Travis Swift

Ehhh go to trock much better and don't have to deal with the moss...

My wife and I had just gotten married. We had been on our honeymoon just a week before when I rode in an airplane for the very first time. I was at work and they called us into the breakroom to see the TV. I remember panic as people thought we would run out of gas and many piling in their trucks to go fill up. My wife called crying and wanted me to come home (we lived in a town and didn't really know anyone at the time) and I told her I couldn't leave work. So she went to the mall in Salina KS and all the stores had closed and people were just walking around and hugging strangers and crying. She later told me she just wanted to be around other people and I understand that now. Honestly I'm not sure we will ever get the innocent and secure feeling we had before that day back. I'm not 45 years old and I still struggle to even watch shows or documentary's about that day.

I'll be down in a couple weeks also, can't wait! Course I'm not a giant fan of water off these days but you always gotta adapt. Nice fish man!

I always use a float for midge and micro and the smallest I can get away with. I like to use the little pinch on floats that are like a sticker for midge fishing

My very very first suggestion is 2 pound test line. You could get some 7x tippet and tie a leader also if you wanted to fish a midge. I would say water off would be midge and micro jigs, if it's sunny and slick like that I like natural colors on the micro's. Basically forget the jerkbait if they aren't running any water. Small jigs straight in natural colors like sculpin or black if the water is off. Get on the water EARLY, then go nap mid day when the sun gets up. If your wife wants to fish bait I would suggest night crawlers. I'm sure others will have other suggestions but that's what I go with when the water is off, line size is very important. 2 will get you triple the bites that 4 will perhaps more alot of times. Lastly enjoy being there together and have fun!

Great report and pictures!

I knnneeewwwww it, I knnneewwwww it . Best classic champ line ever in my opinion. Good write up!

@Phil Lilleyyou had posted the below back a few weeks back when a 26 inch brown was caught. I'm wondering if there was a year class of triploids that didn't get huge or the heat treatment or something of that nature as this is 2 with clipped fins within a month that didn't get the mega gigantic class (don't get me wrong these are HUGE to me and awesome). Just curious on your thoughts?

I'll say this, I've come to Branson so much I almost never touch the strip unless we just want to for some reason. There are so many back roads and I know most of them like the back of my hand you can get almost anywhere you want without touching the strip if you prefer. That being said we are/would be open to about anywhere in the ozarks within driving distance. Truly I'm looking at a 2 year plan here and my guess and it's only that is that this housing market will crash sometime in that time frame. I could be dead wrong on that but at some point this just can't keep up like this but that's another topic for another day.

Thanks Milo. I believe I could do it as well and I absolutely know the "right way to do it". I'm a people person and people pleaser so meeting and getting along with people is pretty easy for me it just comes natural to me. Appreciate the kind words man.

That's why I seeked him out. Figured you might as well ask the best and he did not disappoint with his honesty.

I understand all of that Sir and I know your trying to watch out for me. I certainly would not fish on guide trips and have thought about all of that. There's a whole nother world past rockaway that can be played in when not guiding. Please visit with Duane when you see him, he was gracious enough to give me an hour of his time this week for some very personal questions as I researched and I believe he knows what kind of individual I am and what I would be like. I'm in customer service now and I understand when someone hires you they are also hiring anyone that you are affiliated with from the rods you use, the brand boat to the resort that recommended you etc. So if you get a chance please visit with Mr. Doty a spell. We aren't taking this decision lightly at all. Nor are we rushing it. Appreciate you very much Phil

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A)Taney is my favorite place in the entire world B)I love trout fishing because they can be caught so many different ways. Drifting like your walleye fishing, jerkbaits like your bass fishing, baitfishing like your catfishing, flyfishing the list goes on and on. You would never get tired of different ways to fish there. However I do realize you have to adjust based on clients needs. C)I love people, I love families and I love kids. Why not introduce them to the most wonderful place in the world and help give them a life long memory that they will talk about forever. You have a real chance of touching someone and making a lifelong memory/friendship in those few hours. I love to make people as happy as possible. D)Other than my wife and daughter and my faith there is nothing in the world I love or is more important to me than fishing and Lake Taneycomo and it would be great to make a living on her and help promote and protect her resources. E)I have dreamed of this since I was 10 years old setting on Sun Valleys Dock all those years ago. F)Have you ever seen Duane Doty not smiling or happy? I have looked up to and admired that guy for a lot of years! Everyone in life should be that happy. I could list more but these are the principals ones

I live in a small town outside of Wichita Kansas. If we can't get in Branson itself we're willing to venture out aways as long as it's not to far

Been coming to Branson and Taneycomo multiple times a year for over 40 years. Seriously considering packing the family up and leaving our roots to start a new life there. I would pursue a childhood dream of guiding on Taney only. I've started doing alot of research and have had a great conversation with the best guide there and he was so generous with info. Anyway for anyone that lives there or has made this move are there any regrets? Did living there ruin the love of being there you had before etc? Thanks Travis

Yup really quick that way

Yes we did

Decided to see what the night time fuss was all about on my first night in town. I have been searching for a lure that I thought would work and perhaps hadn't been fished on Taney before or not much with all the pressure these fish get. Well I think I found it a couple weeks ago so decided to try it last night. We caught a ton of fat bows up to 19 inches on it. The highlight though was a 24 inch 7 pound brownie followed 15 mins later by another 20 inch fat brownie. To say I was pumped was an understatement!

Maybe we saw you we were in the boat up there?

Just talking out loud here but has all the running water the last year pushed them down lake and now that we are going into much lower flows they are coming back up? Is it a coincidence that a couple of the lowest flow days have produced back to back 30 inch and 28inch Browns the last two days?

I've wondered about that too they completely have pulled a disappearing act

Sure you are but most of these fish your talking about are in the trophy area that are gonna be released and the Bocas aren't helping at all

I'm so glad you said that because I've been complaining about it for the last two years. Everytime you guys post the monthly fish deal I try to comment on the facebook post in opposition of it. I also complain because I hate when a certain guide uses a sign on his boga's to advertise. Not only is it possibly hurting the fish but it's taking away from the beauty and making customers efforts look cheap. There are several guides that use the bogas on every darn fish and take a picture of every darn fish caught. Thank you so much Phil for taking a stand!

I've been eating them for years. I have a giant fish fry every year and I mix a plenty drum right in with crappie, bass and walleye. I fry them up all the same with Andy's Red and I promise no one has ever said a peep about it except I make the best fish they have ever eaten. If you have never eaten drum your missing out I promise you that. Just keep the smaller to med size ones as they are the best