Phil Lilley

I made a quick run up to the dam this evening and made 2 drifts from the bottom of Big Hole to below the MDC boat ramp, fishing the north bank with an 1/8th oz white jig. I caught 8 rainbows, these averaging 14-15 inches easy. But that's not the norm lately. Usually catch a bunch of 11 inchers along with a nice one here and there. Then I made a drift from well below Lookout and worked the bluff bank down to the Narrows. I caught 4 rainbows. These averaged 13 inches. At the Narrows, I'd given up and was going to go in, reeling in my last cast quickly when a saw a very, very nice brown on the tail of my jig. I could see it as clearly as anything, as I stopped, he caught up, took the jig and started to turn his head. I set the hook only to pull the jig out of it's mouth. That was way cool man! Worth the trip out in the cool evening air. This picture doesn't do the real thing justice...

In the trophy area, right now I'd say 13 inches on rainbows. Hard to say on browns since I catch 100 rainbows to one brown.

For your first post, you're starting off on the wrong foot... unless you left off a smiley face at the end of your statement.

Had a couple of clients out this morning. Catching was slow except for this nice rainbow. 21.5 inches. Drifting a miracle fly- hooked her just above the MDC boat ramp below the dam. Released. Kyle Long from Wichita was the lucky angler. We drifted miracle fly (egg fly) up at the dam for a while but they just weren't taking it. Tried scuds over the flats at the narrows. Steve Dicky was catching some there but we couldn't get bit. Ended up drifting Gulp eggs, orange/white, from Fall Creek to Short Creek and picking up quite a few- and caught some nice rainbows too. That was our best bite this morning. Running supposedly 75 mw or 1.5 units today.

We are working on our monthly newsletter (Lilleys Landing) and Megan wanted me to get some fresh fish pics... what a pain!! Lots of water running this evening. Ran to the dam (boated) and made a quick drift working an 1/8th oz sculpin/ginger jig on the bottom. Only one rainbow. Tough to feel the bite I think. Ran back up and made one more drift, this time with a white jig. Lots more bites and hook ups. 3 rainbows and a brown. Had the place to myself.... imagine that!

I think you'll find quite a lot here. http://www.ozarkanglers.com/eleven-point/

I don't think this will change things much. Fish won't move... they'll be back to the same patterns quicker than everyone thinks. I thought may be the crappie would shut down yesterday because of the change in weather but they didn't.

Pat- You're thanking the right person. Glory to God.

As soon as I report they're running water all the time, they leave the water OFF ALL DAY.

You're signing off "moderator" now? This authority is going to your head! Nice report, Darin. Too bad you can't catch crappie...

Well, Duane and I braved the cold front this afternoon, putting in at Bridgeport about 1 p.m.. Met a couple of guys going home with may be 10... said they'd been limiting everyday this week before noon but today they were tough- off the banks. We hit a couple of brush piles, marked and unmarked, from the ramp towards Cape and caught fish off all of them. We caught them 24 inches deep over brush on a jig and float. We caught them in 8 feet of water on the bottom around brush 25 feet off spawning banks. We didn't find any on banks. Warmest water temp was 65. Most was 63-64 even when I pulled out. Air temp was 51 dropping to 40 when we pulled out at 6:20. We had 15 nice keepers and one white bass. We caught, I bet, 40 shorts and a handful of bass.

I think what they're saying is there is no Turkey Creek on Table Rock.

If answers to these questions are answered.... I'll pin this topic for future study!

