willber

Yoyo Ma!

vanven - I have an option for you in the KC area that is probably a good compromise between cost and quality. In Lees Summit, just off 50 HwY, a bit south of Chipman road, there is a Bushnell Outlet. They have a lot of higher end sunglasses, "last years models", that are marked down pretty good. I bought a pair of Serengetti polarized for about $80, the frame quality has been decent (one of the plastic ear pieces has cracked), but I think the lenses are excellent. They have Bolle and I can't remember what other brands, but it is a pretty decent selection. Good luck!

Has anyone tried using an actual spey rod when they are running a lot of water on Taney? (Not just a spey technique with a single handed rod). I picked up a 12ft 8wt double handed spey rod at Cabelas over the winter, because it was a good deal and I have always wanted to try it. To me this seems like a good spey rod application, but I am definetely a novice with this gear and technique, and have never seen anyone doing it at Taney. It seems like you could cover a lot of water with a spey rod, while pinned up against the bank. Any advice?

I fished it in October and did pretty well, but have not fished it regularly in years, so am not an expert. I fished at Lane Spring and Vida Slab. Numbers were comparable at each place. I know they stock somewhere downstream, but I couldn't give you an exact location. The wild trout are almost impossible to see. I was fishing mostly blind, looking for the right kind of water, more than trying to pick out specific fish to target. Of course, the lower, clearer water in winter may allow you to sight fish more effectively. I try to cover a lot of water, hit the very best looking holes, and move on. Typically, I have found the trout in faster water where there is an obvious pocket or seam for them to hold in. I had almost no action in the slower deeper pools. A friend of mine used to fish with spinning gear and tear them up on vibrax spinners and small crawded crankbaits. I don't have any specific winter flies to recommend. In October, I was fishing san juan worms, psycho princes, rubber legs, mohair leeches, a lot of big flashy stuff. This worked well in October, but I am not certain about the winter. Good luck!

I have always driven to each spot. I am not sure if you could wade that entire section. My guess is that it would be a very long journey, but I could be mistaken. At the Vida slab, there is enough room to pull a few cars off to the side of the road.

Here is a map from the conversation department. It is chopped off a bit, but it should work. That crossing just to the north of Lane Springs is the Vida slab (road 7450 or 7460). Now that I think about I don't even know where I got that name. I think that is what everybody calls it. Have fun. http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/18088.pdf

Jeremy posted a not so good fishing report that he labeled "honest" and got a little grief in return, decided he had enough.

It is a small world. I was there on Saturday and Sunday also, with 4 guys from work. We went into the park, and just couldn't handle it. It was a complete zoo, way too crowded. I must not have been holding my mouth right either We ended up catching some late in the afternoon Saturday in that riffle just up from the bridge. The best time I had all weekend was helping one the guys to catch his first trout on a flyrod. I set him up with a white san juan worm and showed him how to do a tension cast and mend a little bit. That was pretty rewarding.

Jeremy, don't sweat these guys. You are entitled to your opinion. I appreciate you giving us the striaght dope and I am sure others do as well. I'm just a pion. I only get to fish Taney a handful of times a year and rely on you kind folk who actually know what you are talking about. With all the flooding, it is real hard to look at this year on Taneycomo and say it has been great. For all those like myself who are hoofing it below the dam, it has been real tough with 30 gizillion cubic feet per second coming from Table Rock, basically 24/7 for the last several months. (Not too mention all the people who have lost docks, property, customers, etc.) Hey, next year has got to be better.

I spent a day on the Little Piney about two weeks ago, just a little behind on my report writing. Started out at Lane Springs at first light, then moved down to the Vida slab bridge in the afternoon. The level and flow was about average, just slightly off color, good conditions. At Lane Springs, started up near the campgrounds, and worked my way downstream. Just a few hits until I got to the spring. Below the spring, you could pick up a 7-10" rainbow in about every decent looking hole. There was one other fisherman on the water. He reported several fish, including one about 16". The Vida slab was interesting. The hole below the slab is pretty wild. I was using a large nymph (don't remember what exactly) with a san juan worm dropper and a lot of lead, and just heaved it out there into the foam. I saw a couple of rolls and flashes on the first few casts. On about the 4th or 5th cast, I hooked up with what had to be an 18-20" fish, and I am pretty sure it was a rainbow. Unfortunately, wasn't able to keep him on very long. I was shocked by the size of this fish, just wasn't expecting it. I continued to fish downstream about 3/4 mile. Again, pretty regular action in about every decent hole. I thought the size was a little better than at Lane also, maybe 10-12". In total, probably a dozen fish ranging from 7-12". I was mostly having success on a hares ear, squirrel tail, psycho prince, or other size 12-16 nymph with a san juan worm dropper. Caught a few on an olive leech also. I had planned to give Mill Creek a go, but the Little Piney was fishing so well, I ended up staying all day.

What do you know, I'm that "really cool guy from the KC area". I intended to write a report, but Brian beat me to it. I can't add much to what Brian had to say technicallly, but I will say that Brian does a great job, and that the float we did was really excellent. If your tired of waiting for them to stop running water on Taneycomo, I would highly recommend giving Brian a call and doing this float. The drift boat makes for great fishing, Brian is very knowledgable and friendly, the North Fork of the White is arguably the most scenic river in Missouri (my opinion), great opportunity for big fish as you can see in the photos, and the weather is perfect right now. Man, I can't wait to do it again. Great trip. Thanks Brian.

Sunday afternoon, I scouted out the access below town near the dairy farm and the upper access above town on Wire Road. The water was fast and furious and kind of a murky green. I hiked around a bit at the upper Wire Road access, it is really a jungle up there. Hopefully, the water will drop a bit to provide a little easier access. I ended up heading to the most accessable place that I knew, the city park. The fishing was good, landed two rainbows 10" and 12". Hooked and lost several others. Olive woolies and an olive pine squirrel sculpin with a lot of weight worked the best. Tried variety of nymphs fished deep, but no luck, the water was just a little too cloudy I think.

I had the same urge last week, so headed for the North Fork last Saturday. It is wadeable, assuming there hasn't been more rain. It is maybe a bit higher than what I consider normal, but it is looking good. I fished around the two accesses at Patrick and Blair bridges. The water is moving fast, so it wears you out pretty quickly. Studded boots would be good too, if you have them. I do not, and it was a little interesting in a few spots. Water clarity was great. The action was pretty good. Not a huge number of fish or anything of great size, but enough to make it worthwhile. I tried mostly big flies - mohair leeches, sculpins, stone fly nymphs, grass hoppers, etc. The fly didn't seem to matter much, it was more about finding the fish. Now for the bad news. Canoes as far as the eye can see. A weekday would be much better I am certain. I had so many people ask "Hows the fishing?" or "Catching anything?", I was about ready scream. Watch out for the really drunk ones too, they will run right into you if you aren't careful. Oh by the way, there were a fair number of atttractive young women in bikinis, if that is any motivation. That really makes for a different trout fishing experience.