Thom

Good luck the crappie fishing has been slow there. On the lake near the state park marina crappie beds are located generally straight out from the sycamore trees. Near the docks as you travel towards the west each dock usually have beds but this time of the year I have had the best luck deep off the bluffs. If you have a fish locater look for structure along the bluffs and try trolling minnow tipped jigs. You gennerally pick us one or two and then have to move to anothe area. Good luck the crappie fishing has been slow there. On the lake near the state park marina crappie beds are located generally straight out from the sycamore trees. Near the docks as you travel towards the west each dock usually have beds but this time of the year I have had the best luck deep off the bluffs. If you have a fish locater look for structure along the bluffs and try trolling minnow tipped jigs. You gennerally pick us one or two and then have to move to anothe area.

Been to lake of the ozarks. Very nice and to the park that you mentioned. I just liked the walk along the lake past the ballparks and pavillion. I've been coming to Branson for over 20 years and things change but the memories are nice. Nice people both the locals and the ones that visit and make conservation. Seems people there usually have time to smile and share a story. I just can't see the landing offering that kind of athmosphere. I meant school of the ozarks. Nice musuem and grist mill and orchid display. I miss the resturant though.

Lincoln: I will be at taney next week. My son in law is docking at Lillies. I will problaly be in sometime during the week to check out availability later in the year. Out of time in my timeshare. I can say you are at a class act. I always recommend Lilly's for supplies, advice and accomadations. Looking forward to meeting you next week. By the way I have been tying black midges in a with a tng bead on a #16 2487 size. Might try an 18. My son who will be down next week ties in the smaller sizes 20,22 & 28 ,but my eyes and finger flex is feeling the 66 years and I can't do it anymore. He always outfishes me though with the smaller midges.

Below is an article from PC magazine which discusses the proposed legislation. Most Senators and congressmen are computer illiterate and rely on others to advise them. Guess who would influence their decisions. Wouldn't be us smallies. It seems that the regulation would allow isp's to charge large companies for flooding the net and allow them to pass the charge on to clients. It would not affect the small users. It would bring about a two tiered system... one for large broadband usage and one for small users. this legislation narrowly was defeated in the Senate this session. Interesting it didn't get much press. Wonder if that could be that the owners of the media (GE Warner time life et al.) would be one of the benefactors of this legislation. I agree with you Phil. I don't like the govt getting involved in regulation of the net that can be influenced by lobbist and big business. the web link to PC mag is below. http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2405p024...ontrol+internet

I will be in Branson next week for seven days. I am trying to keep an open mind on the landing but I miss the the walk in the park toward Roark. We liked to pack a picnic and go there at least one day while visiting. I am taking two familys with me so I will give some feedback on what they think when we return. One family is from a small town near Kansas City area and one from Lake St. Louis. I just wish the redevelopement would had not been so drastic but there really wasn't much left down there.

I finally got around to reading the Peta propaganda. I couldn't help but laugh as I read some of the comments. Then it occured to me. These people are serious. To quote a great american "America, What a country" Yakov. I think that when I snapped off some roasting ears of corn from the stalks this afternoon I heard them screeming "no, no please don't tear off my ears" I really felt guilty while I was buttering them next to my Trout filets. I went of a mission trip to Botswana,Africa a few years back and one of the fellows on our trip was a vegetarian. Nice enough guy and we had to accommadate his dietary needs for three weeks. It was very interesting that he was the only one in our group of 25 guys that got ill in the 110 degree whether while we were constructing the Church. He was about 36 years of age most of us were in our 60's. go figure.

Does anyone remember when you would see boats draging a light anchor or brick downstream to kick up the bottom and fishing behind it with spinning rods behind the boat. Chains were also drug behind boats. This was very prevelant on the White in Arkansas as well as herding. Herding was where a group of boats would gather around a good hole like white hole below the drop off and corral fish and then clean out the hole. both of these were practiced by guides and were outlawed because of the effect of the stream. I fished the white often in ARk about 15 years ago and believe me the fishery that remains is not near as good as it was before these things happened and has gotten better since they were outlawed. The more people learn of the quality TR tailwater the more pressure there will be on it and if some attempt at keeping it regulated within reason doesn't occur we will find it becoming mediorce as time goes by. More importantly our children and grandchildren will not inherit was we enjoy because we let it happen. WHY? I don't understand!! SHUFFLILNG IS NOT NECESSARY AND DAMAGES THE FISHERY. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS WALKING INTO THE WATER. IT IS BLATENLY DESTROYING THE BREEDING PLACE OF THE VERY THING THAT ATTRACTS THE FISH THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I am not a guy that walks into a stream and starts catching fish by the 50's. I have to work at it and change flies and try different things. I never go to Taney without catching fish and mostly lots of them. Most go back into the lake. My grandsons fish there and tie their own flies and catch fish. It never seems to occur to them to kick up the bottom or fish at their feet. They are more interested in fishing as a sport. Changing flies and and trying other tecniques. Sooner or later they are catching fish again. That is what makes it a sport and fun along with teasing grandpa about how many more they caught than he did.

