Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon. Knowing when generators are running — and when they're off — is the difference between a great day on the water and a wasted drive to a blown-out river.
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The Illinois River below Tenkiller Dam near Gore, Oklahoma is the state's best-known tailwater trout fishery below Lake Tenkiller. Cold hypolimnetic releases from Tenkiller keep the river cool enough for trout during warm months, creating a unique coldwater fishery in the Ozark foothills. Rainbow and brown trout are stocked regularly and grow well in the clear, fertile water.
Tailwater rivers below hydroelectric dams are controlled fisheries — the river's character changes completely depending on whether the dam is generating power. When generators run, water rises, currents accelerate, and wading conditions range from difficult to dangerous. When generation stops, the river drops to a low-flow state ideal for wade fishing.
Dam operators post the next day's generation schedule each afternoon — but finding that schedule means navigating agency websites and PDFs that aren't designed for anglers. TailwaterAlerts translates that data into a clear, hourly email you can read in 30 seconds.
The USACE posts generation schedules on their website, typically between 2 and 4 PM CT for the following day. You can check the USACE schedule directly, or sign up below and TailwaterAlerts will email you a formatted, easy-to-read version the moment it posts.
Tenkiller Dam generates power on a peaking schedule managed by the Southwestern Power Administration. When generators run, the tailwater below the dam rises and wading becomes difficult or dangerous. Low-flow windows are the best opportunity for wade fishing and typically change each day. Checking the generation schedule before your trip is the only reliable way to find those windows.
TailwaterAlerts checks the generation schedule every 5 minutes starting at 1 PM CT. The moment the schedule posts, you get an email with a color-coded hourly breakdown and the best wading window highlighted. One email per day. Free. No app required.
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