Jeff Polys

Will this make lower lake bank fishing tough? We are coming down this weekend and staying downstream from the landing. Unfortunately, friends with boats (FWB) canceled but a handful of us are planning on dock fishing. Possibly renting a boat one afternoon. What I find interesting is it was running 200 (15000 cfs) for about a week, which I thought was almost 4 generating units. Now they project nearly 3 units but 12000 cfs. I would think the generation is less now than last week. Other than the shad what other differences does opening floodgates vs generators mean? Change the temp? More debris in the water?

Ha, so just bring everything this weekend. I guess that's my best bet. Insert kitchen sink.

Sort of odd to see generation off 100% all day today with this rain coming. Any predictions for the next few days? Leaving tomorrow and wondering if I will be drift fishing from our boat or wade fishing in my waders?

I was thinking a scud is a scud, but its sounds like that is not always the case. I did not spend too much on these, but have them in my arsenal. I appreciate all of the solid advice. Our trip is next weekend and I plan on fishing the the upper lake. Yesterdays 'one cast' show cased a double scud rig on a float. Just enough ripple on the water to probably give it some action. Several fish caught and I believe Phil was using a size 12 and size 14. However, these did not appear to have a beaded head. My uncle is bringing his alweld jet, so I am hoping we can really explore the trophy area. Thanks again!

I have a fishing trip in a few weeks. We will be fishing below Fall Creek. Big fan of one cast and want to try drifting some scuds as a trailers during flow and under a float during no flow. I ordered some size 12 scuds (pic below) and am wondering if this is too large of a presentation under a float? Also, has anyone drifted a scud as a trailer behind an inflated worm? I have a fly rod, but will primarily be fishing with 2lb/4lb on a spinner. Also, any update on sucker fishing or suckers being caught? We typically go to Taneycomo each year, but went to Norfork tailwater last year and fished the white. So I feel a bit out of the loop. Sucker fishing has been slow the past few years we went. That is why I ask. Thank you in advance and I am personally hoping for consistent flow patters for the next few weeks. Funny how that changed, right after the Feb 1st fishing report. 😀

Fishing was tough on Friday. We went out to Rourke creek and did okay. Caught a few right at the mouth. Saturday a group of our guys were fishing the same area and a older couple was using the trail. They striked up a conversation and they suggested they group go up into Rourke creek and fish right above the bridge. I guess this was a total hot spot and very nice of that couple to share their knowledge. They said the water was clear and the fish were just everywhere, of course they group did not share that information with me until last night. 😥 I fished Saturday from the college of the Ozarks to the power lines. I did okay, but my uncle got skunked with this 6lb crappie high visibility line and minnows. We usually have fun fishing from the docks for suckers, but dock fishing was non existent. Great time as always and a nice escape from everything going on in the world. Thanks for all of the tips and be safe.

Yikes. Alot of rain in a short period of time. Is it worth fishing or should we wait it out? Coming in tonight. Hope the lake drops. Tonight and we can fish tomorrow. We have several boats. Thank you in advance for all your help.

With this recent rain, will the creeks be blown out tomorrow? It sounds like they clear out pretty quick. Any tips for a huge temp drop? Sounds like its going from 70's to 50's. Thanks for all of the replies on my previous post.

Our annual trout trip is this upcoming weekend on Taneycomo. I am a little concerned about the lake levels. Watching yesterday's one cast, it seems like the creeks are starting to drop some mud/dingy water into the lake. We were really hoping to go snag some suckers up in the creeks, but they likely will still be dingy. Do the creeks clear up quick? Also, table rock is at 916. The one cast gentlemen mentioned that if TRock gets to 917 they might open up two more spill gates. What will this mean for taneycomo? I am stocked up on jigs, but not sure how well they will do when the water is cooking like this. I remember the white jig mania when shad spill over, I guess that might happen again. Planning on drifting crawlers and pink power worms. Possibly find some slack water and try jigging. Any tips and suggestions would be helpful. I will continue to watch one cast and monitor for updates. Thanks everyone and be safe.

How will that boat pressure affect the fish? We have always been weary about coming down weeks after big tournaments. Do trout have a pretty short memories? It seems more tournament anglers are catch and release. With Beaver above power pool and table rock slightly above, I find the generation pattern interesting. As you said on one cast, Taneycomo is in a interesting situation. They could release more, but they can only do what Bull Shoals can handle. A limited generation is the best bet, I would assume this to to continue for a few weeks. At least until Bulls Shoals can properly discharge and get back to power pool. Thank you for all of the tips. I am hoping watching one cast everyday for a month gives me the competitive advantage over my buddies. At least I will be able to talk the talk.

Great one cast and nice landing.

I just got several jigs in the mail from PJ's. I purchased 1/16th and 3/32. I figure ill use the 3/32 on my 4lb setup and ill use the 1/16 on my 2lb setup. How did I do on color selection? Which one would you use first? Ill be down in a few weeks, so starting to get pretty excited.

Seth, have you had luck with any other sort of color worm? I ask because I just bought the natural color , almost reddish. https://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Gulp-Floating-Trout-Worm/dp/B00870WPK8?th=1. Your video at the dam, during high water is awesome! Something I will have to try. Must have been a good day. Thanks everyone for all of your information. I am sure ill bring a arsenal and only use a few things all week, but that is how it goes. I am going to force myself to jig all day one day. I lived in Steelville, Mo for 5 years and jigged rubber tail jigs at meramec springs. Went a few times a week. I learned how to jig, but primarily on sight alone. That is the part I feel like I will struggle with, is feeling the bite and bottom jigging. All I can do is practice and buy plenty of jigs. Thanks for your help and I look forward on watching/reading updates. Happy Friday!

