Phil Lilley

Word is that the flood gates will be shut down tonight sometime. Table Rock crested this morning at 5 am at 931.95 ft. The generators will remain open similar to what they were running prior to the gates.

I'm studying for my Captain's lisc. Have to take it next month cause my app will expire in June. Jumping thru all the hoops isn't fun... but that's gov't for ya. The test really scares me. I ordered a deal from National Captain's Institute on the net- a syllabus with hundreds of test questions that has really helped me. Also bought Chapman's Piloting, best book on the market for boating. With those tools and google, you can find about everything you need to know... alot more than you'll ever need in guiding for sure.

Ever hear about the dinosaur prints along side human foot prints in a creek bed in Texas?

Went up to Fall Creek to take some pics of the dock for management. While I was up there I just HAD to troll up in the creek (Fall) and see what was up there. Good color. Lots of water too. Went up about 200 yards. I like the cover- hoped to snag a crappie or bass. Caught 3 rainbows on a olive 3/32 oz jig and a 19.5 inch beautiful smallmouth on a white 1/8th oz jig. He came towards the back of the creek. Pics and released. The rainbows were about 13 inches and had big bellies. George Steffen (twosets) is out with his kids fishing. He said they did very good at the dam on white jigs, catching some real nice rainbows. They went back up... and it's pouring down right now. "Oh dad!!!" He's gone.

Good point. When people REALLY understand what the aux spillway is about, the obvious question is why??? Can you guess how much MORE rain we'd have to get for there to be the possibility of using them? Although our gates have been opened to record levels, the percentage would surprise most people. I bet it's less than 5%. They let a 4 inch rain in the whole region thru with 5% of the gates open at Table Rock. - Alright, 10%, 20%... I concede I may be wrong on the % but I've made my point. I'll try to find out what % and let you know.

We're staying as far away as possible to the word "professional". If we set the standards too high, we'll have to keep them up... and I don't need that kind of pressure. Besides, consider my partner.

yea- youtube I still haven't figured out how to make it better quality.

You can see it on the homepage of ozarkanglers.com

I would be up for it if there was enough interest. Any way to promote the forum in that area so it does get play?

Bill and I attempted to prove the nasayer wrong and set out about 11 am for the dam with camera in hand. We fished in outlet #1 for a while and didn't do as well as I had hoped. I hooked a big fish I think was a walleye and Babler did hook one but both of use didn't bring them in. Caught a few nice rainbows, then headed out in the current. Drifted a couple of time with minimal sucess- all the while using white 1/8th oz jigs. I felt like the trout were getting their barrings... every time there's a change in water level/speed and this time temp, they seem to take a day to get used to things. Today was the off day. But we did catch several nice rainbows, one spot bass and another Bill & Phil Video. Ended up at Roark after lunch and then drifted up from the Landing and caught a couple. Nothing in Roark. Video should be up later tonight. Water - only 28,000 cfs. Level and speed of current isn't bad at all. Ramps, of course, are clear and OPEN. We can still get on our dock. Barring more rain we should have a great weekend.

With more rain soaking northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri the past two days, the Army Corps of Engineers has again opened the gates of Table Rock Dam to release water downstream into Lake Taneycomo, but the amount is much less than two weeks ago when high water flooded homes along Taneycomo. Branson Emergency Management Director Carl Sparks was notified early this morning by the Corps that up to 28,000 cfs of water would be released through Table Rock Dam starting at 3:30 a.m. Two weeks ago, the Corps’ peak release reached 46,500 cfs. Sparks said his department actually began notifying residents Wednesday evening along Shore and Sunset streets to be alert to news and weather reports throughout the evening concerning water release from Table Rock. “I was contacted Wednesday afternoon by the Corps that additional rain throughout the night could cause the gates to open early Thursday morning,” said Sparks. “We felt it important to do a precautionary notification to those 28 residents along the lake, campers in the city’s RV Park and Branson Landing that the possibility exists for high water.” When Sparks received word from the Corps early Thursday that the release was coming, he and his firefighters retraced their steps along the lakefront advising residents to voluntarily evacuate. Of the 28 homes, about 10 are vacant due to restoration from the flood two weeks ago or out-of-town ownership. Sparks said of the remaining residents along the lake, only two evacuated while the rest stayed. At the city-owned Lakeside RV Park, the first two rows of campsites have been evacuated and utilities shut off. The rest of the RV Park remains open. All businesses and restaurants at Branson Landing remain open as the water is flowing more than 18 inches below the lakeside boardwalk. “The water this time has not risen to the levels of two weeks ago” said Sparks. “No homes or businesses are flooded, and in fact, the water levels have not reached the back yards of the homes along Taneycomo. “The only structures underwater are the ramps leading to two public fishing docks at the RV Park.” All businesses, theaters, attractions and restaurants that make Branson a popular vacation destination are not impacted by the increased water flow and are open their normal hours for the fun, recreation and enjoyment of visitors, according to Sparks. Right now the Corps has kept the release at 28,000 cfs, and it will notify emergency management directors downstream of any additional releases. “As always, we will monitor the weather and Corps releases throughout the day and take the appropriate actions to protect our citizens should the situations deteriorate,” said Sparks.

