Tightline

Vonreed,thats a goodin.Can I ask were you in a boat or on the bank? I don't blame you a bit for keeping her,but now that you have caught that big one some time down the line it might be easier to let one go back and spawn.I never thought I could ever release a keeper Walleye,but the last 2 years I've done it.It really is gratifying.And Lord knows nobody likes to eat them more than I do.I still keep most to eat,but if I catch a female full of eggs and already have enough to eat I'll let her go. Hope we can see pictures. TL

Well I can say from my meesly 20 some odd days on upper Taney last year that I didn,t see hardly any fish being taken home or on stringers.And there were many times I was the only spin fisherman in the area.I did see three Trophys taken home 1 by a kid throwing a rooster tail and 2 huge browns taken by fly fishermen.There is no problem of too many fish being taken home,infact there needs to be more taken out in my opinion. As for violations, didn't see anything except the same old bunch of flyfishers doing the shuffle. There are alot of guys who put in more days fishing than me but,one thing I can say is that I have been on this Forum reading it almost every day since it started and from my observation there are few that don't need waders when they go to Taney they can just walk on top of the water.... TL

Bill B, is the clouser minnow all that you would suggest for whites? I have fished for white bass all my life but never with a fly rod, this will be my first year.I have watched the fly fishers tear the whites up for about a 2 week period every year,seems they can do no wrong during that time. What about micro jigs? Thanks TL

Gotafish, I don't know any Walleye guides in that area.But if you know the lake your on your way.You just need to choose the right lures and be there at the right time,which is real early , real late or at night.They can be caught just about anywhere between the Pothole and Beaver from now till May. If you can catch Whites and Crappie you can catch Walleye,They are not an easy fish to catch,but pick a stile and stick with it till you have confidence. I prefer to throw grubs and jigs because thats what I have confidence in,but most of your bigger fish will be caught on live bait or stick baits.When the water is running Walleye will pick out(certain places)that they like,after a while you'll learn these and it makes it a little easier.I am no WALLEYE EXPERT and probably won't ever be ,because I like to fish for everything. There might be a Walleye guide out of K-dock, not sure. Good luck..........TL

How much Bill?

Yeah Dano, I got the 7 footer and put WF6F line on one of the low end Pflueger reels.Also got some sinking tips for the when the Whites start.Thats going to tell the story of the rod ,is when I hook into a 3-4 lb male White Bass! I think it will do just fine. TL

Got my little Featherlight this week,and got the reel and line today.When I first put the rod together I thought to myself this is a little bit too noodley,but after casting it today I think it is going to be just what I needed.When I slowed down,it really did make a sweet cast.Thanks Dano for the heads up about these rods,the best thing,its the first time in a long time I haven't felt guilty about dishing out more money for another rod!!!! TL

I also have been looking at these little rods.Dano posted a link on here,wow what a bargain,was just wondering Dano if there is any place a person can get one without ordering online?Do you think the 7 ft.would be ok for whites? Thanks TL

Man,I've had alot of days fishing like that,I know what he's feeling. Come to think of it thats kinda the way I go after chocolate cake too ! Nice video , you have a very steady hand Phil,my videos look like I'm rideing in the back of a dump truck...

CMAC,those are good sized fish.Walleye can be really fickle.Seems if I go out just to catch Walleye they will more times than not make me look stupid,and other times while White Bass or Bass fishing I'll catch all I want.They are certainly one of the Ozarks premier sport fish! TL

CMAC, it would take awful lot of bass to make up for 2 very large Walleyes in my opinion,just how large were they if you dont mind me asking. TL

Sorry Phil,we kinda got off the subject of DO. Crappie I will PM you.

I know what you are saying SIO3,my father who lived in Forsyth most of his life talked of Taneycomo freezing alot back in the old days.My parents rode with another couple in a Model A Ford from Rockaway to Forsyth on Taney in 1930,it was froze over a foot thick.And again in 1940 it was froze the whole month of January. Can't say I ever remember it freezing,of course Table Rock dam being built may have something to do with it. TL

Merry Christmas back at you Skeeter and to all the rest of OAF members and guest.I hope everyone will try to remember the "reason for the season",and have a safe holiday. Bass fishen was my first love also,but I sold my Ranger Bass boat last year and have been wadeing and bank fishing since,and have had a blast especially down on Taney after them Trout.I have learned alot from the Forum and I appreciate all the info you all post on here. May 2007 be a great year!! TL

Fished last Saturday mourning down by old boat ramp and did very well for a while even caught a nice 20+ inch Rainbow.While reeling it in I noticed it was spitting up something,I finally got it in close enough to see that it was very small Mussels about the size of an eraser. Has anyone ever seen this before? Is this a last resort food? I know that Mussels need sand bars and I haven't seen any sand in upper Taney. I'd like to see what some of you fly tiers could come up with to match that! TL

