More Drought Bustin' Rain

Just when the Caney has had a few very short windows without generation, it looks like we will be getting a lot more rain. If the current forecast holds true (does it ever though?), the Caney could be generating until February. Of course I can't be complaining because all the rain does have a silver lining. First, the fish in the river will be relatively untouched as long as the generation remains heavy. In other words, when they finally quit generating for awhile, head for the river as soon as possible. Second, it looks like we are just about out of the drought conditions so bring on the rain!

Below are two versions of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The first is the one issued on September 2, 2008 and the second is the last one for 2008 from December 30. Compare the area affected by drought in the southeast and the severity of the drought in the two pictures. Clearly things are looking better...just don't get too excited about fishing tailwaters anytime soon...

Currently the National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a Flood Watch for a large portion of middle Tennessee. The portion of the Watch that caught my eye said the following:

RUNOFF FROM THIS RAINFALL COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO FLOODING OF AREA CREEKS AND STREAMS ON TUESDAY...WITH FLOODING OF LARGER RIVERS BY TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS INCLUDES RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES IN THE DUCK...ELK...BUFFALO...STONES...CANEY FORK...AND HARPETH RIVER BASINS...AND OTHERS THAT DRAIN INTO THE CUMBERLAND AND TENNESSEE RIVERS.

Yep, they called out the Caney by name so I'm guessing that there isn't much hope to fish it any time soon... This might be the winter of Smoky Mountain trout fishing...