Greg

Well I decided to give upper Taney a try on Sun afternoon despite the high water (4 generators). I waded along the edge from the wire down to outlet 2 and back. The fishing was surprisingly good for me. About 15 fish in the 4 hours (4 PM to 8 PM). Several really nice fish too. One brown right at 20" (pics hopefully attached) and several rainbows just under that. Not the most enjoyable wading and fishing in that kind of current. But still fun. I've missed good ole Taney since the rains/high water. Still looking forward to the water coming down though. Had to use a lot of weight to get down to the fish. Had to keep changing patterns too. Caught several on: a mohair leech, zebra midge, and an egg pattern. Greg

Chief you did exactly the right thing. I see what some of the others are saying - but the problem with "bending" regulations (or laws) is they tend to get more and more bent as time goes on. I've done a few things I'm not proud of in my life (who hasn't) but I've never broken an MDC regulation. Greg

The TFO signature series are just flat out a fine line of fly rods. I've cast several and have liked them all. And a lifetime guarantee for under a hundred bucks. How can you beat that? Greg

Some great rods in the under $200 range (IMO) are the Sage Launch, TFO professional, TFO signature series. I've not ever cast an echo but I hear they are a really nice rod. I think the best reel going at a decent price is the Teton Tioga. Costs $100 to $150 and seems almost indestructible with a great drag. I've got 2 and they are my favorite reels even though I have some pricier brands/models. Lamson has a really nice new reel in that price range too. Like someone else said if you are anywhere near Springfield MO - Michael at BCO gives great advice and has all the major brands. Greg

I think the answer to both of your questions is YES. 3 and 4 weights and also 7 weights can be very useful for trout fishing. I use a 5 wt most of the time but at times I like to use a 4 wt for smaller streams like Crane creek and the upper current. And a 7 wt can be great for slinging truly large streamer flies to trout. A lot of guys use them at night on Taneycomo. I also think you are on the right track in that a 3 or 4 weight is pretty good for bluegill and a 7 or 8 wt is pretty good for bass. But don't sell your 5 wts short. A good 5 wt can definitely work for the bluegill and bass as well. I've done that. The limitation would be that with a 5 wt its more difficult to throw big air resistant bass flies and poppers. But to me any excuse for a new rod is good - just ask my wife!! Greg

I don't think anyone knows for sure. But with tablerock still being pretty far above normal levels - I'll bet it's not until fall that we see conditions favorable to wade fishing. And if it doesn't stop raining..............It may be longer than fall. Troutbum4wt I'm with you. I REALLY miss the wade fishing on Taney. Greg

Trav - I think I realize that now. Obviously you hold some different opinions about Taney than I and some of the rest of us do. But if we all agreed on everything how boring would that be?? Greg

Yeah Brian I would have released it too. To me the frying pan is kind of a sad end to a fish like that. But to each his own. She was awfully proud of her fish and I've noted most younger folks generally don't understand catch and release. Do you catch many smallmouth Brian - when you are trout fishing? I was surprised. Greg

Did you really read Phil's comment??? He talked about the lower lake rainbows being mostly put and take but he prefaced that with "below Fall Creek". Sorry but the upper lake where the slot is in effect is not primarily put and take. Also I'm sure he (Phil) is right that in the lower lake the average bow lasts about 30 days - But that doesn't mean there are not bigger rainbows down there. I would bet there are. And if the lake is truly overstocked and not supporting the bows and browns foodwise - why are both the rainbows and browns always so fat and healthy? Even in the lower lake where the average fish is caught in about a month - a month is plenty of time for such a fish to become emaciated. But if you see that at all it is rare. Sorry - I realize "put and take" and "put and grow" are just semantics. And that there can be a fine line between the 2 as Trav pointed out. But I really don't like to see Taney run down and dismissed as second rate. It's not. Could it be better? Probably. But it's pretty great as is. Greg

I fished at the Blair Bridge access for a couple of hours Sun evening. I thought the aluminum hatch would be thinned out by evening. Boy was I wrong. Canoes and people everywhere. I won't do that again LOL. That area certainly is beautiful though. The fishing? Didn't catch my intended target (trout). But caught 2 pretty decent smallmouth! On a green mohair leech. I hadn't caught a smallmouth on a fly rod for some time. They fight pretty hard but I'm not sure I agree that they fight harder than a similar size rainbow or brown. Just different. I did see one young woman take a very nice bow on a spinning rod. She kept it. I thought the bows were catch and release? But I may be wrong. This rainbow was at least 20" and maybe more. If it was legal more power to her. I'll be back but not until canoeing season is over! Greg

