How low will it go – your guess is as good as mine – but I can tell you this it’s low right now. For the last two days Shawmut has been running between 2100 and 2400CFS – normal flow is 6,000cfs.
So how low is 2100CFS? Well I can walk from the Shawmut side to the White Rock in hippers. If that doesn’t mean anything to you take a look at the pictures below. It isn’t that I can’t back a trailer in straight it’s that if I back it in straight there isn’t enough water at the landing to launch my CANOE. I did find that if I kicked the trailer off to the side there is deep spot that I could push the canoe off into – now not being able to easily launch a canoe – that’s low.
And here's a view from down below the island. The gravel bar you see is normally thigh deep in water.
The good part of this is here in Shawmut or up in Madison - most anywhere on the Kennebec if you want to learn the water and wading now is the time to do it.
I post that message every year to remind people that there is a good side to low water conditions. However, normally I'm also telling them that the Smallmouth fishing will be good but to not look real hard for trout due to warm water temps. But with our cool summer the water temp in Shawmut this morning was 68 degrees and trout were biting.
I agree Mike. I was at Colby for a conference the last 3 days and finally got to fish the river again after about 7 years. It's a drive from Old Town. I caught 4 browns the first night and 5 the next all from sunset to dark. It was great to watch the river come alive with feeding fish. Thanks for all of the suggestions from everyone on this forum as it helped make for two wonderful evenings on the river.
I also know that there is work going on at Wyman Hydro and they are at a reduced flow rate. Might be a good time to wade there also! This means there is a lot less water coming down to Shawmut! The dam operators are required ( depending on the unit ) to supply rafting flows and fishing flows below Harris during certain times and to provide minimum river flows for their licenses. Other than that, flow is based on Market price for power and system demands. It is all about money!
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Posted - 07/19/2007 : 5:00:25 PM
This means there is a lot less water coming down to Shawmut! The dam operators are required ( depending on the unit ) to supply rafting flows and fishing flows below Harris during certain times and to provide minimum river flows for their licenses. Other than that, flow is based on Market price for power and system demands. It is all about money! 