If you got a ticket for seat belt only it could not be prosecuted. check it out. I Didn't say it had to be everones pet peeve. I thought a forum was for everyone to post an opinion or thought. Sorry if I have to agree with everone i guess i will just read the posts and not comment.

Two of my pet peeves at Taney are shuffling and chumming. Both are legal and in my opinion shouldn't be in the trophy (restricted area)area. It doesn't happen in other premium blue ribbon waters and they are good because of that. If we hope to continue to keep the treasure that we have above fall creek these prohibition need to be in place. I can't tell how many times I have inquired about trout fisheries in other talilwaters in the US and have been told why are you coming here if you can fish The White River or Taneycomo. The issue of shuffling is not hard to solve. If someone is standing still and the are still are constantly moving and kicking their feet---they are shuffing if they are walking or wading into a stream their whole body is moving in a forward direction. DUH There is a distinct difference and the chances that we would lost our right to wade fish if shuffling was regulated is redicilous. By the way in Missouri you can not be stopped for just a seat belt violation. Chumming in the trophy water is apparently legal on Taney which I cannot understand. It doesn't happen anywhere else that I have fished the Trout restricted (trophy) areas. I have fished in most of the western states and some in the smokies. You wouldn't last 30 minutes on those streams shuffling or chumming without being escorted off the water or ticketed.

One of the best investments that I ever made was getting a guide on the San Jaun. I took my grandson who was about 9 at the time and we fished a half day. Most of the fish we caught were in the 3 pound range and larger and we hooked up almost every 10 minutes. My grandson caught as many as I did because the guide really liked to cater to children. It was an expensive trip but I don't miss the money now and the memory will last forever. I know there are crowds there sometimes but there is also lot of water and the fish are in the current and also back toward the bank. If you wade fish be sure to have poloroids to see the fish. While wading another time a group saw me cahtching fish and crowded in to both sides of me. I moved down 20 or so feet and looked around and found more fish feeding toward the weeds near the bank. Lots of fish there. It hit it good all three time I was there and look to go back again. I have a condo in Pogosa springs colo and it is just an hour or so drive from there.

I don't know where in St. Charles that the crime rate hasn't gone up. I do know that our food banks are almost always empty. I worked for a large corporation and our EAP reps had people making 50K a year with record bankrupt filings. The Areas around casino's in St. Louis have had large incrases of armed robberies. The statistic don't bear out that the economy is made better by casino's. That was the sell for New Orleans which heavily depend on casino money. Let me tell you the ecomomy there wasn't improved. I have lived in E.StLouis Il, Collinsville, Il (horse racing) and Ofallon Mo and I have followed the beginning promises of limits on spending and advertizing that was quickly forgotten after the lobbists got what they wanted. The laws and regulations of how much an individual can spend and access to bank atm's have been continually raised. Weather you want to recognize it or not there is an element that comes in with and follows gambling that is never good for a community much less a small town family oriented area like Branson. I come there and own there for what is there and so do thousands of others from around the world. It is unique. I wouldn't gamble on loosing it. (no pun intended) I guess I don't have to tell you what I think of casino's!

I used to think the same way about fast water until I dicovered what some of the others have said. You must get down to where the fish are. Now I drift tungste bead hares ears, tungsten bead weighted 1/64 green,pink or tan jigs. Multicolored egg flys all weighted until I hit the level that I catch fish. Since I tie most flys I cringe every time I snag and lose the flys, but I would rather lose a few flies than pack it in or not catch fish. The only down side is that it takes a lot of gas to fish high water because landing fish is harder and you need to return to the upper water more often. Looking forward to being on Taney with sons and grandchildren the first week in August.

My wife and older son are very allegic to poison ivy. When they get near it (you don't necessarily have to touch it) they thourghly wash of exposed arms legs etc with Fels Napta soap. (sold at walmart) Even when they accidently touch the plant it seems to always work. If you get the rash it is also good to wash about twice a day before applying any ointment used to stop the itching. It seems to go away more quickly if the skin is dry and the oil that is imbedded can be completely removed. An old time medical doctor first recommended this to us years ago and it has worked for everyone I have suggested it to.

Kind of reminds me of the San Jaun below the trophy water in New Mexico. There is a spot that I have fished near the state park on the west side of the river.

Shawn check your messages and I will send you some info on patches.

