Fly_Guy

I like the idea of drilling in the boulders and attaching trees/wood via cable! Provided that the tree was below the top of the rock to minimize the amount of drag the water would put on the tree. Put a couple right in the middle of the deepest runs. or on the edge of the drop. this drawing is super rough...

I for one am glad for the way Taney is now. I love eating the taney trout, who have been in there long enough to lose their 'trout park' taste. It is a glorified fish tank, but it is what is. DONT get indignant - I would gladly eat a large trout, if the smaller ones didn't taste better. And if they get low, MDC puts in more. And we pay for em. There are PLENTY of places to catch the native sm if you want a river setting. Wade down the Finley or James for a real experience with native fish. Otherwise, fish TR. As for habitat, I wouldn't mind some large boulders in a broken line from cable to outlet 3. Create some deeper water. How about a large stump or two anchored deep in the middle of the deeper water?

Same for the Finley around Linden - waded way down there once - caught some big sm, but the fish up by the town were so used to the locals, IMO they would only bite on a Busch flavored ribworm. When you compare upper taney to a lot of these rivers around here, its the difference between Bubba's Bait Shack and Orvis. Haha - some of you Orvis types need to slog around the Niagua, or the Finley or the James at some of their more "locally flavored" accesses - next time you see someone shuffling in Taney, you'll just be thankful he's not urinating in it. In passing - imagine what the already good smallmouth streams would be like were it not for some of the antics that go on around here in hillbilly USA... sportsmans paradise I reckon.

nasty scummy powerbait users. It's like those ingrates that use minnows for crappie, or leeches and worms for walleye, or kittens for muskie, or lure deer with salt licks. No good worthless blinkity blankers! The only people worth the air they breath are people like me, who won't be caught dead using a fly larger than #18. Regs are fine on taney - it's a compromise, and a great trout fishery because of it. We have it all as far as trout go, here in SWMO - if you want the wild trout experience, fish Crane - if you want to wade and fly fish for large trout, there's a whole host of places. If you want to drift .... powerpait....(ugg), there are places for it. If you want quick supper, or an experience for the kids, fish the trout parks. I think the issue was enforcing the regs, which, due to lack of agents, is where you and I come in.

Amen - I've talked to people twice about the rules - once about size of fish, and once about appropriate tackle. Both times I made it clear that I was not judging, but saving them from a ticket later on. People who break the law typically aren't from around here, and don't know warden patrol is lax. I simple kind word does wonders.

I gotta remember that one! As long as you don't say you're a warden, you aren't technically impersonating an officer, are you? Slightly less annoying are the kids throwing large rocks right where you're fishing in zone 2, apparently for the thrill of seeing a rock splash in that water. There's a pond for that sort of thing!

There's another little place on Campbell with all the $100-$200 rods and reels you could want... Good luck Michael - I was in a time or two and found what I needed. Enjoy the wild trout of Montana! (where 'stockers' mean people that walk behind you too closely)

Like it. You'd have to do a bit of stream re-modeling though I think. And of course shut it down during the brown trout spawn. If there was a way to divert more water (somehow from the dam or via fish hatchery), you could even create another outlet for 16 and under. And me. Sponsors and co-sponsors also would of course have fishing privlidges

Ok - I called SOH Hatchery and they said that the 'no shuffling' is in the "Trout Stream Ethics" guide at the outlets - that's probably what I was thinking of. I knew I had read it around there somewhere! John from SOH also said that shuffling is not illegal (as it is in Arkansas). They've apparently had biologists come in and conclude that no amount of shuffling by one individual is enough to damage the resource. Sry for confusion - but I think that big 'no shuffling' signs wouldn't go amiss - ethically.

Dr. Heywood - biology professor - full beard - I can see some resemblance... Have I mentioned I tied the first scud? Well, y'all call em scuds... I called it a "What'll I do with all this dubbing".

To be honest - I couldn't tell you - them might have had them posted when I first came down - but I only noticed them about 2 years ago or so. They aren't bright pink "NO SHUFFLING" signs - but a reminder about disturbing the gravel and sportsmanship or something to that effect. There is (or at least there was - unless someone tore it down - one close to the ladder. Perhaps someone else would know?

C&R at RR - "It's the most, wonderful time... at the park..." (to the tune of most wonderful time of the year) It's also my birthday. I wish I could say I will be there, but classes may not allow.... I might try to come in the morning... What time will fishing start?