by John Neporadny, Jr. Even though bass will be in different stages of spawning during May on the Lake of the Ozarks, one pattern remains consistent throughout the month. Harold Stark, a tournament competitor from Eldon, Mo., can catch bass in three stages of the spawn (pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn) all at one time by flipping jigs behind boat docks on the lower end of the lake. Since the water temperature runs from 59 degrees at the beginning of the month to 75 degrees by the end of May, the flipping pattern produces best because the fish will stay behind the docks the entire month. Stark prefers fishing from the dam area to the 35-mile marker of the Osage arm since this area contains more boat docks. "There are also so many bigger coves in that area and they all have more cuts to fish." The ideal locations to try are behind docks in small indentations or cuts in the banks of bigger coves. The cuts should have a bank consisting of both pea gravel and chunk rock. "Cuts that sit in closer to the main part of the cove (near deep water) are best," says Stark. This pattern produces best in stained water with the lake level at or above normal stage. The higher the lake level, the move cover available for bass behind the docks, Stark says. He usually finds fish 2 to 5 feet deep near any available cover. The most appealing docks to bass contain the most junk in the rear section of the floating structure. "You're fishing the ramps, the cables and any brush that might be behind the dock then," Stark says. Even the cables dangling in the water will hold fish during this time. When Stark finds an ideal dock, he works it deliberately and thoroughly. He skips past the front end and sides of the dock and concentrates his efforts behind the cables. "If you think a fish is in a spot, flip to it more than once," Stark advises, "Generally though at that time of year, when you flip in and that fish is there, it usually bites right away." When he finishes behind one side, he will move around the dock and work the other backside. His favorite lure to flip is a 5/16- to 9/16-ounce Stanley jig with a number 1 pork frog. He prefers a brown jig with a black and red pork frog. He also always adds a fish attractant, such as Bang or Fish Formula, to his jig-and-frog combo. Stark uses 14- to 25-pound test line, depending on the water clarity. In clear water, he selects lighter line and switches to the heavier monofilament in darker water. Flipping works better than pitching in this situation. "You want to get in there just as quiet as you can," Stark says. "You can pitch it, but if you pitch too far back and you hook one, then you have to get him out from behind those cables. If you're too far away then you're not going to get him out." After flipping his lure to a target, Stark quickly retrieves the jig. "Put it in there, jig it a couple of times, then move it on out." He says the fish are aggressive enough during that time of year that they will usually hit the lure on the initial fall. The flipping pattern produces best under bright skies when the fish hold tighter to the cover behind the docks. During cloud cover the bass will roam all over the back of the dock. Stark says the fish will hit more aggressively but you just have to scatter your flips to more areas behind the dock. While flipping behind docks produces bigger fish, keeper-size bass will fall for tube baits thrown on a 1/16-ounce jig head with spinning tackle. Another successful pattern for getting a limit in a hurry is to throw a buzz bait. Stark suggests keeping your boat parallel to the bank and the trolling motor constantly running while you work the buzz bait along the whole bank of a cove. An effective pre- and post-spawn pattern during this time is throwing a Carolina-rigged plastic lizard along pea-gravel secondary points and channel banks in coves. For information on lodging and other facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free 162-page vacation guide, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at funlake.com.

Nothing stays the same during spring on Lake Taneycomo. If you don't like the conditions today, wait a week, and chances are they'll change. We've had a variety of generation patterns for the month of April. But that's not unusual; it's spring! Actually it's been more like a normal spring than most we've had lately. This month, we've seen Table Rock's level jump three feet almost over night after a rain we had a couple of weeks ago. The U.S. Corps of Army Engineers then opened all four units and released the maximum amount of water to raise the upper lakes levels back to power pool. Since then we've had some rain, but not enough to cause big releases. The Corps now seems happy to regulate releases to where we're seeing slow release in the morning and a little more in the afternoon. This will, I believe, remain the pattern as long as Table Rock and Beaver Lakes remain within a foot or two or their power pool levels. Back when the Corps first released all four units, catching trout was tough, to say the least. I don't think our trout fed much, and when they did, it was very hard to get and keep a fly or bait close to the bottom because of the current. We hadn't seen that kind of release in almost 14 months -- remember we just came out of a 16-month drought. But catching got better. We found out where we could catch some trout, and then dam operators lowered the release amounts, and most everyone was happy. Right now the Corps is releasing one unit of water during the night and into the early morning hours, then bumping it up to two units mid morning and running that into the evening hours. The best bite is early, before generation goes to two units. But we have been catching some rainbows drifting mid-day, then much better later in the evening. I've gotten out quite a few times here that last few days on Taneycomo, although the call of crappie on Table Rock has been hard to ignore! Here's what I've found: From the cable below the dam down to the Missouri Department of Conservation boat ramp, I've drifted a tandem of two flies using a drift rig on four-pound line, picking from a choice of four flies in order from best to least: #14 UV gray scud, peach egg fly, pink San Juan Worm and a #12 while wooly bugger. Best bite is drifting from the cable to outlet #2 then over the gravel bar to Rocking Chair. While my clients drifted their rigs Monday, I tossed am 1/8th-ounce sculpin/ginger or the side of the boat, just for grins, and hooked a nice 18-inch rainbow. Second cast, three bites and then hooked another 15-inch rainbow. The next hot spot was drifting the fly rig over the shallow flat at the narrows although this quick drift was only good for one rainbow per drift. The water is fast and drift is quick. By the way, the overhanging tree at the top of the narrows is sinking further and further down towards the water's surface. You almost have to duck when the water is low, and when it's running you can't go under it. It's blocking the main channel so it has to come out. We'll be taking that tree out one day shortly. Those who know me know I don't use "live bait" very often, but friends here for a pastor's conference want to catch and keep trout, so we're drifting and using Gulp PowerBait. We've found good catching from the mouth of Fall Creek down about 600 yards using a combo of colors, white/orange, white/pink or yellow/orange. Tuesday morning when we started, generation was one unit, so we tied on drift rigs with 1/8th-ounce bell weights, but as the current increased, we switched rigs to using 1/4-ounce bell weights. Had to be on the bottom to catch anything. They all caught their limits by 11 am. When I cleaned these rainbows, their meat was pink -- which means these trout have been in the lake for a while. My guess is these rainbows were in the trophy area and came down below Fall Creek where they were no longer protected by the slot limit. Monday we found the best fishing was a stretch at Monkey Island and drifting from U.S. Highway 65 bridge down to the railroad bridge. At Monkey, we'd pull almost up to the top of the island and drift past the island and down about 300 yards, then go back up, using the same colors of Gulp Eggs.