Very well put. And I agree with you 100%. Drew I would agree with you about not driving 5 to 6 hours for 14" fish IF that's all that were caught. But that's just simply not the case. Greg

Thanks. Greg

Can someone familiar with the area explain to me the best way to get from Dora to the Blair bridge and Patrick accesses? I've been down several times but I always fumble around trying to find them. Thanks for any help, Greg

Thanks Brian. Hey are you going to the Ark conclave again this year? And if so are you going to do the youth conclave again? Tina and I sure had a blast helping at the youth conclave and would like to help out even more this year (if I can get off work that week). Greg

Very smart man. Regarding the MDC's decisions ALWAYS being about money I just don't think anything is that absolute. I have no doubt that figures into it. But the MDC does have some altruistic intentions as well. Greg

One of the MO state record trout caught several years ago was caught on a fly rod I believe. I can't remember if it was a rainbow or a brown and the record may have since been broken but I'm sure it was caught on a fly. You probably have a better chance of catching a really big trout in the lower lake on spinning or baitcasting tackle but us fly guys catch some big ones at times too. I've seen plenty of really big trout in the upper lake over the last few years. They tend to hide and not be visible during the daytime but come dusk they really start coming out. Are we approaching the longest OAF thread ever with this one? Greg

Anyone know what CFS the North Fork is running at? I can't find it online and the link on OAF doesn't seem to be working. Brian did you say it wades the best at 700 cfs? I haven't been in some time. thanks, Greg

Work's been crazy for me but I'll get mine in the mail to you too in the next week or so. Thanks, JS

Wow. Nice fish!

A agree with a couple of other forum members in that I think floating the upper part of the lake would be kind of dangerous if they are running 3 or 4 generators. Personally I wouldn't do it. Greg

Drew I do agree with you in that I would like to see more catch and release on Taney. For both bows and browns. I think if that occurred we would see more truly big fish (although there are plenty in there now). But it is also possible the trout might become stunted due to too many fish and not enough food. Fish management is hard to predict I think. But I don't think catch and release will ever happen. Too many people like a fish dinner. And I do think the slot limit is a very reasonable compromise. I've fished Taney for many, many years and the slot limit has really improved the fishing over the last 10 years or so. Maybe not quite to the glory years in the 70's. But still pretty great - IMHO. Greg

Thanks. That is really interesting. You are right in that I'll bet stocked smallies would be a great addition. They would probably coexist with the trout pretty well. They would probably get big too. I would bet they would stick more to the lower lake where the water temp is somewhat higher. I've found that true on the Current and Niangua - the trout tend to hang in the colder water and while the smallies can tolerate cold water they seem to hang in the slightly warmer areas - although there is some overlap. I take it that Largemouth bass are self sustaining in Taney though? They are not stocked are they? Greg

Does anyone know why there are not more warm water species (that can tolerate cooler temps) like catfish and smallmouth bass in lower Taney? I would think smallmouth in particular would do well in the lower part of Taneycomo. Greg

Jeff - I'd like to take you up on that. I've been on your website and like your music. Just to clarify though - a "handful" - like maybe 12 or so flies? Just want to be fair to you. Greg

Thanks for the compliment - at least I think that was a compliment? LOL. I really don't know of any recent surveys. But you can wade the upper lake anytime there is low water and see and catch (sometimes) scads of bows in that 15 to 20" range. They don't generally stock them that size so it just stands to reason that they were partially "grown" in the river. Also just about anyone that fishes Taney regularly can tell a distinct difference between the freshly stocked bows and those that have been in the river for some time. For some fisherman (obviously you included) - they just consider wild trout vastly superior. But I just don't. I just love trout fishing with a fly rod. Period. Stocked or wild it doesn't matter to me. And I've fished some out west and caught trout but I generally catch bigger and more quality trout at good old Taney. Which is luckily about 40 min from my door. Like you said just a differing opinion on what is world class. And I can only speak for the upper lake. I don't know squat about the lower lake. Maybe down there where there is no slot limit the bows are mostly put and take stockers? People like Phil and Trav know a lot more about that than me. Trav - I share your pain about not getting enough fishing in lately. Greg