Hello, I have been bait fishing lake taneycomo for the past 10 years. Drifting, watching rod tips and spending all sort of money on power bait. The whole group a guys i fish with use this method. "what colors are they biting on" is a question often asked. We have been doing our trip in either Feb or early March each year and each year I tell myself each year i will start using jigs. I have even bought several olive and white 1/32 jigs, but never had much luck. In full disclosure, I give up quick once i see my buddies catching them on powerbait. So whats the trick? With water moving, do i just throw and sink to the bottom? Jigging my rod each time feel the bottom? With no movement, do i put them on a float around 6 ft deep? We typically float from Fall Creek down in the middle of the channel. We also fish from the powerlines down to the landing. I bought some 2lb test, and have 6 foot 7 st croix light action rod. I just started watching Lileys one cast, which is the best fishing report around. The recent minnow series is great. It looks like I can watch Phil work a jig and get a pretty good idea, but any other tips would be helpful. Looking for bigger fish and more action. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

Thanks @Seth We have caught several just down from Lazy valley, but like you mentioned it seems the numbers have went down. The limit is 20 per person, and it would be nothing to catch 25-30 nice ones as a group. I think the last few years we only got 5 or 6 as a group. I believe snagging season starts March 15th, so we might be a little too early to cruise the creeks on high banks. I guess all I can do is try. Thank you for the feed back.

Hello Crew, I am planning an early March fishing trip to Taneycomo. Staying few miles down from the landing. We have had success with suckers fishing on light rigs with worms in the past, but we always went in February, not March. It almost seems the past few years have even gotten slower. Where is the best place to fish for White Suckers in early March on Taneycomo? How does the population of sucker seem to be this year? My best guess is big long channels before creeks, as they are staging for spawn. Thank you in advance.

Is bait fishing productive in Norfork tailwater? I read some articles about worm fishing, but how does Powerbait do? My current plan is ultra light, 4lb fluro and a drift rig with worm. Thoughts?

Thank you for the help. We are staying at Genes Trout resort, so hopefully we can boat a little around that area. We also plan on fishing the Norfork Lake for crappie, walleye and catfish (trot lines). Super excited about our trip. At Lake Taneycomo it seems that the more it rains the more they run the generators. I know its based on energy needs, but doesn't the Lake level make generation more frequent? When I called genes, they mentioned that we would have no problem putting in and running in March. Hoping for high water. Thanks again!

Hello - My family and I take a trip each year to taneycomo, this year we are mixing it up and traveling to Norfork Tailwater. We have 1 jet boat but the rest are props. Hoping on rain, but if it doesn't rain, is this whole stretch accessible by prop? Or are we pretty much limited to generation? Also are you only allowed to keep 1 fish over 14 inches? Thank you in advance.

Sounds a little too far on boat. We will be staying for 4 days, so maybe we can make the trip one afternoon. We will likely attempt south lake for crappie and I bought a few worm rigs with lindy weights. Sounds like Big Creek would be our best best. I have never caught a walleye and would like to knock that off the list. This is technically our trout fishing trip, so I am sure we will spend alot of time on Norfork Tailwater. 5 trout a day limit is pretty enticing. Wish us luck!

Thank you. How far a run is it by boat from the South side of the lake to the North? It sounds like if we stay on the southside of the lake, big creek will be our best bet for any fish. Crappie, walleye and Striper. Blue Catfish might also be following shad, so it could be a hot spot. I want to go where the action is. So how far of a boat ride is it from one side of the lake to the other. We have 150hp all the way to 30hp. Plus a few jet boats. Thank you, JP

Thank you! I am hoping spring starts a little earlier in Arkansas than MO. The past few years, the only issue I see is the mix of weather that comes through those parts. I've read extensively on fishing reports and several outfitters tips/techniques. Our plan is to fish trout in norfork tailwater, but norfork striper and walleye make a 1 mile drive seem worth it. We fish alot of crappie and catfish around the St. Louis area and have had some pretty good luck. I plan on vertical jigging brush piles and man made structure. Blue catfish usually feed off of the main channel, if we can find the bait (back of big creek, thank you!) we should be able to locate the catfish. Hoping for good weather and tight lines, thanks again!

94 views and no tips? I plan on locating structure for crappie. Setting lines in big creek off the main channel. Possibly set some lines close to the structure. For Walleye, I have worm rigs, I plan to crappie fish and cast out my worm rigs. Possibly troll the worm rigs with lindy weights. Since the lake is deep and structure is limited, I really plan on using the MDC website to locate man made structure for fish. Hoping to have time to trout fish norfork tailwater in the am and hit norfork lake all day and night. I have been reading past reports from that time and the end of March should be finicky. I guess ill bring the whole fridge, stove and throw everything I have at them. I will be in town for 4 days and will have jet boats and props with pretty decent technology. How does that sound?

My dad and I have a fishing trip planned at the end of March in Salesville Arkansas. We are going to trout fish Lake Norfork Tailwater and also attempt fishing Lake norfork for crappie, walleye, and trot lines for Catfish. Any tips for fishing the South portion of the lake during late March? How far a run is it by boat from Quarry Marina to Calamity beach. I've read that a lot of walleyes will move up lake during spawn. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Thank you. I guess I have been reading the projected schedule wrong this whole time. Well that stinks they projected to run and did not actually run. Like I said, I have a weekend trip coming up and we fish up lake from the landing. I believe we call the spot the powerlines maybe its called monkey island. The spot it alot hotter for trout when the water is running. Thanks again.