Kyle Kosovich's Newsletter An overnight Longboat trip is more than floating an Ozarks stream in a long, wooden boat. It's more than fishing for trout or smallmouth. And it's definitely more than a streamside lunch of sandwiches and soda. While my service is unique, I have to admit—it's nothing new. The tradition of the Ozarks float trip was established nearly a century ago. The cold, clear waters and stringers full of smallies brought stars and VIPs from all across the country. With important clients like that, simple snacks and pup tents would not suffice. Outfitters went all out, providing guests with comfortable accommodations and delicious meals. Years later, they provided me with the inspiration for Longboat Outfitters. Recently, I came across two videos on YouTube that showcase exactly what I aim to recreate. The first, "An Ozarks Float," was produced by the Missouri Conservation Commission in the late 1950s. The name of the river isn't mentioned, but I reckon it's the James—one of the credited guides is John Barnes, brother of boat-builder Charlie Barnes. The second in an early 1960s travelogue from KTVI, then the ABC affiliate in St. Louis. "The Vanishing Ozarks" features the Current River shortly before the establishment of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which protects much of the Current and Jacks Fork. Both videos give a glimpse of the Ozarks float trip before the tradition faded into the past with the rising waters of an impounded White River. The overnight trips portrayed in the films recalled simpler, quieter times, even during the modern era of the '50s and '60s—a time we think of today as pretty simple and quiet. If you want to experience a traditional Ozarks float trip for yourself, please call or email me. While I've updated a few details to improve comfort, the important elements of the classic overnight trip stay the same. You arrive at the gravel bar with camp already set. We cook your steaks over an open flame. The evenings end with recounting the day's adventure and tall tales of previous trips. The mornings begin with a sunrise glinting off a rippling river. And, most importantly, you'll make memories you'll keep the rest of your life. Deal of the Month Now that spring is here, the smallmouth have moved out of the spring branches and back into the rivers. Catfish are on the prowl, bucketmouths are brooding and goggle-eye are ready to play. Let me show you where to find them—book a warm-water trip by May 31 and I'll knock off 10 percent! —Kyle Kosovich, Longboat Outfitters

Took some guys fishing today. They caught them pretty good drifting from the dam down to MDC boat ramp on #14 uv gray scuds drifted on the bottom. Eggs flies also. Had to be bumping the bottom. I tossed a 1/8th oz sculpin/ginger jig and they ATE IT UP mid day. My guys couldn't get the hang of it though. Later in afternoon, till 6 pm. Found some rainbows drifting orange/white or pink/white Gulp next to and past Monkey Island. About a 300 yard drift. Another pontoon group caught a few at the railroad bridge- same thing, drfitng a short section. They just weren't everywhere... Will post a full report next 2 days.

There's no stripe... not like the others we caught. The ones with the stripe weren't that black either.

One other observance... there's a lot of wood along the bank this year and lake level is perfect for crappie cover along the bank. Nice to see.

I've always had trouble fishing brush piles out from the bank. I learned from Duane... he throws out past the pile and lets the lure sink. When he feels it hit the brush, he lifts and works it over the branches. Now I kept catching, hooking the branches more than he... not sure what's up with that. I did find, though, if we were right on top of the pile, I could drop a swimming minnow straight down and hold it dead still and got lots of taps. I know you can't hold anything dead still- there's always movement. Crappie liked it though. Discussion on this pic... is the dark crappie a black crappie or a white crappie male in spawning colors?