Phil Lilley

It's been 2 weeks since my last report... it's been a busy 2 weeks. But fishing conditions haven't changed much at all neither has fishing itself. We're in the dog days of summer when patterns are pretty much set in stone and the only thing that varies is generation schedules. Speaking of... they are still running "fish water" late afternoon for a couple of hours. I think this will change somewhat once the heat sets in. Beaver Lake is low, Table Rock is about normal and Bull Shoals is alittle low but not much at all. It's kinda hard to guess what the Corp has in mind for water management now that we're in another drought- only 1.5 inches for the month of June officially. Not good. Will they conserve water and not run as much as they would if the lakes were higher and it was actually raining occasionally? It seems so far at least that they are conserving and not running even on hot days (over 95). Not running water affects water temps and the boundary of very warm water seems to be Branson. I heard water temps were in the 80's at the bridges the other day-- that's surface temps with subsurface temps I'm sure safely in the 60's--- for now. But more of the same will mean MDC will not be able to stock rainbows very far downstream. They won't even be able to load their stock boat at the Branson ramp- they'll be confined to the Cooper Creek ramp and higher... so you know where the higher concentration of fish will be- upstream. I've talked about bass fishing on Taney more this spring and summer than ever before. Why? Because it remains a viable option for anglers here on Taney. Because Taney isn't deep, bass remain fairly easy to get to even in the middle of summer. I haven's been in a couple of weeks but I'm sure soft plastics and crank baits would be good along it's banks from Branson downstream. I need to go out and try some different baits including jigs and grubs targeting smallmouth. I also want to hit the coves and creek for some big blue gill and popping bugs with the fly rod. All I need is TIME. Speaking of bugs- Brian Shaffer showed me a small beetle he's been using along the banks and says they are tearing it up. It looks like a small June Bug about an eighth inch in diameter- it floats and he says he slaps in on the water and gets a big take. Babler has been seeing alot of action along the bluff banks from Short Creek to Lookout early in the mornings but hasn't had the chance to throw any dries at them. With all the bass along our bank, a big popper might just draw a bass- or trout bite. Sounds fun! Night fishing below the dam has been a hot topic on the forum. Lots and lots of interest and quite a few OAF members actually fishing at night lately... me not one of them though. I need to give up on watch the Cardinals play (and winning) and just go fishing I guess. The last couple of weeks, fishing has been real good for our guests, best has been out in boats using power bait. White egg and something else- a combo of contrast. From Cooper Creek down to Monkey Island has been the best for using bait and morning time the best time. Jig and float using the micro jig- THE micro jig Babler has made famous- orange headed sculpin micro/micro jig. Later in the morning is better- the wind needs to be blowing a bit chopping up the surface. Lots of rainbows from Fall Creek to the Narrows - LOTS! Even in front of Fall Creek Marina LOTS of rainbows. Linc has been driving to the dam and fishing his Zebras at the Rocking Chair and tearing them up in the evenings. Another hot spot, he said, is the Gauntlet below Rebar- fish on every cast at times. He fixed up a gal who was struggling the other day and after catching a fish on her third cast told him that was her first trout on a fly rod... cool! Linc is our new office/dock guy.

Someone needs to make a "fly rule" on fly swaps... you know like the "man rule" on the beer commercials. John needs a big book and a big pencil and when everyone decides the rules, write it down forever to be etched in the "Fly Book of the Ages".

Gay Rory- not Brewer. My fault.

I'm sure not too far down- 2-3 feet may be. But if they don't run water soon, trout will be migrating upstream.

Water temp at Branson - surface - 80.

Supreme does make a great boat and probably is the easiest to buy since they have them in stock. Shawnee on the other hand is another good jon but they make so few and demand is so high you'd have to wait at least a year to get one... if they keep making them. Gay Brewer makes them literally one at a time outside of Yellville, Ar. No website- you can get their number thru directory assist. There is at least one other manufacturer in that area but the name eludes me. One thing to consider is the width and depth of the jon. Some of the river jons are narrow and shallow and aren't very stable- some people like them this way esp. those who fish the White because they will go thru the riffles easier, being narrow. We use the wider/deeper jons on Taney for stability.

Hey Michael- t/t your friends at Lawrence Photo about providing info on the forum under the photo forum - primarily on new cameras and other equipment. They'd be great and maybe pick up some business.

Water temp has warmed up enough again to lure bass to our bank for spawning. Bass typically spawn late on Taney... this is very late. But it's happening as I type!

TroutCam is back up. Still have not solved the issue of limited to only 5 users and the computer we bought to beef up the connection locked up when we installed the upgraded software for the video card... nothing is easy about this stuff! http://ozarkanglers.com/troutcam.php

You should try for bass/blue gill. No length limit on bass to keep on Taney, limit 6.

No- t/t someone who caught a ton of whites in the mouth of the Elk not long ago. If there's food in the creek, they will wonder up and feed I'm sure. they could even push the shad up there- stripers herd shad, why can't whites? I'm sure there's shad in that area but the puzzle is- why just crawfish? Will have to study it further.

Enough piling... We've all done things we regret. Education is fine. Point made. This kid is an exceptional young man and I commend him on his catch and release. After reading this, he and his dad will undoubtedly know not to handle sub-legal trout in this way again... or not to share pics on a forum anymore.

I think this is what he's refering to - ZM's inhabit the bottom and because of their sharp edges they cut lines easily.

I found it odd that none of the whites had shad, minnows- nothing but crawfish. These whites could be taking them off the bottom/banks but you'd think they'd be chasing shad someplace instead of crawfish.

Not uncommon at all... we hear of one caught every once in a while and they are usually fairly good sized.

I was told fishing over lights at night at the diving bluffs has been excellent the last week. Diving bluffs are across the lake from Big Cedar cove on the west side of the lake. Shad best bait- take a throw net. No other details. Catching whites, crappie and even trout.

I mean out in the open. White bass on Table Rock... full of small crawdads and zero shad. Caught out in the main lake suspended in deep water. Clouds of something on the depth finder but not shad or they would have shown up in at least one stomach.

Just wondering... ever heard of crawdads schooling like bait fish? Or do they stay on the bottom exclusively?

If you haven't already, read this- http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=177

Dead chicken is a huge griffith's gnat used on the San Juan to imitate a midge cluster.

Saw this on John Wilson's site. Very cool video. Video Trailer

So far we haven't offered much info in the way of bass compared to trout unless they find other sources. It seems they are only interested in trout but I don't know everything they are doing.

I suggest everyone put a dollar in for shipping and handling.

Ben Kramer of O'Fallon, MO is here vacationing with his family this week. He was fishing with his dad and brother when he caught this 19.5 inch brown trolling a Yozuri crank bait, brown trout pattern.