Best of luck to you John.I also have been in that situation before.You might try Greathires, use to be Missouri division of unemployment,once you get logged in and learn how to search its really helpful. Heres the web address. www.greathires.org/ TL

I started fishing today (Sat.)at 7:00 AM just above old boat ramp and did very well ,had 15 before the horn blew and then they just QUIT.I moved up to the Big Hole where the faster water made a back flow eddie and started catching them again caught 10 more before the water started dropping about 11:00.I then moved up to the south side of the Rebar while the water was dropping and just couldn't do anything wrong for about an hour. Lost track of how many I caught there but it was an easy 15-20. The only reason I do try to keep track is that I keep a fishing trip log book,have for over 25 years,its been really helpful at times especially when Bass fishing. I used black 1/32 wooly jig early and after the water stared rising I went to a double set of 1/32 sculpin colored jigs and they just loved them.Most all were 12-14 inchers but I did have one nice 20 inch Rainbow. Left at 1:00 pm and they were still biting. Great Day. TL

Nice pictures! I never use to see Ospreys but they are fairly common sight anymore. Phil, you did pretty good on jigs in that fast moving water.Since you suggested that they (Trout) think they are chasing Sculpin when you work them a certain way I've made me up some Sculpin colored jigs.They have a little more(material) than your regular jig,can't wait to get down there and try em. TL

I heard from a friend of a friend that the Crappie bite was starting at Pomme.So if any of you Pomme regulars can confirm this before I make the LONG drive up there I sure would appreciate it. They usually don't get going real good till the end of Dec.But when they are on its well worth the trip! TL.

Ollie ,I have had a few of those looks down at Taney,but for the most part the fly guys are real gentlemen.I did have one older gent ask me if I was using power bait while I was reeling in one after another ,and another time last summer was doing real well poping my jigs up off the bottom rather hard, and I was asked if I was trying to snag them Trout, I started holding them up where he could see them hooked in the mouth,he soon left. I am trying to learn how to fly fish on my own, and when its not real crowded down there I'll get mine out of the truck and sling a few flies around for a while.But FOR NOW if I want to catch fish I rely on my spinning gear. TL

Ham, its kinda strange how good a lure the Wiggle Wart has been in this area for the last 20 years or more!A cousin of mine from Alabama visted about 10 years ago and we went Bass fishing at K-dock on a cold windy March day ,we lost tract after 40 but know we had 12 good keepers with a 7 lb thrown in. He went to Bass pro and bought 50 dollars worth to take back to Alabama,He's never caught a fish on them down there. Phils right about the walleye too,some of the older patterns they don't make any more were killer, especially in the fall for walleye. TL

LMW, I have both spinning and fly gear,and I prefer the spin fishing.I just can't get use to watching that indicator,seems I am more comfortable keeping direct control over my lure and I like the constant action of casting and reeling.You can be versatile too using jigs,spoons, spinners,stickbaits and if you want to tie on a scud or a midge under an indicator (or bobber) you can. I like the Wally Marshall and or the Bionic Blade in light to medium light.5 1/2 to 6 ft.My favorite rod is an old Spiral Graphite 6 ft medium light action.Loomis rods are over priced and over rated in my opinion.Can't go wrong with any of the Shimano reels as long as it has atleast 4 ball bearings and be small enough to use 2 or 4 lb test line. I caught 21 last Friday (the 10th) and 32 last Monday mourning (the 13th)all in the Trophy area, all in shallow water,no water running.Had some good ones too all on spinning gear. TL

I was there today at 6:00 am also Murdoc, fished from #1 up to the wire.The first hour was great,caught most on white 1/32 ounce jig.Seen some foul hooked fish caught but don't think any of them were on purpose,seen one nice 26 inch Brown caught and released and also a guy fishing with a roostertail snagged a nice 5-6 lb Brown but he took it home!! I'm begining to think they should just shut the season down for about 2-3 weeks in the fall, give them a chance to try and spawn.There's just too much pressure on these fish, they get hammered day and night.Just my opinion. They started biting better again after I came back from lunch for about 30 minutes I could do no wrong,still with white and a few on olive jigs. TL

Welcome LMW your a good man I can tell already, and if any of the rest of you guys need help getting your foot out of your mouth let me know I can help, I'm good at it, I've been there many times myself. TL

I promise if I ever have a really good day Trout fishing on Taney I will post every little detail and will drive a stake in the gravel where I caught them with a red flag on it,so far can't say I have had one of those (load the boat ) days. And I can't believe I'm going to say this but I agree with Scheetz, do we really need to know Where on Taney, you can,t even wade without stepping on them . Scheetz, man you are sensitive. I put a (HE HE ) at the end of that remark so you would know I was kidding, am I gonna have to start using smillie faces ? Besides that I didn't have my glasses on. TL.