Phil Lilley

We’ve enjoyed a long dry spell that has given us long periods of no generation here on Lake Taneycomo. That has been especially nice for fly fishing.  But we’re starting to see rain in the forecast, with one two-day rain event winding up as I type this report.  We should start seeing more generation in the coming days.  Beaver Lake area didn’t receive as much rain as Table Rock.  Some areas in the James River basin received more than four inches. Both Beaver and Table Rock lakes are just over their seasonal power pools, which I think you can say is normal for this time of year.  We’ve been seeing fairly consistent generation patterns most days – up to four full units in the morning and again late in the evening. This has kept our lake levels in check through the winter so far.  Our water color is excellent with the temperature averaging about 44 degrees. We’ve enjoyed three fishing tournaments thus far in 2023.  One permitted only artificial lures and two allowed live bait.  In the contest with just flies and lures, scuds caught the better trout, while in the bait contests, night crawlers and power bait were king, with jigs and flies right behind them. There were a very good number of big rainbows and browns brought in at each tournament, which is a great sign for the days to come.  I believe we had more legal browns (20-inches or longer) weighed in than any other winter period.  All big trout were released even though in two of the tournaments it was not required.  One other thing about each tournament—no one fished above Fall Creek in the trophy area. Berkley’s pink worm under a float fishing four- to eight-feet deep is still the most fish-catching technique outside of the trophy area.  If water is running, use a heavier jig head to keep it down.  Next would be drifting night crawlers or the pink worm on the bottom.  It’s very important that your weight is bumping the bottom—that’s where the fish are holding.  Although I haven’t fished them yet this winter, minnows should work, too, especially on bigger trout. The one thing we see our trout eating is scuds, above and below Fall Creek.  We are seeing them spitting them up when caught, and we see them in the stomachs of trout being cleaned.  That’s why we say, if the water is running, drift a scud on the bottom.  Typically, we use a little bigger size scud (#12) when drifting versus smaller sizes (#14, #16.)  Egg flies and San Juan worms are working, too. We’re catching fish on marabou jigs.  If the water isn’t running, we’re throwing small jigs (1/32- and 1/16-ounce) using two-pound line.  It’s best to work the bottom, but sometimes the trout are closer to the surface.  You need to check both places.  If the water is running, we’re using heavier jigs and working the bottom and edges of the bank in eddies and slower water.  White jigs are catching more browns, and darker jigs are catching everything.  Sculpin, black, olive and a combination of colored jigs like sculpin/peach or black/olive are the best colors. Jerk baits should be good since more water will be running for a while.  We sell custom baits (online and in the store) as well as Rapalas, Rouges, Flicker Shad and MegaBass.  Work the banks and throw as close to the bank as possible because those bigger trout will be holding off the fast water in those area. Keep watching One Cast for current conditions and changes to the generation pattern. View full article

We miss our dads... but his legacy will continue through you.

We had 3 rounds of nothing but sleet. If I measured it I'd say 3.5 inches, may be 4. Freeze and refreeze makes it ice. Finally seeing some melting today. Going to take a while for this to melt, even with 40's and 50's ahead. We're tired of moving it. 4 days worth. I should have let it come down on Monday. That work was wasted. I took all the pre-salt off Monday. I'll take snow any day!

That was a strange game.

Where is the jig show?

Try tying one in line above the jig about 12 inches. Or add a tag line with a scud. Tag line - 2 lines tied together using a triple surgeon's knot, cutting one tag and using the other.

I think Matt moved. I think. Brian Ellis - @ozarkflyfisher

I like the way @Brian Wisedid this one.

I don't do this often enough - but we've had quite a few people sign up lately. So I thought I'd post a welcome note. @xmarksthespot @Larry Schmitt @Saugeye Guy @dLehmann @OzarkMartin @FrankC @Tim Stidham @MidwestMan @Peter S. in Indy @T-Bend @frymorefish @Boldfenian

It's a repeat for the Duff's.

42 teams. Less than half weighed in. They ran 4 units till 11 am then no water from noon till now. Same yesterday and same tomorrow. Scuds won the day, I understand. I caught them on jigs mid day but in the trophy area. Only one team played up.

Can you image picking up a gun, being told it was empty, pointing and shooting it at someone? Gives me chills thinking about it. But they (actors that shoot at people) do it all the time without thinking about it. Assume - it's gets all of in trouble alot!

Sea bass is pretty good. Blue gill might be my #1.

Canned tuna just above trout... LOL!!

You've set a high bar... we'll expect more reviews as your adventures continue. Splurge away!

Wasn't even close on the screen name... Have you ever posted a pic of your kayak setup? It's pretty impressive!!

We looked for areas that we're getting fished. The flats at 15 and up in Flat Creek are fished hard this winter. I think there's lots of opportunities in big, open water which aren't fished that much. Just takes time.

We’d use 2- 1/16th oz lead heads 18” apart to get down. Worked good. 4 lb line

Nice to meet @Bassin4fun yesterday

We fished the both structure and the flats yesterday. We found fish almost everywhere, I like mostly crappie but I am still trying to figure out what fish are what on the livescope. Structure - leaving the bridge ramp we headed south to the first bluff and found some neat trees in 20-25 ft of water and fish on them. Caught shorts mainly, and yes they were skiddish. Moved around the point and headed in the cove. Lots of standing trees towards the north bank and in the middle in 20-25 ft of water and fish on some. Really wasted time there because we couldn't get them to cooperate. Headed up to point 15 and the flats above the point. About 6 boats working the area with some success. We didn't do that well. Headed back down lake and fished the bluff from peach orchard cove south. Found a lot more fish in 20-30 feet of water and a ton of trees. Alot of trees laying on the bottom, not standing, and these were the most productive. Ended up with 12 keepers and probably 25 shorts. Caught the best on a minnow/jig head but caught some on the Garland crappie baits and swimming minnows. Saw schools on fish, I think whites, on the last spot. They wouldn't bite. Crappie were spooky- if they were on the tops of trees, had to stand off about 20 feet or they'd bust. If they were on the bottom in 20+ we could sit on top of them.

Just watch one cast. If I write one, I'll be writing basically what we say every day. That's why I don't write many reports... If you have questions, comment on the videos.

Thanks for the report!!!

After jig fishing the last couple of days, I can honestly say they've really turned on to jigs. At least the smaller rainbows. I've caught a few nice 19 inch rainbows but mostly 11-13 inch fish.

How many times have I heard about a great fishing report at the end of a day, then head to the lake and do the same thing that caught fish the day before and got skunked - a bunch! Yep- lots of wisdom in that post.