Phil Lilley

@grizwilson and @Terrierman are the only ones interested in going. I've emailed Jim to make sure he's full for that week. I know he's full the other weeks during the sockeye and silver salmon weeks already. He's booking for 2019 now... so start thinking about it. This is what you should bring to Naknek River Camp: At least 2 fly rods - a 5 wt. and a 7-8 wt. The 5 should have floating line for fishing dries for rainbows, grayling and dollies. They love elk hair caddis #16's #18's. The 7-8 should have shooting line on it. I can send you some or you can get it from Tim's Fly Shop. You want a spool of 20lb tippet for a butt section and 3x, 2x and 1x for the tippet section. Some snap swivels and barrel swivels. The guide will have the lead weights. Flies... this is where we can have a debate. Some say the sockeye don't "bite" at the flies, that they're "lined" when swimming upstream <with their mouths open>. Some say they don't swim with their mouths open and they do bite at flies. Regardless, you need a hook with something on it. I use #6 woolybuggers, purple, white, olive and black. Most of the guides use something lowvis and a stout hook. They think it doesn't matter... and it may not. I tend to believe they do bite since most of my hookups are in the mouth - and this video show them swimming upstream with mouths closed. But the key is use a stout hook, one that won't bend under pressure. You could throw in an extra 7-8 wt in case one breaks... but the lodge has extra rods. The lodge has 9-10 wts for fishing for kings.... and flies. They also supply rods and lures for trolling for kings. Waders, good rain jacket, good sun glasses and a waterproof camera.

I'm not seeing the images... not sure what happened.

The ramp downtown is the best one when it gets icy/snowy. Hard to say at this point what it's going to do.

Well, Griz and Rick are down tentatively to go but unfortunately camp is full now for that week. I’ll answer your question later tonight when I’m on my laptop.

Yep

Started late about 11 off the water by 3:30. Water temp 53. Caught fish on a jigs, spinnerbait, and the big one came in a big crank. Had a couple just under 2lbs, a 2 1/2lb, a 3lb, and a 4 1/2lb View full article

With the turning over of Table Rock Lake, we're looking forward to some fantastic winter fishing. It is, though, starting out pretty slow. The turnover gave us much needed, oxygen rich water last week. This is a seasonal occurence. For a quick explanation: water in Table Rock Lake stratifies during the spring, summer and fall, dividing in to layers as to temperature, density and dissolved oxygen. That forces colder water towards the bottom of the lake where we get our water (Taneycomo). As summer moves along, water is drawn from Table Rock through turbines, generating electricity to power our air conditioners. But this water is the cold water, rich in oxygen, we need for our trout. Towards the end of summer, this good water runs out and what's left is almost void of oxygen. It's so bad that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers then has to inject liquid oxygen into the flow when water is run. Then something special happens. Cold weather moves in and cools the surface of Table Rock. Then cold water flows in and temps really start dropping. Cold water is heavier than warm water, so surface water starts to sink to the bottom. At some point, all the layers disappear and the water at 130 feet deep on Table Rock becomes high in oxygen and cooler. Through winter and spring, our water on Taneycomo, from Table Rock, gets colder and colder. Then the cycles starts again. A guy made a comment about our weather today -- it's crazy! Sunday was freezing in the morning at 18 degrees. The wind started blowing, maximizing the feel of the cold, but it warmed up late in the afternoon. Monday was warmer but windy. Tuesday should be sunny and cold again with Wednesday, warm again. Sounds like autumn! And, yes, I know it's not winter until December 21st, but it should look more like winter by now. I think it's affecting our catching of fish. Fishing isn't bad. . . it's just not as good as it should be after the lake turns over. They aren't jumping in the boat. The high winds aren't helping, though, since they make it tough to fish everything is catching fish and handle a boat. There's not one thing that's working better than others. Jigs, flies, spoons, spinners and bait are all producing bites, just not in big numbers. The dam operators are running water almost every morning and evening at least--the pattern is--no pattern during the daytime. Last week, they gave us no generation during the day but this week has started out with 35 megawatts running, or a half unit. With warmer weather later, we should see more periods of no generation. We've caught rainbows, boating up to the cable when the water is high enough, throwing 1/16th, 3/32nd and 1/8th ounce in dark colors mainly, but a few on white. Also tried a jig- and- float using a 1/16th-ounce sculpin jig with an orange head and did pretty well. Still catching warmwater species of fish up there, smallmouth bass mainly, which is crazy. Personally, I'm still not doing very well fishing from Lookout down to the Narrows. I'm not saying to skip that area, but I'll let you decide. The Narrows are still fishing very well, holding good numbers of rainbows. Trout there are taking scuds, egg flys, San Juan Worm (I still like the white chamois worm) drifted on the bottom. If the water is off, use midges under an indicator. Most of the trout are towards the bottom of the Narrows when the water is running. Here's fishing guide, Bill Babler's report. He shines more light on his fishing sucess. I fished Friday, Saturday and Monday. Restricted zone. Egg fly in twin colors either pink/salmon or pink/yellow. Micro eggs are working best for me size 16. Grey or grey/orange size 16 scud on a drift rig. Fly or spin cast, beaded egg same size or a beaded pink San Juan Worm. Depending on current 7 to 9 ft. 6X leader. Drift the reef above the Fall Creek ramp through the reef at Fall Creek Dock. Outside of the restricted zone, pink Power Worm on the inside bend from Fall Creek to Short Creek and then a short stretch of gravel directly across from Short Creek to Trout Hollow's dock or the drop off just above their dock. Monkey Island down stream side in the slack water off the point has been really good for numbers but mostly small males. I agree with Bill, we're catching a lot of male rainbows, which is normal for this time of year. The one hot spot seems to be from Short Creek to Trout Hollow. This area has become one of our guide's go-to spots. It's filled in with gravel, not very deep. Where the pile of dead trees is in the water, there's a drop off where the water goes from 5 to 10 feet deep. This is another place where fish gather. View full article

