Fly_Guy

I gotta say - It's been tough for a wader at Taney this spring. When you get up in the morning, press #2 speedial on your phone, and hear "the number of units generating at Table Rock... is 4. Sorry sucker... bet you wish you had a boat..." it can be a little frustrating on the day off. Compound it with a sunny no-cloud-in-sky day, and you have a recipe for being burned all the way around. However, yesterday I had a blast at outlet 2. Didnt fish terribly long, but picked up 21 and 17 inch rainbows, and an 18 inch brown. (as well as others) I think the brown trout is one of the prettiest fish there is - this one was 'one mean motor scooter' too. All on #12 brown scuds. Sure did need a good day of fishing. I find it crazy that for a lot of fishermen, an 18 inch brown or 21 inch rainbow is a fish of a lifetime - but they're common at Taneycomo. Lastly - I find it amazing that fishermen will toss their cigarette butts into the water when they're done. Saw a fisherman do it yesterday. It swept downstream too quickly for me to slosh over to him, and pick it up right in front of him. I don't mind the lung cancer from y'all smokers second hand smoke as much as I mind you throwing your cigarette butt carelessly into the water when your done with your [articular form of self abuse. He was a nice fellow and all, but please everyone - this isn't Roaring River, where you expect trash to accumulate on the bank (that hacks me off as well, but what can you do? The trout parks are a lost cause for fighting trash, but I wish there was some way to ask people "HOW DO YOU NOT SEE THE TRASHCAN RIGHT BEHIND YOU???!!! Sorry - had to get that out of my system. MDC gives us trashcans, and changes the bags for us. PLEASE use them! But anyways, a georgous trout-filled day at taney.

I'm sold - bring on lower generation and wading

Thanks Terry - I'll have to tie some soft hackles - don't often fish with them except occationally at Roaring River for variety. It'll probably be a while before I can get down to White river however - I imagine the water has been up a lot with all this rain, and I would prefer to fish when it's down (not having a boat). This summer I'll get up at 2 or 3 am and drive down and spend a day one of these days, when the generation is down. I love Taneycomo, but I could do with a little variety - change up the routine.

I'm intrigued - especially with the prospect of catching a brookie or a cutthroat. /havent ever caught a brookie, and have only caught coastal cutthroats during a trip to Oregon. Wish I lived closer... - it's not the worlds worst drive from Ozark, but it is a bit... Would you recommend a standard set of flies? I usually bring scuds and brassies, as well as san juans, and tiny (only ever size 20 or higher) dries. (uaually Adams, Griffith Gnats, and Ants) to Taney. I imagine a similar situation for White.

Clyde died. thank you.

I've never fished the white river - and not having a boat, don't think now would be the ideal time for me - however. If there comes a time when generation is down, is it worth a trip, or is it basically Taneycomo part 2? I'm always willing to try some place new. How does the quality of fish, quantity, and fishing pressure compare to Taney?

I feel your pain!! I too am relatively new to the area, and have been whooped good and proper by the little sac. Last year - zero whites, lost big walleye at bank. This year, 2,000 lgmth bass, 1 kentucky, 1 tiny white, and (yahoo!) 1 seven inch walleye. I've been able to catch some decent crappie on stockton, but the little sac seems to be real hit and miss - one day everyone on the river catches limits, and the next day no one can buy a bite. It seems that if you have a boat, it would help - at least I saw folks in boats at the bridge cleaning huge messes (while i drag water). It can be frustrating - I've found that fishing upriver around aldrich and catching a few crappie off stumps helps alleviate the frustration though. It's a bit of drive from Ozark (not real bad, but still enough to deem it a waste of gas after the day is done).

Its tough when the body of water you've fished for years becomes private 'no trespassing' property. However, a thoughtful landowner will let people fish if they ask.

here he goes

Went to Tayler yesterday, and couldn't buy a white - got there early and fished where the creek comes in. Caught some quality (around 1 1/2 lb) largemouth though. And a kentucky. But no whites. I saw a fellow in a boat dump a huge load of fish guts off the bridge, but they could''ve been anything, from anywhere. Fishing in southwest mo is great, but a boat would be wonderful. Too bad, being poor