Not sure if they stop biting after the spawn. Maybe for some but I doubt if they stop eating. It's reasonable to assume that these white would stay in the flood creeks because everything, including whites, are spawning and spawning breeds little fish. The creek should be absolutely full of little fish so why head out to sea when all the food is right there. Couple this reasoning with my experience of catching whites when the water is high in the creeks as late as the first of June and I may say the assumption is correct. I've never followed them to the lake. I wish I had time to keep track of them like that. You can go up Beaver 6-7 miles??? from the main lake, may be more. I'd say start close to the top of the impoundment and work out when looking for them. The flooded fields along the tree lines... You might think of Beaver as a lake unto itself and see how that works.

Bill and I will be up there shortly.

They're running 28,000 cfs. They were opened at 3 am. In comparison they ran 46,500 the last time. My ramps to my dock are still out of the water. Right now I'm sure not even the Crop knows if they will have to run more BUT I see more rain back in Oklahoma so... your guess is as good as mine. I guess this will replenish the walleye population for those fishing in and above outlet #1.

Just got a call- they are predicting Springfield area is going to get 1-2 inches of rain. If they do get it, they will release up to 40,000 cfs tonight at Table Rock. Nothing was said about the southern watershed or the Beaver Lake watershed. The most they ran was 46,500 cfs the last time. No details on when or for how long. My guess, depending on how much rain and how widespread it is - it may be off or back down by the weekend. But that's a hopeful guess. It more than likely will be Sunday or Monday. But everything rides on the weather.

I agree- both sides are guilty of exaggerating. Don't you think as science moves further in discovery, being able to see deeper into how life works, they will discover the how life started? I would think so. I've heard and seen the ID side bring up the process of blood coagulation as evidence of design. Not versed to say why but something to do with the process and how there's no way this came about in an evolutionary process.

Wayne- I'd think they would be in flood control mode only because even if they needed to run water on account of power demand they couldn't. The there's no place to "get rid of" any water. Granted, they may be releasing a small amount from Bull Shoals- I haven't looked. You have to look at all 3 dams, Beaver, Table Rock and Bull Shoals exactly like you would Powersite- they are all spillways with turbines. If the rainfall we get is more than what a turbine can move, then they'll open a flood gate or two.

Very hard to say. Alot of their guests have been using our dock this week. Until the water stops, it'll be hard to get the ramps back in place I'd say.

No flood gates yet. I doubt if the Corp will run more now until the rain tonight and then there's no way to guess how much. This is going to an ongoing problem until they can get some of this water out of here. This is twice the Corp/Emergency Agencies have advised evacuations and nothing happened. Better safe than sorry BUT it's tough on people's nerves.

Great report and thanks for the pics!

Has anybody looked at the road that goes from Shadow Rock Motel over the hill thru the housing division and would circle around back to the motel along the creek IF it wasn't under water? We put in there a couple of weeks ago but it's higher now.

The level of TR will be the same as it is today on May 4. The ramps that are open today will be open on May 4.

Fox- I already posted this on ozarkanglers... but thanks for posting it here too.

We've been informed that rains west and south of here will probably prompt the Corp to open the flood gates at Table Rock Dam tonight. The Hollister Fire Department told people on Arcacia Club Rd and Foggy River Rd to prepare to evacuate at a moments notice. I've heard alot are already moving. The time and amount of water is unknown. It depends on how high Beaver and Table Rock's level rise with these rains. It may be just a big scare... or it may not be. Bottom line - we're in for this kind of speculation EVERY TIME it rains until they can get the water moved thru these lakes. When may that be? I hate to guess.

It's high... not much current coming thru from Taney. I'm sure Swan is clear up at the impoundment. Vince and I drove thru Forsyth and over Swan a couple of days ago and thought about fishing Swan but didn't know where to put in. Went to Beaver instead. So- no I haven't been. Honestly, I don't think many have but may be someone will chime in.