Turtle Flambeau Flowage

I know some folks are catching walleye shallow over opening weekend. I am not. Great bite in deep river channels, 20 - 24 feet deep. Cast and drag a jig. Vertical jigging does not work,

Quite a few boats out this weekend. And per Tom502’s post - water levels were very low for an opener. For me Saturday was the better of the two days for the walleye bite. Caught quite a few 11 - 12 inch fish and a few in the 17” range. All in 4-8 feet and near wood with fatheads - slip bobbers and jigging. I had water temp near 50 - 52 degrees.

Dock is in at Fishermans Landing. I would assume the dock is in at Springstead.

There are no mosquitoes right now. There are a couple of black flies, just a bit of a nuisance.

Are the misquitoes and biting black flies out yet ?

are the docks in at Springstead?

Posted on the Facebook page for the TFF Lake Association: 

" For those coming to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage for the opening weekend of fishing, please be prepared for much lower than usual water levels.  As of this morning, 4/29/24, TFF elevation at 1569.63, which is about 2.4 feet below full pool.   

If you have never fished the TFF in late summer or fall, when water levels go down, expect to see lots of new hazards like rock bars and stumps.  Please be safe and take it slow when boating in unfamiliar places.   

The drought we have been in since July 2023, coupled with the lack of snowpack to help refill lakes in the Northwoods has led to this situation.  Also impacting our water levels is the minimal discharge from the Manitowish Waters chain. The Rest Lake dam is currently discharging 50 cfs, and they have 14-16 inches left to refill the Mani Waters chain. Once they refill, more water should start flowing downstream to help refill the TFF. 

One last piece of news, as of this afternoon the docks at Springstead landing WERE NOT in.  I'm not sure about other DNR landings, but launch times are likey to take significantly longer than usual this weekend. 

Best of luck to all who fish this weekend. Please support local businesses, after this past winter, they need all the help they can get.   

Be safe out there!!" 

Tom502

The water level of the TFF has risen a bit more than 1 foot in the last 3 weeks.

April 9, 1568.61
Today 1569.68
Full pool 1572

I wonder how this compares with previous years for the May opener

As of 4 weeks ago the water level was down 50 inches from full pool.   As of this morning (April 18) the water level is still down 34 inches from full.   At the current rate of filling we will still be down 24 inches from full for the walleye opener.    That is unusually low for the opener but normal for late summer.

Does anyone have any info on how the boat launches will be for the opener? I'm guessing we'll need waders to get a boat wet. TIA