Here's what I've gotten back from guides: Guide #1 - average 4.5 out of 10 want to keep their limit Guide #2 - average 5 out of 10 want to keep their limit Guide #3 - average 8.5 out of 10 want to keep their limit Guide #4 - average 8 out of 10 want to keep their limit Guide #5 - average 4.5 out of 10 want to keep their limit Guide #6 - average 2.5 out of 10 want to keep their limit Averages out to 5.5 out of 10. There's one guide who didn't get back to me and I know he hardly every cleans fish, may be 1 out of 10 or less.

That fish has probably spent 3 years in the lake. For 300 days a year, there are boats packed up from the line at Fall Creek down for a 1/2 mile using mostly bait - night crawlers, powerbait. If there are resident trout there that live more than a year (and I'm being very conservative)... well it just can't happen. Way too much pressure and 99% of the anglers who fish there keep any trout that size. This guy did and I think they were throwing jigs. But that's what it's designed to be... take 'em out below Fall Creek.

Wow... that's incredible. 15 years old!

This rainbow was caught yesterday below Fall Creek. I did not grow up there, it grew up above Fall Creek and moved down. This is an example of how Taney's management plan is to work. Both catch and keep and catch and release anglers benefit.

If I understand your point, I disagree. At some point, people will choose to go somewhere else and spend their money. They won't like only being able to keep 3 or 2 or 1 trout. We lost some people because the limit went to 4, not a lot but some. We didn't gain any new people with the "catch and keep" mindset when they dropped the limit to 4. And it's been mentioned a couple of times Taney as being a "put and take" fishery. It's partly that BUT with the addition of the trophy area, it's a put, grow and take fishery. Big difference in the management of such a fishery. With a "put and take' fishery, there's little or no consideration for growing fish bigger.

There is a mindset of "catch and keep a limit" that is the vast majority of anglers on Taney, I'd say 70% or more. Ask guides, "what's the percentage of people who want to keep a limit" and I bet's it's 8 of 10 trips or more. I think I'll ask them and get back to you. Be interesting.

Sorry I missed the weekend. Two weeks of hacking... I'm ready to be over this.Did the Norfork Tailwater fish better than the White?

@patfish nice to see you!!

I'm sure MDC will figure it out. I seriously doubt if they lower the limit from 4... Arkansas, our competitor, is at 6. I don't think Missouri wants to drop theirs to 3!

Low DO caused by stratification is every tailwater's nightmare. We're in good company. There have been some remedies, but all dams/lakes are different and it would take a special fix for us - that and an act of congress and lots and lots of money.

It varies of course. Some places you can walk across but most are like a normal river with a shallow flat side and a deep channel. Deep - 6-12 feet deep. The first mile - from the dam to a public boat ramp - is all easy access and public. The upper 2 miles can be accessed and waded but you have to walk down from the ramp. The rest is accessed by boat and can be waded (anchor boat, get out and wade). When I say waded, that's with no generation, otherwise, it depends on hoow much generation.

I’ve been told once you’ve swallowed the red pill - got a ss number, agreed to the IRS terms- you’re hooked in for life. I’ve heard of people beating the system but I also personally know people who are in jail who tried.

I do not cheat on my taxes, that I know of. I have to throw in that last part because even my accountant gets it wrong sometimes. Thats not a defensive statement. It’s to say everybody isn’t as dishonest as you say and it shouldn’t be an excuse to cheat- because everybody does it.

Gavin. I will look into the 529 plan. I have 7 grandkids! Thanks

If I want to build up cash for a big future project, how do I do that without showing a profit and paying corporate tax? Last year I paid taxes on $xx,xxx so I could put it back to build new units. I’ve asked several accountants and no one can tell me how not to pay that tax, which I’m not complaining... just the price of being profitable. My employees are not poor. And they aren’t little.

Pissing contest is over. Topic closed.

Yes. DO basically goes from 1 to 11 ppm at that depth in Table Rock where Taney gets its water, not over night but over a period of time. That period of time depends on weather, temperatures and wind. I've seen a lake turn over in a matter of hours - happen to see Beaver Lake turn at the dam one day while driving by. It was swirling and cherning like a sci-fi movie. A very cold, very windy day is the best way for a lake to turn. The water turns cold on the surface, sending it down to the bottom at a rapid rate. Cold water is heavier than warm water. It also holds oxygen much better than warm water. When the lake mixes and the layers break up, that's when we get our good O2 water. The lake continues to mix all through the winter until the lake starts to warm up in the spring. Then the layers form again - as to temerature/density/dissolved oxygen. By far, I am no expert... and I'm sure there's a better way to explain it. But all I know when the lake turns, our fish really like it!