Dam.

When they're rolling, that's some serious water and power.

Your correct - the photo is Wheeler. Just shown as a reference.

I know Guntersville Dam inside and out, literally, from fishing as a kid and working as a TVA contractor. Years ago boats went into the turbine discharge areas to snag. Some of my cousins got capsized under thare AT NIGHT in a 12' flatbottom plywood boat and damn near drowned. That was back in the '60s. Kapok life jackets of the day almost didn't float the guys. I doubt anybody snags these days as it is a LOT of physical labor for little reward unless you get a sure nuff huge fish on.

Generation is dictated/programmed from Chattanooga and the turbines cycle automatically and the upsurge of the water is instant and very violent.......even several feet outside the discharge openings. My advice is to stay way back.

Surprising as it may be turbine speed is only about 100rpm, give or take 5 or 6 rpms

Speaking of TVA dams, going almost all the way across the river just above impellor level(way below water level even on the downstream side)thru Wilson Dam is damn spooky. All dams make lots of noise down in their bowels but the passages in that old dam were poorly lit and that magnified the creepyness.

I'd hate to see what would happen if, for instance, at Guntersville Dam one of the old metal intake gates broke free, was sucked into the pitcock and then into the turbine wheel or some other monstrous damage.

The flooding would be unbelieveable and tragic. Those dams are 70-plus years old. I hope the bolts and grates have been replaced since construction or they check on them regularly.

TVA does LOTS of maintenance on the hydro plants. As to the bolts, I've seen 3" diameter bolts/studs on turbine shaft inspection doors. Takes 2 men to lift the wrench up to and on the bolt/nut.

Too much to type but I could tell you some stories about logs making it thru the Trash Gates and down to the impellor

Yep, wonder how much time the down river cities would have to evacuate?

Marlon,

I got to take a tour once of the Holt Lock & Dam while I was in electrician's school. It was really cool getting to go down "into" the dam and seeing the power generation process.

Here's a footnote online about fishing below the dams - well said too:

Caution: The electrical generators at the powerhouse are connected to the power system and respond automatically in time of high electrical demand. When these generators start up, they can discharge a large amount of water downstream in a matter of seconds. The closer you get to the dam, the more dangerous it becomes. The changing currents and turbulent waters make boat control extremely difficult, and could cause a boat to sink. The extra yards of fishing gained by venturing too close to a dam are not worth the risk.

The best dam tour of all was Hoover before the attacks in 2001. My son and I went thru in 1994. Awesome don't even come close to describing it. Now you can't get the tour that they gave before we were defeated by Muslims.

Snagging is now illegal below Guntersville dam. I'm not sure which one's, but there are some other TVA impoundments where it is no longer allowed. If I'm not mistaken, the restriction was put in place to protect the spoonbill.

We got to tour Wheeler Dam when I was a soph or junior in high school. It was really cool down in the guts ofthe dam!