Phil Lilley

With the help of our troutcam (sorry it's not broadcasting on the internet right now), I have noticed that after heavy generation, our trout go away for a day or two. Where do they go? Why do they go? The same was true after rains made our water very muddy. It took days for trout to come back to the cam area after the water cleared either by settling or by generation. When I say trout, I mean many of the same rainbows. I can identify 2 or 3 rainbows who have been under the dock for several months now. One swims at a 45 degree angle with its tail pointing downward. Another has a broken back down towards its tail so it's tail is crooked. Others are big pigs over 2-3-4 pounds who frequent the gut pile. They all look the same so it's hard to pick one out but they all make an impressive school of trout. But my point is these rainbows seem to move out of the area during heavy generation. Are they pushed down because of the difference in water temp? On Tuesday midafternoon, they kicked on 4 units and ran it hard all afternoon. The lake look pretty bad- moss and dead moss created a mix that you didn't want to see very often. It lasted most of the afternoon here at least before clearing up towards evening. But the water temp is what I think moves these trout. Although they prefer cold water, they may not like it changing so drastically. It went from high 50's to mid 40's in a matter of an hour or two. Further downstream, say in the Branson area, I'm sure the temps were even higher, as high as the upper 60's. Bill noticed fishing yesterday was slower than the previous week. The trout seemed to move in slow motion, taking a jig slowly, with caution or because they were cold. I'd think it would slow their matablizm down a bit. The trout below the dam shouldn't be affected as much by the change in temp but they may by the heavy current, which they should be at least somewhat used to by now. I've always believed a rainbows lives in a specific area when the water is down and moves to another specific area when it runs. Neither area ever changes. I'll keep studing the trout cam and let you know what I find. Hopefully the cam will be up and running early next week on my new server and software giving more people room to view it and possibly give those who haven't been on before access. We're hopeful.

Public area are downtown Branson where they do stock alot of rainbows and Cooper Creek Access off Fall Creek Rd south of the Grand Palace a couple of miles. You can fish below the dam but it's flies and lures only... depending on your grandson's age and skill, that may not work.

PM your way. Phil

I missed this post... so what exactly would you like us to do? I've done very well night fishing under lights on Stockton Lake but have only gone once so I'm only one-for-one. Sounds like fun.

Terry- welcome. There are some nice bedroom communities south of Springfield you should look at- Clever, Spokane and of course Nixa and Ozark. Good roads in and out of Springfield to those communities... and down to our waters here. Let us know if we can help. We may pick you brain on your FFF affiliation up here.

The a ship used to leave Branson and pick up gold at the gold mine. Unfortunately, the ship would get robbed on every excursion on its return trip by a pirate ship, equiped with a pirate and cannon. He'd never get the gold though... only rile up the tourists.

I don't have much experience fishing the lower lake but I know there's bass and big ones- as well as whites and crappie. It's not a deep or big lake and not a whole lot of structure so bass should be easy to find.

Jigs Jigs Jigs. Brown, sculpin, black, white. 4lb line and a short 5 ft rod. 1/32, 1/16, 3/32 oz Work the holes, banks runs and work the jig slow and wait for the tap. Nothing like it... have a great time!!

Where abouts in Kansas? We have a few flatlanders here.

The guy Bill descibes has been reported... MWP came down personally and took my statement. He was going over and talk to the party after leaving the resort. They are staying at a resort just downstream from us. Hopefully that won't happen again from these guys. Water running hard right now. Very mucky! That means it will be cleaner tomorrow.

This was taken I think in late May, early June. I found it on my camera just today. It looks like one of our pet troutcam trout.

Just talked to the MWP. They carried out a sting last night on the lake and caught at least one individual stealing a boat and then using the boat to steal more equipment on other docks. This has been a huge problem on Table Rock... glad to see they are making some headway.

I put the http:// there. All it had was www. When I hit the link I get a "can't be found" message.

Sorry- I was in a fog. Beaver Lake power pool is 1120 and it's now at 1113, 3 feet below power pool. Not sure what is 15 feet higher than normal.

That was Linc Hunt. Glad to meet you yesterday.

Hey KFF... I tried to fix your link but it didn't work. You forgot to put the http:// in it. Either edit the post or post again. Phil

I remember this guy smashing mellons on stage years ago. I even thought about going until the reviews came in. Here's one from a friend of ours and a leader in our community - We took in Gallagher on Saturday night having been told by their publicist that it was a "Family Show". Some of the humor was strictly adult oriented and I was ashamed I took my kids. We had some explaining to do to our 11 year old. Most of it went over the head of my 9 year old. He made repeated references to oral sex, how well endowed his on stage guest--a 13 year old teen--- would attract a 12 year old girl friend etc. Also pulled a long oscar myer weiner out of his pants---very crude. We ended up leaving. He also humiliated the boys he brought on stage calling them homosexual etc. I find it ironic that for the most part, his humor and world view is definitely conservative but NOT Christian. I think the folks in Branson should know this as he needs to tone it down. If it were not for the sexual jokes it would have been fine--every kid likes to smash things. He ruined it by allowing his adult show to creep into the family venue. Moe Bandy would definitely be ashamed if he knew what went on in the show.

It looked cool from the lake- seeing the band and crowd. Haven't seen the area from land yet. How was parking and getting out? Someone said at church yesterday they wish the designers didn't make the lakefront look like a back alley like they did. Was refering to the back of the retail shops. It is not that pretty from the water.

Lights- yes- but mine hardly ever work. They do right now at least since I've been running back to the resort from the lower lake bass fishing in the evening.

Not sure if you're refering to the tailwater or the lake but by the looks of the corp generation chart http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=375 they ran alittle water Sunday but not much. Beaver Lake's level is holding just over power pool. They haven't moved much the last week- up or down.

Yes I have- about 10 years ago for a week in September. What a beautiful place God created for us to enjoy!! And the fishing to boot.

We waited for 5 but saw everyone leaving. When did they say this?

Add that pearl/flash zebra thing... I can't remember the exact name.

When you came down the lake from Lookout, did you fish the bank? Middle? Shallow side? How deep do you think you were getting down? Last night was unique in that there was no fog. Most summer nights the fog is so thick you can get turned around on the lake in the dark and literally get lost. Plus if you're fishing the bank, it's difficult to know exactly where your fly- or lure- is landing unless there no splash... then you're in trouble. Thanks for the report.

To the concert I guess. Is that the one we got in the mail... free gift?