Phil Lilley

This brown was caught yesterday, 6/21. Here's the details: Burke Lewis, Norman, OK, a staff member of the Ozark Lakes Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ. He is a part of a group of staff and college students, from all over the US, that are in Branson every summer. It is a 25 inch brown trout, weighing 7 1/2 pounds. It was caught on June 21, 2011, on a 4 pound test line, using a 1/8 ounce peach / sculpin jig. It was hooked about 300 yards south of the water inlet from the fish hatchery on the north side of the lake. It was released.

Thanks. Using stimulators #6's and sofa pillow #4's. Not sure if it makes a big difference at this point. They are looking up for cicadas which are pretty much gone now. Water is murky from the flood. Table Rock's surface is pretty clear but I guess it's not down deep. This is how it was in '08.

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kTRLj7ewmdE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Filmed this morning. Practicing our videography.

Mine are in the back, like Tim's. You have to ask for them. But I don't have a ton... I sold a bunch to a hair salon owner several months ago before I knew what was going on. But she bought stuff that had been on my rack for years- a few over 5 years... and the prices were 5 years old too! That also tells you something - fly shops, at least mine, don't sell a whole lot of barbel saddles at $35- $40 each so when they get a chance, they sell them. I'm with Gavin - if you can make big money selling your old stock that's sitting around, I'd do it. Nothing wrong with that! Like buying gold low- sell it high.

That's the only info I got from the MDC biologists. I'd think it would be in the paper or something???

Yes - 60.55 pounds 47 inches long Caught Friday night.

Wow- hadn't heard.

Biggest day was April 27, 2011, during the flood. 5370 visits 142,016 page views Saw the same spike during the flood in 2008. People were seeking news on what was going on and they came here... cool!

I've only had a couple of comments but they've come in the past 5 days - kinda all of a sudden. No mention up to then so I thought may be something was wrong. So I wanted to mention it and see if anyone else had a problem.

I've gotten several PM's and email saying visitor's AVS programs are saying there is a virus on ozarkanglers. After I got a comment last week, I sent a trouble ticket to my support team and they ran a complete check on the whole site and came up with nothing. The site is clear of any viruses. I'm not sure what's going on... not sure if the AVS programs are too sensitive or what. Anyone have any thoughts?

Just a quick word on OA's stats. Going to be looking for advertisers once the new site is up later this summer. April 2011 was by far the biggest month ever for the site. April Averages: 3,265 visits per day 65,997 page hits per day 265,352 hits per day (I don't get this one- I never quote it) 2.74 GB per day

We set some jug lines out this evening at Combs Ferry. After we run them in the am, we'll hit some banks and see what we find. Thanks!

More pics this morning. I paid close attention to depths of the lake. 3-4 feet in front of the boat ramp. 5-6 feet on down north side before the swing. 5-7 feet down the old KOA channel. No real big changes in depths here. The big riffle is something else above the KOA. Was holding a bunch of rainbows. It's big and long too. <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end_KOA-new-gravel-bar1-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end_KOA-new-gravel-bar2-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end_KOA-new-gravel-bar3-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end_KOA-new-gravel-bar4-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end_KOA-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-lookout-upper-bar1-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-lookout-upper-bar2-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> The area here at Lookout has changed too. It's not the big long, slow flat it was. It's shallow but it channles more to the north side and moves much faster and dumps faster into the bottom hole. <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-lookout-upper-bar3-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-lookout-upper-bar4-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-lookout-upper-bar5-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-lookout-bar1-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> The bottom below Lookout has lots of big, deep holes and the drop offs are steep. There's more variant on the west side as far as gravel drop offs and holes. What I called "dry wash" isn't there anymore. It was a gravel bar that stick out at the wash coming out of Pointe Royale. There's a bigger bar but above it and it comes further out in the lake. <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-gravel-bars1.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-gravel-bars2-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-gravel-bars3-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p>

Thanks for joining... welcome.