They do taste better - though a bass caught out of a clean lake would taste a sight better than farm pond bass. We used to catch a mess of bluegill and bass out of gma and gpas pond once a year and eat em - they were a little "pondish", but they were still good. And it thinned the population, so we would start to catch 5 lbers as years went on. Then we let those ones go The bigger reason is B.A.S.S. Ray Scott made the bass untouchable. Bill, and so many like him (including me, deep down) hold the bass above other fish in terms of prestige. There is no real logical answer to your question Stock Jockey - modern fishermen have a bias towards bass because the elite (the Dances, Martins, and VanDams of the world) fish for them. Should it be that way? Probably not, but it is what it is. B.A.S.S. has done a HUGE amount in terms of conservation awareness and promoting c&r. Way back when, C&R was unheard of - if you caught a bass, you ate it. To do otherwise would be a waste. Now, as more and more fishermen take to the water, C&R has been vital in giving fishermen a quality experience. If your life's work was to restore old muscle cars, you would have something to say if someone took the cars that you had worked tirelessly to restore and used them in a demolition derby. To some, that's the same as Joe Schmo eating the bass that you have worked tirelessly to protect with C&R. It is what it is - no good being all upset. On a side note, I've found that people who demand an apology generally don't deserve one. Not trying to be offensive - just saying. Lifes too short to get too upset over a forum. Happy fishing!

I agree w/ ozarkgunner in that additional regs (even if only during the spawn) could go through at TR. And while I don't keep bass, I don't fault those who do. It's kind of funny - B.A.S.S. has had a TREMENDOUS effect on the minds and practices of modern fishermen. They've turned bass from meat, to celebrity. Not saying it's a bad thing, but it cannot be denied. If Ray Scott, Bill Dance, and Roland Martin, fancied deep divers and in-line-spinners, we would be debating the evils of keeping walleye on this thread. Instead, we keep the heck out of em. And crappie. And white bass. And bluegill. And catfish. And trout. And stipers. Even pike! And every other fish there is. Not saying it's a bad thing - it's good to be passionate - but it is interesting how people's opinions are colored. In reality, a fish is a fish. The insinuation is that people who keep bass are low-down ignurnt rednecks. At least that's the impression I get from Bill. Understand - the impression - not what Bill actually said. I fished a lake called Wolf Creek Lake (I think it's now Coffee County) in Kansas a few years ago. I don't know if it's still the same, but it had crappie, wiper, walleye, sm, lg and catfish. The limit on crappie was 2 fish per person, minimum of 14 inches. We caught probably 12 crappie, and they were MONSTERS! several over 14 inches, and my buddy and I each kept two. No one frowned on us as we cleaned them, no one made any remarks except 'nice fish!' The lake had a trophy crappie population! (probably still does - I would HIGHLY recommend a trip!). But since the trophy population (sustained naturally by the spawn) had tight regs, and since they weren't BASS, no one cared if we kept them. I know people value bass as a sportfish. But they're fish, nonetheless. Shoot - they don't fight hard as a bluegill or a white bass! They don't strike as viscously as a pike. (and true - they don't taste as good as any of the species I listed earlier ) So once again... keep a few if you want.

went down yesterday - taylor for an hour or two - saw some folks catching whites, but had no luck - did catch a walleye though. Some folks in a boat caught a huge mess of em.

He was snagging spawning crappie??! Wow - if I ever resort to that, I'll need to consider a change of hobby, like golf. This guy sounds like he needs a long walk of a short dock! If people are keeping fish illegally, call em in! Sadly, most people probably get off. I know from experience... can't tell you how many fat sub-legal brown trout I've taken out of Taneycomo... - jk of course

Could be - caught three whites at the dam on the 16th. - still no stinking walleye

haha - its gutzy to demand an apology from the moderator of the sub-forum! I can't imagine a sillier thing to get offended about - on either side! Keep some fish if you want to now and again. Try to avoid the big, spawning females. Reckon it's time to grow up - and yes, heres a picture (tho not THE picture, immortalized in previous threads)

This seems like the perfect time to announce an event I have been planning for Table Rock... <>< <>< THE KEEP AND FRY TROUNEY ><> ><> Join us during the height of the spawn for the ultimate food and fun! This next weekend, on Table Rock Lake, REAL anglers will have a chance to have their catch... and eat it too!! Introducing the first of many bass tournaments where ALL bass will be kept, and fried up afterwards. There are just a few simple rules... 1) All bass must immediately be impailed on a spike after being caught 2) Large female bass with eggs must be joyfully trodden and stomped upon, while singing "Devil went down to Georgia" 3) All bass must be fried afterwards 4) The phrase "catch and release" SHALL NOT BE UTTERED 5) Non-tasty fish such as crappie and walleye, shall immediatly be released UNHARMED First Prize........................First choice of largest bass fillet!! Second-Fifteenth prizes... An "I ATE A BASS ON TABLE ROCK" T-Shirt In all seriousness, I understand people get passionate about this, but in my "non-guide (and non-moderator ), non-good-fisherman, low-down, trashy, fish-eater opinion, keeping a few bass now and again won't cause the world to collapse. I haven't eaten a bass in years, but got nothing against those who do on occation. I'm a little more against it in a small river, but in a large lake like TR, a few bass here and there wont have the detrimental effect that it would on a smaller system. If you don't want people to do it, institute catch-and-release policy during a few weeks in the spring. If you used the same amount of energy petitioning for c&r during the spawn as you do bashing fish-eaters on OzarkAnglers, you might be called less names (bad ones anyway )

