Phil Lilley

Water's been running the the am and off in the pm. I've seen some nice rainbows caught off the dock this week. I'll ask the crew what's been working.

I chase them every year in March. Rumors of fish being caught here and there. It's early... and going early usually gets you no where. Tempted to go this evening to Swan Creek - heard crappie and whites are staging outside the mouth in the main lake. Some whites at the Pothole. It's early...

It's live.... it shows what's running at that time, I believe. @dpitt

Guess they got enough rain yesterday to bring the river up. Video taken at the 10c bridge at noon today by Paul Crews. IMG_1561.mov

It's that time of year!

I didn’t look at the ramp area but I would assume. If the ramp is useable.

At twin bridges yes. But I’m not that familiar with the Neosho.

Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has been fairly good this winter. With the extremely cold spells we have experienced, the water coming from Table Rock has plummeted to 41 degrees. That is pretty cold, even for trout. Fish tend to not feed as much when water temps drop into the low 40's. Even warm-water species like crappie and white bass, their bite is soft and slow. Trout can be the same. Patience is required. Our generation pattern has been pretty consistent. Most mornings, the water is running at a flow of between 5,000 and 8,000 cubic feet per second, or about two units, and lasts until about noon. Then we're getting some flow late in the evenings for a few hours. Table Rock's level is slightly below power pool, but we're expecting some rain at least in the first couple of weeks of March. With the water running, we're drifting and using a variety of flies, lures and baits. Below Fall Creek, minnows, night crawlers, the Berkley pink worm and Gulp Eggs are working. Adjust your weight to match the flow of water. If you're getting snagged a lot, use a smaller weight. But if you're not feeling the weight tick the bottom, add a small split shot. Early and late in the day, especially if the water is running, throw a Rapala or other suspending jerk bait. You might not catch many, but you have a good chance of enticing a trophy rainbow or brown. There are reports of crappie being caught at the Branson Landing around the fountains. They are moving around a lot, so a live scope is good to see them. If you don't have live scope, work from the fountains up lake with jigs and small swimming baits. When water is generating, drift an egg/scud combination from the dam through Short Creek. Using four-pound line is fine. for the size of scud, I've heard #16 is catching fish but I've also heard a #12 is, too. Use the colors of grey, olive or brown. Most of the time, our guides are putting the scud on the bottom, about 18 inches from the scud. Add the corresponding amount of weight to how much water is running. You can also drift a small jerk bait if more than two units are running. Take the front hooks off the bait and you won't get snagged on the bottom as much. Use a floating jerk bait, shallow running. View full article

Paul Crews and I put in at Twin Bridges yesterday about 9:30 am and headed up Spring River. Water temp 46 most places. Water was stained - good color. Some wind later in the day but moderate. We started close to the old bridge piers and looked for crappie on trees. Didn't make any difference where - mid river, sides. They were everywhere. Slight current. 17-20 foot of water. We (Paul) picked up 7-8 keepers before moving on up to look for whites. Headed up to the docks and started above them. Whites everywhere! Every cast for a while. They were liking white... small rubber baits. 14 foot of water. Lots of 2+ pound fish, up to 2 3/4 pounds. One hybrid about 3 and this one at 8.15 pounds. We headed down looking for crappie again but couldn't keep the whites off the hook. Finally went back down where we started and added more keeper crappie to the limit. We ended up with 20 crappie and kept a few whites for the grill back at Paul's house. It was amazing to see all the whites on the live scope. We did go as far up as the highway 10 bridge and they were up there too.

Back when they change the rule, I applied rubber cement to my felt sole boots. Granted, I don’t Wade very much but what I found out is at least wading Taneycomo with our gravel Is that either felt sole boots or rubber cement covered boots it makes it extremely difficult to walk. I feel like I’m going to twist an ankle. While the rubber cement has all but come off my boots now and I still wear them. Again, I don’t wade Taneycomo very much but when I do, I prefer my felt soles for my safety.

You did better than most on Taney, at least yesterday. Heard it was on the slow side. Glad you got into them!

We saw a few shad Saturday when they cranked 4 units. It's a good start. Fish are not keying in on them yet.

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The weights at our tournaments this winter have been low. Some have blamed low water, fast water, cold water... who knows for sure. But I'm going to step out and say that may be the fungus that attacked our trout in the fall has taken a toll on our big trout. Time will tell. Note - 2nd place finishers fished "up" and weighed in 3 rainbows over 20 inches. But their trophies didn't weigh over 2.5 pounds each which is unusual for a 20-inch trout. The brown, as well as most of the larger rainbows, were caught mainly on jerk baits, either casted or drifted... or even trolled. Also scuds were used to catch bigger rainbows too. We did see some threadfin shad in the lake yesterday while the water was running. Not many... and I did try a white jig and only got a couple of short bites. But our water is now 41 degrees so I'm sure the shad are dying on Table Rock and it's only a matter of time we start seeing more come through the turbines. Problem is, with warm temps coming and low lake levels, we may not see much generation in the near future.

They dropped the flow to 2 units. I went back up and tried the same sculpin jig - no bites. Missed 2 drifting a #14 scud.

Well I just got back from the dam... threw a white jig and only had one bite - a little brown. Disappointing. 4 units running too. But it could be the day. Switched to a sculpin jig and caught 2 rainbows. Better but not great. Made the trip - my mic shut off in the middle of the run up there! So I have to go back out and do it again. Darn. Only 2 units are supposed to be on this pm. We'll see if that makes a difference.

I finally did it! Thank you to all of you who donated to this essential cause here in our part of the country. We use food as a tool to influence our neighbor's lives in helpful ways, building relationships through monthly distributions throughout Taney and Stone Counties. Polar Plunge Donor Link- http://weblink.donorperfect.com/PolarPlunge2025

I'm jumping.... 1:30 I'll video with the gopro and post it.

DJ, Blake and I set a new One Cast record today. Landed 22 trout. 49 minutes.

I want to find a real looking set of small hands and sell them as a fishing staple! Great idea.

There's some that have jumped and still 2 groups have not. I have not... I'm still collecting funds. Almost up to $3,000. THANK YOU!!! I will jump next week sometime. The water temp has dropped from mid 50's to mid 40's!

Did you book a room? No charge... just need to take it off the books.

Jerk baits.... probably. Early and late, or if wind is blowing like crazy