mwfischer

Stayed there 3 yrs or so ago, and it was blocked off/closed. Haven't seen the boulders moved each year I've stayed elsewhere, so I am still guessing closed/not usable.

I'm not 100% sure of the arms of the lake as it was my first time down this weekend, but we were on a main lake point across from Big Cedar's complex Sunday morning and caught two really nice 2-3# whites/Hybrids that were blowing up the surface about 25yd from the boat. Maybe 75yd from shore. Caught them on a Sammy.

Might be old news, but have you tried UStream?

Interesting, I was thinking the narrows was up in the shallow water up from the island. We made it up there, so past the narrows but only once. Didn't feel lucky twice in that current Sunday.

Made our yearly trip a few weeks early this year and had one of the more productive weekends yet. Somehow last weekend chose to be 20s and 30s bracketed by 60s and I'm sure it was near 70 Sunday afternoon when we headed home. Go figure, Missouri weather in February. We all usually spin fish with ultralights from boats on our trips, and this year I continued my vow to fish jigs more, especially up from Fall Creek. Friday and Saturday there was no generation, so the gravel bar just up from the creek claimed two of our props (Luckily not my new Optimax) Stopped at the area just below this bar and threw a 1/8oz Gold cleo and 3/32oz brown/orange jig on 4# and 2# direct tie respectively. Smaller rainbows on nearly every cast. The fish would turn on and break the surface, sometimes jumping clear out of the water in this area and would bite for several minutes, then shut off for a few, but unlike the past years we've been down, they'd start right back up in just a few minutes again. Saturday morning I dared to make the run past the overhanging tree and up to what I think you all call the narrows and stopped there. Again, no water flow so just trolled down the break from 2' to 8' of water throwing a straight tied 3/32 white jig this time and again did very well. Others in our group threw cleos and also caught quite a few. Sunday we had some generation, but not enough that the water level really came up much, at least I don't think. Made the run back up to the same spot and didn't have as much luck with the white, but threw the orange and brown 1/8oz and caught/released a really nice 18" brown among a good deal of very colorful and good fighting rainbows. Came back to below the creek mouth and caught a few on a shallow diving, sinking countdown rainbow colored crankbait. All and all, a very productive weekend. Was surprised we did well with no generation, but we'll definitely take it. Thanks to Lilley's for hooking us up with slips for the weekend.

What is your guys favorite way to rig/work powerbait? I've tried it several times and never had much luck. Size hook, weight rig, etc? I imagine it's worked best on the bottom w/ proper weight based on water flow, but what type of rig?

Makes sense to me, looks like we just have to bundle up. Hope the fish don't care!

Thanks Phil as well, I am planning to dock at your place with a couple boats so we have power provided they don't keep dropping the temps even further!! I know it's tough to freeze with generation and warmer water but I can't get the picture of my brand new boat frozen in a dock slip out of my head.

Thanks, I wondered how much the warmer water would actually keep things right at the surface from freezing. The coldest we've ever fished was about 28 or 30 in the morning and then into the 50s later in the day so we just fought frozen rod guides. With 50s on Wednesday after a possible bit of snow I don't think the ramps would be snowy but who knows. It's a strange forecast.. looks like a fairly strong dry front coming in Friday. Brr.

Hey all, my group of guys has our annual trip down scheduled this weekend, and looking at the weather we're thinking it may be tough if not impossible. We all drift from boats so would need to launch at either Cooper or Scotty's in downtown but can understand that at 25 the ramps may be just a bit slick to say the least. I have a new boat this year and am also worried about running it in this cold, thinking primiarly about leaving it in the water overnight if temps really do drop to below 20. Any recommendations? Thanks.

That's awesome Phil! I caught a 23" probably 4/5# in that exact spot and same jig two years ago. Great fish!

Phil, do you ever pinch the feathers off of the maribou jigs to help with short hits? I've always done this on rubber jigs when fishing for crappie but the maribous, esp the 1/8 oz that you have in your shop are really full, so i'm thinking that may actually cause the opposite affect and i'd end up not even getting bit as often. Any thoughts?

In that area you can usually find crappie in the bigger coves along docks with brush as well. Just hug the outside fingers and throw a jig with a crappie nib and pull slowly up from the bottom. Watch for docks with fishing chairs and rod holders, most always crappie docks with brush sunk around it.

