Before I ever owned a boat powerplants were one of my favourite places to fish. Yeah I know looking at a giant generator while fishing isn't the most scenic experience but they do produce giant fish of all species, this is the most important thing to me. If you know me well I'm a serious "bite junkie" and getting my next bite is all I care about, lol!

The reason for these plants being such fish magnets is the fact that they pump out warm water and warm water draw in baitfish. Cold water seasons tend to be the best because the lake water is much cooler than power plant water. The bigger the contrast in temperature the better the fishing usually is but if you were to go every day of the year there would be some type fish there.

There are a few baits and set ups that I would never go to a warm water outflow without. One of the set ups I love is a 7' medium action St. Croix Tournament Legend paired up with a magnesium baitcasting reel spooled with 10lb Fluorocarbon Line, the reason for the magnesium reel is because they are extremely light but also extremely sensitive. The reel allows me to really feel how the lure is working and to key in on a certain pace that the fish are liking. This is the set up I use when casting suspending minnow baits, spoons and lipless rattlebaits.

The other set up I always bring with me is a 9' medium light also paired up with a magnesium baitcasting reel that holds a decent amount of line. With this set up I like to run a three way rig with live minnows, roe or gulp! minnows. This is set up by using a three way swivel with a 8" piece of line to a slinky weight and a 4-6f piece of fluorocarbon line to the bait.

The three way rig is your ticket to a multi species day. You never know what you will catch at an outflow with this rig. The weirdest thing I've caught so far was some sort of eel. To tell you the truth it kinda' freaked me out, lol! In the past I have also caught Lakers, Salmon, Steelhead, Browns, Smallies, Largemouth, Drum , Carp, Walleye and Pike at various outflows.

If you ever get the chance to hit a warm water outflow I suggest you give it a try. The warm water outflows are what Forrest Gump's mother would call a "Box Of Chocolates" due to the fact you never know what you're gonna' get!

Peace,

TM