Phil Lilley

No eggs... just guts- guts of other trout. This is what we call "gut pigs" - trout that live under our docks that eat trout guts. They get big and fat - no work for their meals. This last summer we had a rainbow we guessed at 15 pounds under our dock for a month. Thought it was a brown at first because of the size but with the clear water we could see the color and spots. It could have been this fish or another. Seth's fish was a gut fish too- it cruised between the docks for it's meals.

Here's the pics of the 14-pound rainbow caught a couple of weeks ago on Taney. Angler - Garry Miller of Belton, MO caught it on a zebra midge just downstream of Lookout.

I am later... sent you a p.m.

May be it was your aftershave... I was there earlier and had no problems. And swatting at them doesn't help their aggression. More importantly - how was fishing? Remember this is a fishing bbs. Pain? It will stop in a few hours.

What's coming off the river this time of year? I bet the river is beautiful to float this time of year.

How's the fishing down there.... Jimmy T?? Is there a big rush to get in some fishing below the dam before the drop-dead November 1st closing? Do you ever fish down at Rim? I've heard there's already some big browns down there staging.

Are zebra midges taking over their rival - the "jig-n-float" method of fishing? Most of the guides now fish spin-tackle and fish a zebra midge under a float more than a jig and are very successful- anywhere on the lake. Just a couple of weeks ago, a zebra midge caught a 14 pound rainbow... nothing to sneeze at!!

I've personally seen more "keeper" browns caught and released this fall than any other fall season... is that seem true to you? I'm going to test the system and post a pic sent in to me yesterday... I like guys who carry ditigal cameras!! May be I won't- I'll check my permissions!! ok- that's better.

It's cold. It's snowing tonight. Water is off... finally. Three thoughts tonight as I watch the white stuff pile up outside my window. So far this winter shows signs of being a cold one with few warm breaks in the temperature. We've always had days at least up in the 40's in years past but not so far this winter. And nothing in the foreseeable forecast. I personally haven't adjusted to the cold yet. My fishing buddy Vince suggested it's because of the fat I've lost in the last 3 months. I've been watching what I eat and working out. This revelation makes me think about adding that fat back to keep me warm! Guess we better get used to ice in the guides. Snowing!? I commented to Marsha, as we crept up the hill on the strip this evening, avoiding the 8 car pileup at Roark Valley Road, that this snow was much better than the ice we've had the last 3 winters. Still slick but nothing sticking on the trees. Water is off!! We've been waiting for this for many months. So far what we've noticed is the bug population is huge and our trout are fat and strong. Scuds, sow bugs and lots and lots of midge hatches. I talked to Duane on New Years day about him seeing gobs of midges on Table Rock while duck hunting. I say gobs because he said they were hatching to fast that they were sticking together on the surface creating clumps of bugs. The only place I've seen that is on the San Juan River. I would love to see that on Taneycomo. Now I can't speak to how the fishing has been since the change in generation yet. I fished a little on the first up below the dam but too little to get a feel for what will happen in the days to come. I can guess... it's really going to be good! The trout are there. It's the first of January when we see some of the best fishing of the year here on Taney. Our rainbows haven't seen much pressure the last couple of months and have had a chance to rest and grow. Water quality is in great shape. Everything looks fantastic for this winter's season.