Non-Kosher statements on OzarkAnglers.com: "Whats wrong with keeping a few at TR?" "Caught a limit of fat smallmouths out of the James today - they were tasteeeee!!" "Caught a huge brown trout in taney the other day - it was tasteeee!!!" "I just live to jet-ski!" "What do you Yanks see in those slimy bass anyway - fish for carp like us real men!" Keep a few now and then - a quality trophy fishery doesn't get that way by overpopulation. TR seems to be doing just fine - I need to get down there again...

Hows the crappie fishing at the dock, btw? I would like to catch a few crappie w/out having to drive all the way to Stockton. Crappie = Tasty! My wife never liked fish - but all she'd ever had was frozen fish sticks. Now I've got her hooked on fresh trout, crappie, walleye, and white bass. The only problem is finding time and locations to go "grocery shopping" (In wife land, it's much easier to let the husband go fishing instead of mowing the lawn if hes bringing back something for supper ) And as far as timber goes - I'm sure people have thrown stuff in without seeking permission - I think it would be hard to enforce keeping people from doing it.

I was thinking some virus - MDC has an article on Largemouth Bass Virus, which has been confirmed in TR, LOZ, and several other swmo lakes - but LMBV doesn't appear to cause lesions. I would guess a parasite or bacterial infection of some sort. I would net these fish and kill them to avoid it spreading. If it is post tournament stress, they may not recover anyway.

Well, I called about 5 or 6 people! The marina said that CU owns the land, and to try them. The lady at the marina did say that since its drinking water, MDC puts in oak structures rather than cedar. The first lady at CU directed me to the parks board, who then directed me back to CU. The second lady at CU directed me to MDC, saying that MDC handled all the habitat placement. Finally called MDC and they said that since the city actually owns the land, that they have to get approval before they put anything in the lake, complete with paperwork and suchlike. The lady at MDC said that it was a strenuous process even for MDC to put brushpiles in the lake, and that I could try calling the city, but she was sure Id be shot down. She said new brushpiles were added this winter, and to make sure you have an updated map. Hope this helps - if you sink your own timber, do it under cover of night, and don't use cedar! Kind of a bummer really, but there you have it.

Well, I called about 5 or 6 people! The marina said that CU owns the land, and to try them. The lady at the marina did say that since its drinking water, MDC puts in oak structures rather than cedar. The first lady at CU directed me to the parks board, who then directed me back to CU. The second lady at CU directed me to MDC, saying that MDC handled all the habitat placement. Finally called MDC and they said that since the city actually owns the land, that they have to get approval before they put anything in the lake, complete with paperwork and suchlike. The lady at MDC said that it was a strenuous process even for MDC to put brushpiles in the lake, and that I could try calling the city, but she was sure Id be shot down. She said new brushpiles were added this winter, and to make sure you have an updated map. Hope this helps - if you sink your own timber, do it under cover of night, and don't use cedar! Kind of a bummer really, but there you have it.

I had a question about missouri lakes in general, but Fellows in particular. What is the policy on sinking your own structure (like cedar trees). On a lake like fellows which doesnt have standing timber and has minimal structure, this would be helpful for crappie, I would think. What are MDC's regs on that - do you need permission like in Nebraska? Ive tried to find it, but haven't seen it on the internet. Thanks

Suspended, eh? Nice job finding them! I went all day today (poor = bank fisher) and they must have moved into deeper water with this front - I went lower than Aldrich to a place that'll usually hold 5 to a limit, and couldn't buy a bite! (except for some lgmth bass that obviously felt sorry for me). Went up to the dam to try for some windy walleye and caught a fairly decent smallmouth (around 13 inches or so) and the biggest white bass I've ever caught - but no walleye. I was bummed - my favorite crappie place failed me for the first time ever, and I have yet to catch a walleye this season (I've had four up to the bank!!!) But on the bright side, the white bass was tasty - I almost preferred it over crappie! Cold and wet and windy today. Who knows if this wacky weather will ever stabilize, and if it does, whether it will coincide with any time off I might have...

best soft hackle for Bennet/Montauk/Meremec/RR? Try a #16 'fuzzy pellet' - though a hackle isn't necessary. Only if you want to feel better. Match the hatch!