I was fishing one summer when a non-local was doing the whole 'scud shuffle' as you put it - he was shuffling like mad around outlet #1 - not even trying to be sneaky - and calling his buddies over "Hey guys - come over here and kick around - look at all these fish!!!!" He had half the trout in upper Taney crowded around his feet. Finally someone had enough and pointed out the posted signs. I bet some of y'all see this quite a bit. I started fishing Taney when I was about 12 (I think it was before the posted 'no shuffling' signs) - and the first time I fished I found that doing it produced fish. Thank goodness after catching a few I realized that it just felt wrong fishing that way. I'd rather get skunked (which I have once). Didn't mean to highjack the topic. In the intrest of contributing something relevant, I would also like to nominate the smallest size Daredevil spoons. One really important point about spoons is to make sure you have a swivel or split ring of some kind, or, in the case of the Daredevils (which have no split rings) is to make sure you can tie a loop knot. Smaller loop the better, but a spoon has to have some play to it.

Add to the list small jigging spoons (one of my largest Taney browns was caught on a 1 1/2 inch long silver jigging spoon by outlet one in high water), as well as Crickhoppers (similar to the teeny craws cricket mentioned) Rebel minnows (small and medium sized), and small in-line spinners. Besides flies (which I usually use), I have caught trout in Taney on all the above. Oh yeah - another DEADLY techinque is to shuffle your feet a whole bunch in low water, and quickly net right behind you. (JOKING!!!)

You asked for guys who fish regularly - I was out once this past year, but caught several smallmouth on the Rebel Black/Silver jerkbait.

Glad to hear you did good - bright and visible is the key in Zone 2 in high, fast, murky water. I like the san juan, the bright scud, and the egg. Setting the hook IS a challenge, eh? I fished with over 4 feet from indicator to fly, and missed at least half of my strikes. Need a longer rod...

With the amount of water right now, you could run the Branson Belle on Taney. You'll be fine.

No harm intended - looking at it again, it is the camera angle - the rainbow looks like it was caught up closer to the dam, but if you were that close, the dam would be much taller. Just the camera angle. On a side note - I've always wanted to take a boat and a jigging spoon up to the dam.... Sorry if I upset you! Standing under the cable was the ticket last spring in the flood - I caught a lot of smallmouth there, (including the 4lber in the avatar). I wish I had a rod that would cast about 150 yards upstream though...

Something bothering me - After Brian's October 15th posting video of the brown above the cable in outlet three, there is a video entitled "Releasing a nice brown trout in Taney in Branson MO" by someone "Fly's and Guides" Live Reports. - shows up in the bottom as a video link. If the trout caught in that video is at the Table Rock Dam, it appears to be WAY above the top cable, in the area off limits to fishing. I've got to be missing something here - is that Taneycomo and Table Rock Dam, or another place??? Then again, it may just be the camera angle, and I owe whoever is fishing a apology. Hopefully just a peculiar camera angle.

River's murky, but not unfishable. You won't see many fish, but they are there. It's not overly high compared to how it could be - it's very fishable. I went today and had 3 on Berkley Gulp white eggs in about 45 min, and caught about 8 in the C&R using size 12 orange scud (and enough weight to get it to the bottom). Had to go (it was a quick trip), and had my fourth upstream in about 10 min on the eggs. Use enough weight to get them down, and throw them right into the fast water, and let them work their way down where the current takes them. On a side note, I've concluded that the Gulp brand of eggs are infinitely better than the normal Berkley eggs, and that white is by far the best color, anytime.

Bill said they were older gentlmen, and judging my their conduct, they probably aren't readers of this forum. But Michael's point is still valid. What if I took dance classes and the instructor ridiculed me on OzarkDancers.com? If they were pros and knew all the ends and outs, they probably wouldn't be hiring a guide. A side note - I guess I understand tipping a guide for a good day, but is it expected???? Hiring a guide is already expensive - why is it a bad thing not to tip if you are strapped for cash? After all, it is FISHING!!

Hahahaha!! Sorry Bill - but you gave the wife and me a good chuckle. After every new 'event', she said "seriously??" You need to get your act together like this guide I know in Mississippi - he uses bailing wire to snag carp Feel for you - stinks to break a rod, let alone a nice one (not that I'd know about nice fishing rods). Look on the bright side - you could've been stuck at work.... oh wait... you were...

Hey Leonard Thanks for invite - I was busy tonight, have company for next two nights Let me know how it goes.

Saw you... in your boat... from the bank.... To whoever may be reading this report - if you are fishing by the bank, fishing is miserable unless you are one of the 83 people huddled around each of the outlets. I found a couple of secluded spots and tried with a white jig and next a jigging spoon, and not a bite. I was suprised - I can usually fool a few with the silver jigging spoon. Crummy cold day, w/ water up that much, and more rain coming. If you are coming to Taney, either come REAL early (like around 4:30 of 5 - to get your spot at the outlet) or have a boat. On a side note, I saw a ball of about 20 shad or so. Also a large hawk with a trout. Also a cool video of a 30 lb brown trout in the other post for today.

Anybody been out yet? (specifically, any 'rough' fish being caught?)