Phil Lilley

Really appreciate you posting your report here! Thanks Travis.

After almost a full of day of rain today, I'm expecting the lakes above Lake Taneycomo to head upwards, again. Here's a quick run down: Beaver Lake rose to 1127.6 feet after rains last week. They're aren't releasing much water. It's flood pool level is 1130 feet so it doesn't have far to go to hit that mark. Once it does, they will surely start releasing water into Table Rock. Table Rock Lake dropped to 915.9 feet after rising to 917.7 feet, after rains last week. But this rain will make it's level jump. We might see 918 feet this time. But there's more rain in the forecast. If Table Rock hits 920 feet, they may open spill gates and increase flows from 13,000 to 20,000 cubic feet of water per second. Bull Shoals continues to rise. They aren't releasing much water. It's level is at 670 feet, roughly 10 feet up in the last 2 weeks. We'll be seeing 4 full units running now for at least a week, and depending on future rains, even longer. Drifting is the key to fishing on Lake Taneycomo. Drifting scuds on the bottom is still the number one way to catch trout. Scuds are flies that imitate freshwater shrimp that live in the gravel and rocks in our lake. They are high in protein and are one of the main sources of food for our trout. Sculpins are the second source, which are small, dark fish that also live in the rocks on the bottom. The best area for drifting scuds has been from Lookout Island in the Trophy Area all the way down to Trout Hollow Resort. Try to keep your boat from the center of the lake to the shallow side which is always opposite the bluff bank. Make sure you're using plenty of weight to keep your rig in contact with the bottom. You won't get bit unless you're on the bottom. Scud color has been different this week. We did well on tan early last week but light gray later. We're using dubbing with some flash in it too, especially if it's sunny out. Most of our guides are using size 12 and 14 scuds. Numbers have been down a bit but the size of trout is amazing. We have logged 65 trout in April measuring 20 inches or more caught and released. That's more than the last 3 Aprils COMBINED. We also started a new thing within the catch and release program. It recognizes trout that are caught over a certain size. Along with the distinction of being recognized as catching and releasing a true trophy trout, if your trophy is over 24 inches, you're inducted into the 24-inch trophy club. There's also the 27-inch club and the 30-inch "Hall of Fame" club. Anglers get a special decal, patch and certificate for their achievement. Patches, I believe, are on order. You can see April's anglers and their catch by going to our website. Night crawlers and minnows are working good, drifting them on the bottom from Fall Creek down to Cooper Creek. Again, stay towards the middle of the lake and not on the bluff side. You'll lose fewer hooks and weights if you stay off the bank and away from the downed trees on the bottom. Jerk baits are catching some nice brown trout. Seasoned angler, Travis Swift from Kansas, fished last week and exclusively threw jerk baits and caught a lot of browns. Here is his report on OzarkAngler's Forum. Jerk baits are hard stick baits that are worked down in the water by jerking the rod downward fast. The baits go down 5 to 12 feet deep depending on the type of bait you're using. It's best that the bait is suspending, in another words, the bait won't sink or float up when and if you stop working it. Some people do not stop working the bait while others will stop the bait several times to lure a strike. Duane Doty custom paints jerk baits exclusively for fishing Lake Taneycomo. You can only find his baits at Lilleys' Landing. Here's the website link to the online store that offers them. Other baits you can buy are Rapala, Smithwick Rogues, RC Sticks by Lucky Craft, MegaBass Plus, as well as others. With the size of these baits, you'll need heavier equipment to throw and work them. Using bait cast reels is not out of the question. But most use spinning reels with a minimum line size of 6 pound test. Just pretend you're fishing for bass because the baits are the same size and most of the trout you'll catch will be on the bigger size. Images Credit: Duane Doty and Travis Swift. View full article

I'm not sure what ^ is because this map shows something completely different.

I think that 4-inch area is out of the Table Rock watershed, barely.

http://wxmaps.org/pix/prec1 Bottom image looks like Texas is going to get it. 10+ inches??? Problem is I bet that blob heads north and east. Beaver Lake may reach 1130 feet this week. Table Rock will go over 920 feet and BS... well... up and away it goes.

White bass are way in the back of the creek.

I left way before dark. I was too tired to stay that long.

I found crappie in the brush past the first left bluff inside Swam around any brush or lay down back there, all the way to the back. With BS rising 6 inches a day, I'd fish more of the brush heading out into the field. I threw a 1/32nd oz jig, 2 pound line around the wood. Brought home 12 that I didn't have to measure. I looked for whites on the main lake and on up Swan - nothing. Did catch one keeper eye up close to the dam in the slower water along the banks on a white jig. We ate him tonight.

A true gentleman, sportsman and trout whisperer. His passion showed through what he shared here and on the water with others.

I called Pointe Royal Security as soon as I got home. He immediately knew who's dog it was. Dr Zeller and his wife are life long Branson residents. Awesome people. She teared up when I handed her Zoe. It was amazing.

Ah... I didn't think of that. That would have been epic!

Any of you all would have done the same thing. But thanks. Glad to entertain 😝

@navery found some nice crappie back in the brush after you left but it took along time to put 11 in the boat. Nice to meet you.

I missed some good fishing because of this mut

HAHA... I know the question was vague and suspicious. Shane Bush told me a couple of weeks ago the city of Branson happened to inform him that they were finding high levels of manganese in Taney since last fall. It improved when they ran spill gates in March and has been ok since. He said it's caused by leaves and such decaying on the bottom of TR, which isn't a new thing. Coincidence or not, this is the period of time that our fishing tanked. And since the spill gates it has improved - back to normal. My guy feeling is had nothing to do with it BUT the lack of bite for that long was unprecedented. We've had 2-4 weeks of slow bite in past years but not 5 months. It got to the point that we were questioning the number of fish in the upper lake so MDC did a shock survey and found "normal" numbers in late March.

Anyone know what high levels of manganese does to fish in a lake?

OK... I'm going nuts. This video is all from yesterday (Sunday). Two different trips.

I see the finger close to the gills... Nathan and Ryan assured me they were aware. Luckily the fish didn't bolt and it wasn't hurt. It never faltered in the tank before or after release. I've warned our guides not to bring big trout to our dock unless absolutely necessary, esp in the months when water quality is not good.

And then there was this one today - A triploid. Here's Nathan's description - Paige just had the fishing trip that everyone dreams of. Her first day on a fly rod produced this 30.25 inch long, 13.9 lb. brown trout! She and her husband were on a guided trip with Captain Brett Rader of Chartered Waters Trout Shop & Guide Service and caught the fish using one of his custom flies. The brown beauty was released and swam away strong. Paige is now the 2nd person to qualify for the Lake Taneycomo Hall of Fame this year. We've created 3 new award divisions for our catch and release. We added a 24-, 27- and 30-inch class award. https://lilleyslanding.com/trophy-catch-release/

The first part is from last evening. You can fast forward through the long fight... I didn't edit it out. 14 minute fight.

I got out this morning cause I knew they were going to increase the flow. They did. And fishing was great, as I thought it would be.

Buster Loving is "having the best white bass year" of his life. He keeps sending me pics of 5 pounders he's catching on stick baits - for 2 weeks now. Tony W said he's waiting on them to run up in the fields below the 76 bridge. I'm for that!! Topwater action.

Let’s not go down that road…