We will be marking a second batch of 11-inch cutthroat trout this Thursday and Friday (June 16th and 17th) at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery. Once again we are seeking volunteer help to assist us in this endeavor. If you are willing able to assist, we would truly appreciate it. We plan on getting started around 8:30 am. Bring rain gear and rubber boots if you don’t want to get too wet…No Waders. We will have drinks (water and Gatorade), but lunch will be on your own. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are available. Thank you. Jeff Jeff Williams Trout Program Coordinator E: j_williams@agfc.state.ar.us | P: (870) 424-5924 | M: (870) 404 - 0503

I think it's too early to make any guesses on the highest level for wading... my mind is spinning already from all the changes, not just the ones up below the dam. Whether you believe the changes are positive or not, they're here to stay. So I chose to see it all as positive - making the best of it. The drawdown- I don't think it's avoidable. Fish are going to die when the water goes down regardless how they do it. Unfortunately, bugs will to. It's the nature of the beast. I am still absolutely amazed how many quality bows are in the lake right now. I took Paul Clark and my buddy Coy fishing this afternoon after the water started - white jigs below the dam. I tossed the jig out twice to show Paul- he's not a fisherman. I hooked 2 rainbows, both 18 solid inches. He tried... I took the rod and worked the jig one more time so he could see and wham- another 19 inch rainbow. It took him a while but he ended up catching a 19 inch rainbow on his last cast. I didn't fish much cause I could not help hooking a rainbow within 10 seconds of dropping the jig down. I was helping Paul get the hang of it. We did catch some 11-13 inchers, mainly when Paul drifted a shad fly on the bottom. They seemed to like the shad fly while the larger ones liked the jig. Did I mention I caught a 26-inch rainbow yesterday? I took a sports writer out for a few hours for a story. I'm telling you... this is by far the best shape these trout, on Taneycomo, have EVER been in, at least since I've been here. Looks like they're not running water tomorrow morning... I'd head over if you can. May not see a lot of down water again for weeks. I was surprised how few were out this morning.

Well, they left the water off all morning this morning so I got on the keyboard and sent an email out to see why they were not running water. It's killing a bunch of bugs leaving the gravel bars so far out of the water in the heat and sun. Several calls were made between MDC, the Corp and SPA and I guess the Corp and SPA have agreed to run water everyday from 8 am to 8 pm and if they need to leave the water off some periods they'll leave it off at night. It may take a day or two to get into this schedule so it may be off again this week. I drove to the dam and checked out the levels and changes. First - we may have a new "normal" lake level. It's at 702.1 right now. The old level was 701.3 feet. The area at rebar is the most noticeable change- it looks like it's higher and holding the water back at a high level, which makes the 702.1 level make sense. There's hardly any current from the dam to rebar now and it is deeper. Walking across the lake at outlet #2- used to be about 30 inches is now 40+. It looks deeper to. The bank across from outlet #2- there's little gravel there next to the island. The lake is wider. At rebar, it's not one shoot but 3- and you could say 4. All are shallow and dump off into a deep hole. Not sure how deep it is. Here are the pics. <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-outlet1-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-down-from-outlet1-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-outlet1.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-leonard-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-up-from-outlet-2-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-down-from-outlet-2-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-outlet-2-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-far-bank-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-outlet3-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-outlet3b-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-new-rebar1-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-where-rebar-used-to-be-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-rebar5-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-rebar7-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-rebar8-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-rebar10-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-back-shoot-at-rebar-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-shoot-below-rebar-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-shoot-below-rebarb-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-down-from-rebar-800.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> Down at the boat ramp, the lake is definitely deeper and wider. The lower end is a definite shoot. I didn't walk down there but it looks awesome. Could be the best shoot on the upper lake, replacing rebar. <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-mdc-boat-ramp-up.jpg" width="800" height="533"></p> <p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2011/taneycomo_upper_end-mdc-boat-ramp-panaramic.jpg" width="1000" height="238"></p>

Talked to Tom Synder at Empire this morning. I had sent him an email asking about the rumor I heard about installing a new system in place of boards at their dam. He said the new system was on order and would not be ready until October. He said they've decided to go ahead and put the wooden boards back up BUT they have to wait until Bull Shoal's level drops 11 feet. There is a cat walk on the BS side of Powersite that has to be accessed to place the boards back. It's under 11 feet of water. So we're looking at quite a few weeks of no boards and lower-than-normal levels here on Taneycomo. I need to ask the Corp if they plan to be shutting the water down on Table Rock more often..... I hope not.

I don't have a lot of time on the White- not as much as I'd like. But if the water is running and you can run up and down freely, it's a great river to fish. If there's no generation, you can wade in at the access but if you get a boat and go down through any riffles, you can't get back up easily- better to get a shuttle. I love the White because there's more water to fish- more good, fishable water that hold big fish. Taneycomo is limited to 8 miles, really only 5 miles and only 3 miles of trophy area. But I like to fish for non-stocker size trout. The White has BROWNS and Taneycomo is low on Browns. The White has Cutthroat and Brooks too. We don't! On the White, the trout tend more to take dries and I love fishing dries. Taneycomo's trout don't really take flies- not as much.

