Phil Lilley

Amazing what water can do... The big change in this bar it what is now a bar most of the way across the lake that is shallow enough to HIT with a prop. In recent years, you could get away with going over the top about anywhere. Of course the obvious place you can't do that now in the extreme right near the mouth of the creek. But NEW ROCKS and gravel deposited across the like offer a new obstacle for boaters. We've already seen the evidence of it in damaged props. The new channel is tricky. It's not a straight channel running up the left side rather a crooked channel starting close to the middle of the lake and moving to the left bank (picture). Not sure if the extreme left side is deep enough to travel when the water is off - we will see. But appears NOT TO BE.

Very frustrating even when the LOCAL paper and local people don't understand LOCAL situations and how things work. In this article, they completely ignored the fact that Bull Shoals has to drop to 680 feet for the work to be done to Powersite. They state, "in the next few days" the lake will be drawn down. Come On!! Do your research! Ask questions! Understand the demographics of your area!! Do your Job! We (businesses that are affected by your bad reporting) have to clean up your mess. We, not you, get the calls from people asking about the draw down and how it affects fishing and boating. Then there's the people who completely write us off for recreation because of the adverse affect of bad reporting. I'm hoping someone at the paper reads this forum but if that was the case, they wouldn't have written the article.

On facebook, Save As and post files. Facebook reduces images when uploaded. This forum doesn't... yet. Hopefully in the next upgrade.

Trout Head Soup!

Keeping the heads for soup... that'll cure you from EVER eating salmon again!

I haven't been up there to see it yet. But we've gotten alot of damaged props the last few days...

I haven't been on line much the last couple of days.... should I lock it? Or should I bother reading it?

Look at the SPA forecast for the weekend thur Monday. Interesting. Good water on Saturday and Sunday. Monday back to weekday water. But look at Bull Shoals schedule. Increasing everyday. Serious release starting Monday. We'll see how fast they can pull BS down.

I figured out why Mdc asked for a minimum of 25 mw of generation. The bladders control the gates on top of the dam at Powersite. I guess at least one is busted. This allows the gate to drop too far down letting too much water over the dam. This draws Taneycomo down past normal levels (701 feet). Drawing it down even a foot will expose massive amounts of gravel in the upper lake so they need to run a little water to keep this gravel wet.

The problem with speed limits is the wakes. A lot of boat owners just do not know what their boats do at low speeds. I don't know how many times I've people go by me on the lake, all smiles and waves, and never look behind them to see me hanging on for dear life from their huge wake. They actually think they did me a favor by slowing down. I don't get mad - I actually laugh about it now.

I gotta tell ya - I'm drifting where the snags aren't!! And you can't tell me the guides are drifting through them if the lay downs on the "proper" side for the lake/river. I know that ain't so. They're avoiding them too.

I think there might be some confusion on my part. I was talking to MDC about the draw down (after Bull Shoals is down to 680 feet). They draw Taney down 4 feet below normal and leaves most of the gravel above Fall Creek exposed to the elements, killing all scud, sow bugs and midges (I think midges may survive?). So SPA works with Empire (owner of Powersite Dam) during the time, releasing at least 25 mw of generation to keep the upper end watered. Empire draws that much through its turbines, keeping the lake low. Anyhow- I may have gotten my facts wrong. We may see some down time here in the next few days - or next week.

Hate to tell you guys who want to wade this but... Got word that Southwest Power Admin has given the ok to a MDC request that they run at least 25 mw (half unit) at all times. Starting next week (or before that time) they will run no more than 2 units of water. This will let Bull Shoals drop to that 680 mark. So the new flows will be between a half unit and 2 units for the foreseeable future. At 25 mw, you can wade the tailwater as well as at Pointe Royale.

But I drift looking up lake so it would be on my left...

Yes- that's the norm right now. But it will cycle back around I'm afraid.

The rocks only blew out of the creek may be 70 feet. The lake is more than 400 feet wide there (all approximate).

When the water is down and there is no generation: you'll have to be super careful to boat past Trout Hollow. If you're careful, you can get above Fall Creek (small motor, may be have to raise the motor). If you have a jet, you may get above the Narrows. When the water is down and they're running water to keep the upper end watered: you should be able to go where ever as long as you're in the channel. The level will vary depending on where you are... the higher up you are (above Fall Creek) the higher the water level will be BUT it will be very fast. Disclaimer: The bottom has changed since the last draw down (2011) so all bets are off on my description.

I think Bill mis spoke on the run on right and drift on right... that didn't make any sense to me. It would be nice for everyone to drift in a line but - you can't educate everyone plus - everyone doesn't have the same skill and/or equipment to keep oneself in a proper lane.

Not exactly true Bill. Vince Elfrink was guiding when he ran into and up on another boat. No one was injured but it scared the people to death. Vince was petrified. It happens to the best of us. Guides are no different than anyone else.

All this means is that- #1 - We will start to see less and less generation on Taney, trying to allow BS to drop. #2 - It's going to take a long time (probably a month) for BS to drop to 680 feet so this draw down will not occur any time soon.

JOPLIN, MO – July 16, 2015 – The Empire District Electric Company announced today that lower lake levels may be possible for Lake Taneycomo beginning in the next several days. During the recent high water flows at Ozark Beach (Powersite) Dam, damage occurred to the air bladder system that holds the steel gates at the top of the dam in an upright position. This automated system helps maintain the lake level at elevations up to 701 feet. It also provides a safety mechanism to release larger flows when necessary to aid in flood control. Releases from Table Rock Dam will be slowing over the next several days to allow the storage balance between Table Rock and Bull Shoals to return to normal. The reduced flow may result in Taneycomo levels dropping to approximately 697 feet. To allow Empire’s Ozark Beach personnel to investigate the damaged system and make plans for necessary repairs, Bull Shoals will have to drop to approximately 680 feet. This could result in low levels on Taneycomo for an extended period. In making the announcement, Kyle Slagle, Director of Water Operations, stated, “We apologize for the inconvenience to Taneycomo area dock owners and recreationists. We are working with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Southwest Power Administration and the Missouri Department of Conservation to ensure fisheries are protected during this period.” Slagle continued, “Once lake levels drop to a point where we can access the air system for the gates, we will work to complete the repairs as quickly as possible to allow the lake level to return to normal.”

http://www.uscgboating.org/images/486.PDF We are taught to pass port to port, stay right in the channel. It's not a law but a rule. It's really actually common sense. The problem is every boater, whether renting boats, private owner or even a guide - all do not know or observe this rule so you're going to have issues. Bottom line - be as safe and courteous as possible yourself and try to handle the knuckleheads the best way possible because you can't get away from them, even on vacation!