Phil Lilley

Lake Taneycomo is in pretty good shape this summer. Our water quality is very good compared to past years. Clarity is excellent, water temperature is holding at 49 degrees, and the dissolved oxygen content is very good for mid July. The generation pattern has been very consistent this past month with no generation mornings and water flow starting about 2 p.m. That has continued until about dark and building up to all four units. This gives everyone a chance to fish their favorite way -- water off and water on. Because of the extra clear water, we're having to pay close attention to our line size in the mornings, especially when using baits and lures that hang or sit. When fly fishing, I'm using 7x tippet when fishing scuds, midges, micro jigs and mega worms. I'm using two-pound line when throwing most jigs. But when the water starts, I can get away with bigger line . . . but not too big. Of course when throwing jerk baits and some spoons and spinners, we're using four- to eight-pound line. The pink worm under a float has been the go-to bait for most of our guides all summer, especially in the mornings when the water isn't running. They're fishing it anywhere from four- to nine-feet deep, depending on the depth of water and where the trout are holding. Most are using two-pound line or 6x tippet. Hot spots have been the flats above our resort, up around Trout Hollow, down on the Cooper Creek flats, the Monkey Island area and down through the bridges to Scotty's. It does seem like there's a lot of rainbows in the lake, stocked by MDC, for the summer months. And these rainbows are scattered in the area I mentioned, in good numbers and size. The pink worm is one of the best ways to catch these fish. Blake has been fishing a black 1/50th-ounce jig under a float and luring trout pretty well. Nightcrawlers are catching fish, of course. Either fishing them in the mornings using two-pound line and injecting a little air in the worm to make it float off the bottom. Drifting them on the bottom when the water is running, no air is needed. Jerk bait fishing is good late in the evenings into the night. We have guides working during the periods and catching decent rainbows and browns, but not a lot of trophies like in past years. I think they're there but maybe they're just getting educated and not hitting these baits. Trophy area is the most popular but anglers are catching good fish below Fall Creek also. Fly fishing has been fun in the mornings with the water off. Several things have been working for us including a mega worm, micro jigs, zebra midge and a bead scud under a float. Of course, use 7x tippet for best results. The cream mega worm has been the best color while the black micro jig has out performed most other colors. Guide Brett Rader has been fishing size #18 or #20 zebra midges in black and catching fish for his clients. That's pretty small, but it seems like our fish are growing wary of bigger midges. Small scuds are working, too. Use a #18 gray scud in tandem to a #18 zebra midge with the scud on the bottom and fish it where the scud is very close if not on the bottom. Our friend Linc Hunt caught some nice rainbows around Lookout Island when the water was down on $14 Parachute Adam dries while he was here. I've been trying dries a various places with little success.