I have to verify this but my dock person was told yesterday the following: EMPIRE - the boards will be DOWN until OCTOBER. At some point in October, they will DRAW Taneycomo down 4 feet below power pool for 2 WEEKS so that they can install a "new system" across the top of Powersite Dam. THIS MORNING ZERO units were on. NO GENERATION. With the boards down, the lake is be extremely low, especially above Trout Hollow. I boated up to the Narrows early this am to take some picks - posted later this afternoon. The lake is still draining out. The water is supposed to kick on about noon today. I wanted to drive to the dam and take some pics up there but ran out of time- had to get to church. My Observations- IF this is going to be the pattern for the next 4-5 months, we're going to see this very low water for lengthly periods of time. I would assume trout will move to deeper holes, where ever they can find them. I bet a lot of trout will move out of the trophy area because the water up there is going to be extremely skinny- shallow. I was amazed at the lack of watered area at the Narrows. I could not get above that point so I don't know what it looks like further up. I would think the Corp would run some water most of the time just to keep the upper end watered but I don't know if they're going to do that- ie. this morning ---> no generation. All I can say- it's going to be very interesting. Unchartered Territory.

Generation ceased last night. Water is off this morning. Schedule says they'll run water starting mid day. With the boards off, this isn't good. The gravel bars that have had water over them will now dry out and be exposed to heat and sun. This is a problem- but at least it's cloudy and rain is forecasted this morning. I'm going to email Empire and the Corp tomorrow morning and see if this is a pattern they're going to continue. They MAY be going to replace the boards at Powersite tomorrow morning- that is a definite possibility. Hopefully so. Lake levels will get back to normal.

With these new bars on Taney, plus the old one, there are really good opportunities to boat, get out and wade now. The bar at the Narrows offers great opportunity to get out and wade all the way across. I told Darin, that water looks great for swinging streamers and woolies as well as midges. I drifted scuds for a short time today and caught fish in only one place and there's a hundred yards of gravel bar to wade now. Lookout Island has changed for the better too. It's bigger for one thing and with the water running like it is, you can wade on both sides as well as the bottom end. I overheard the guys on the bar today say they were catching a ton of trout. We rent jon boats- you can make it up to the Island in about 10 minutes with a 25 hp motor, beach the boat and wade. If you want to try it, PM me and I'll shoot you a deal for the month of June. This would be for transporting you from here to there... that's the deal. If you want to go out and fish from a boat all day, then there's a regular rate for that, which is very reasonable, I believe. I'm just sayin' ... even with this running water, you can still wade Taneycomo!!

Got out this afternoon at 3 pm and fished pretty much till dark. First I had to try out the new gravel bar at the Narrows. Boated up and beached the boat and got out. Fishing the shoot on the back side- nothing but I still think it's going to be good. Drifted a scud #12 gray off the dropoff below the bar and caught a half dozen rainbows pretty quickly- nothing big. Darin came up and so we headed up to the dam to see what else we could see as far as changes. Got up there- I think the Rebar area has changed a bunch but I can't give any details. The depths are all different when I run through in the boat. I think there's some kind of deep hole close to the top of the Rebar shoot- I hit 7-8 foot of water in that area. I think the gravel bar above Big Hole is much higher and the hole is deeper. The stump/tree is still below the island. We caught whites, smallmouth and a walleye below the cable along the south bank again. Drifted the north bank and caught some nice rainbows but caught a bunch of small rainbows- something we hadn't seen many of- small ones. Drifted the bluff bank from Lookout down and did well using a jig and float with a white 1/32nd oz jig before 5 pm but after 5 this area stunk! Just the opposite as I would expect. I did fish a dark jig several times and little success. The trout were chasing the jig back to the boat a lot- this explains why everyone is doing so well on rapalas- they like chasing things. I did catch some rainbows on a cicada fly this evening. There is one short stretch where the trout were really hitting the surface above the Narrows and against the bluff bank and that's where I caught the fish. Tried other areas with no results. A nice images of the gravel bar at the Narrows. You can really see the edge of the bar.

There are good and bad things about these high water events on Taney. From 2008, we learned that fish eat well when there's constant flow and bugs do well too. We also learned that when the cold water in Table Rock gets replaced by runoff water, Taney gets warm, low DO water in the fall. Talked to Clint, Shepherd of the Hills hatchery manager today, and he said we are 2 degrees warmer at this time in the game than we were in 2008. They've also are having problems with parasites in the hatchery. My gage reads 51 degree below the dam. This fall will be a tough one on our trout here. In 2008, we had a second big rain event and they had to open the flood gates in September - something that's never been done. Hopefully, that won't happen again.... for the rest of 2011 at least.