Good points, and of course it does all come down to the same thing. Not like it's an investment after all! I used to have a 14' Richline w/ a 20hp merc that was ok for Taneycomo, but I found myself this last trip in a friend's 14' with a tiny 17# thrust trolling motor fighting the equipment more than I did fishing, which really kills the trip in my opinion. I've been around the water my whole life though, so I know even the best and most expensive bass boats truly follow the B.O.A.T. (Bring out another thousand) ackronym when it comes to struggling with equipment. I guess I'm just at that crossroads on whether I want to take the next step and fish more tournaments, etc. Thanks.

I'm a regular poster in the Taneycomo forums, and visit Lake Taneycomo usually at least once a year, and now without a boat still go to Lake of the Ozarks twice or maybe three times. We don't rent anything, we usually just go with family who has a pontoon, etc but of course fishing the ozarks with 8 people on a 21' Pontoon is tough to say the least. I've toyed with the idea of buying a bass boat in the range of the Nitro Z7, really like that boat actually, and of course there are a million forum posts about guys who love their boats, and then of course the classifieds where someone is selling one with less than 15 hours on it. Looking for some boat purchase guidance, both good and bad. I've always been around the water, but family having boats has always filled the need. I go enough to have fun, but not sure if I can commit to go enough to support this kind of purchase, and frankly, i'm not sure how many trips that is. Thanks Mike St. Louis, MO

Made our annual trip to the upper lake this past weekend and decided to tie it into the Team Trout tournament running out of Lilley's this weekend. My dad always told me when we fished bass tournaments, "if you catch the big one in practice, you're done!" That could not have been more true. We had four guys in two boats this weekend, and Friday, the numbers weren't great, but the quality made up for it. One in our group caught a 21" brown just up from Fall Creek throwing a 1/8oz Little Cleo, and another a 20" Rainbow on the same just up from Short Creek I believe. The rainbow was a toad, probably weighed every bit of 3#. Come tournament time, the weather was great, which in our experience usually equates to slower fishing and that was definitely the case. Still had a great time and fishing picked up a big on Monday. I caught a few nice rainbows in the trophy area on a 1/8oz brown/sculpin jig from Lilley's and we ended up catching and releasing 10 or 12 on the last drift down before heading back to St. Louis, again on the Cleo. Had a great time as usual, can't wait until the next trip! Mike St. Louis, MO

Phil, is there anything else special rigged on these drift rigs aside from a working indicator? I have never fished the drift rig, and assume I can pick up what i need at your shop, but I really don't know if there are any special ties or knots, or leaders involved, etc.

Very cool video Phil. I've been a believer in jig fishing down there for the last couple years primarily off your advice. We're on our way down in a couple weeks so hopefully that good brown fishing continues! Thanks for the video.

Good deal Phil, that was the plan, so we'll go with that. Thanks.

Very cool. Phil, I noticed the livewell check. I was looking to enter the Team Trout tournament on 2/25 and I wanted to check what the livewell requirements were. We have a small v-bottom boat without a built in well, but we could fashion one w/ an aerator ahead of time, is that all that is required? Thanks for any info, Mike

Two things: 1. Phil, after the work at Powersite are you able to make it up to the dam in your prop boats w/o any issue? 2. I too, apparently need a job in Branson.. anyone looking for top level IT support?

Hey Bill, When you say the Fall Creek flat, are you talking about the flat just under the condos as the lake bends left (While traveling upstream)? Has the bottom contours changed through there too or is the actual elevation of the lake level up after the Powersite fix? Thanks Mike

Phil has anything and everything you'll need for both fly rods and spinning gear, I've been going there for quite a while. I usually fish 1/8 and 1/16 oz jigs depending on how many units are running but after switching from other methods I've always caught bigger fish on a regular basis. Sculpin/Blonde and Sculpin/Orange are good, and we had one weekend in March with some great results on a white and pink jig. (Higher, faster water) One of the straight forward methods and things to always think about is to keep the jig on the bottom, so whatever weight it takes. IE, slower water, lighter jig.. just enough to keep it down. Stop by Lilley's and they'll be happy to help you get going w/ Jig fishing on Taney. Mike

Thanks guys. Yeah I am graduating from a small v bottom w/ 20hp to something that needs a bit more clearance. I really like fishing the upper lake but clearly don't want to cost myself the lower unit to do so. Thanks for the info.

Are you guys able to boat through the restricted area with a bass boat now with the low water? I'm really talking up to the narrows, as I know it can get a little tricky through there and past Trophy Run (Even before the bottom changes) Just bought a new boat and of course want to bring it down but a prop repair/replace really isn't on my to do list quite yet since it has yet to hit the water! Thanks