Stop at Bass pro on your way down and look at the white river fly rod combo's. The guys in the shop are really good to help and don't try to hard sell you on expensive stuff. For about $75 Dollars you can get a pretty good starter fly rod and reel. Lilly's can set you up when you get to the resort on any spinners, plugs and power bait. Their prices are very competive and they know what the fish are hitting. You won't get any snow jobs on expensive tackle that won't work. Both my son and his family and my broker fished there recently and did very well with the advice they got from the resort.

we usually filet them and fry them if we are at the Lake. They filet just like crappie and if they are fresh hold together well. The secret is to keep them alive as long as possible before fileting. Another good way to cook whole fish is to make a dressing just like you do for stuffing a turkey and stuff in the cavity. We sometimes add small cocktail shrimp or crabmeat to the dressing along with carrots, celery, onions, salt, pepper and add to cornmeal dressing mix per directions. Place a strip of bacon on the skin and brush with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until flaky. You can just peel the meat back on one side and grab the bones and pull them our leaving dressing and fish. Delicious.

ishing buddy's staying at Lilly's landing last week end: My Edward Jones broker Jake Venitis and two of his buddy's spent the week end at Taney. Jake asked for some advice on what to use so I recommended small jigs. I tyed my favorites small 1/100 moss green, olive and ginger jigs and some egg flys. They had good luck on the green jigs bumped off the bottom just below fall creek fished at the seam in the current. Since they were fairly new at taney and some were not trout or fly fishermen I recommended power bait and river rigs. they did well on all of these combinations and also used little cleos, kast master, and small spoon in rainbow colors catching fish all the way down to the bridge in Branso and at the mouth of Roark in the current. One of the Guys, Ben scott, caught and released a 21" rainbow below fall creek. The attachments show a picture of the released rainbow and some of the fish they kept. Jake commented how enjoyable the stay was and how friendlyand helpful the guys at Lillies were. they fished out of a pontoon and on the dock and caught lots of fish every day. Thom Harvengt

I like Coopers creek because it is easy to launch and is a good starting spot to fish almost any way. You can run all the way upstream in just a short time and there are several good stops along the way. Just be careful at short creek where the river bends to watch for shallow reefs and again at fall creek from the dock to below the overhead cable and again at the Island before Point royale you can again scratch a prop depending on how they have dropped the lake. Good fishing. Thom

I have sent many of my friends to Lillies Landing and never heard any complaints. considering that you are on the lake in a great spot and have boats, tackle and good advice available it is a good deal. Actually you really don't reallly need to travel far up or down river to find good water. Cooper creek downstream or short creek upstream are both good for someone new to Taney. My son and his family spent four days there just a while back and really liked the boat that he rented. I recommended Lillies to my broker Jake and he is going in a couple of weeks with a couple of friends.

There is an old saying that if it ain't broke don't fix it. The fishery at Taney was broke a few years back and it was fixed bueatifully. It think it gives an excellent chance of everone getting a shot at fishing their style. I also fished out west most notably on the San Jaun below the dam and that stretch of trophy water is much different as well as others in the west. There you have lots of opportunity for walk in fishing and if you wish to hire a guide most of the fish you catch are three # and aboveon that section of the San Jaun. You may keep one fish over 20" but must leave the stream after retaining the fish. I have fished there many times and have never seen anyone keep a fish. Most of the guides carry cameras and can procure a facimile of the fish that you can't tell from the original. At Taneycomo if you limit the first 2 miles of the stream as CR only you have pretty well eliminated any chance of fishing without a boat for the fly fisherman. The white in Arkansas and the Red River below Greers ferry have many wade in areas in public access and some of the resorts also have areas that are wadeable in low water. That isn't the case at Taneycomo. Unless there is another crisis let leave things alone (with the exception of maybe moving the upper limit of fishing down to below outlet 2 during the spawn to stop snagging and stress on the breeding stock for a month in winterlike they do in below Bull Shoals). I also think that keeping the stockers under 12" is a good idea if someone wants to take them for lunch. I have been above fall creek in the trophy water after large stockings and been unhappy with the frequent hook up with the 10" stockers. I was glad to see others keep their limit which should in my opinion be returned to 5. The white in Arkansas allows 6 and I can't tell any difference in the upper stretches of water or at any of the other places that I have fished there. You certainly can't agrue that it has hurt the possibility of catching big fish. I always catch 1 or 2 20+ fish there. I just don't want to drive that extra hour to get to where I fish there. Also the resorts such as Lillies and other are much friendlier in Missouri.

What is a no kill zone??? You must remember that many of us that fish taney come just 4 or 5 times a year and don't want additional regulations added. We just want to try to be sportsmen using our hand tied flies and try to catch and release some fish. Maybe even harvest a few legally for lunch. I think what MDC has done so far needs to be kept in place. It seems to be working well. What good are any regulations anyway if they are not enforced any better than the one we have now? Every time I fish Taney I witness violations in the trophy water. I see people in boats fishing bait and even though it is legal they chum the water from boatsand shuffle in the gravel. In the wading water snagging takes place in the outlets without any obvious attempt to stop it. Why is fishing above the lake level in the outlets allowed? I see 16 inch and larger fish with people floating flies past them for 6 to 10 feet and then jerking the line hard and repeating the process over again.

I was at Taney last and wanted to keep a couple each of the three days that I was there for lunch. It was very hard to catch any in the slot. I was catching most at 15 to 18. What a problem! don't let anyone intimidite you when you are doing the right thing. The reason that most are looking is that they want to make sure you are not cheating. I saw one guy last week that had a nice Bow on a stringer about 15 inches and I insisted that he put it back. He wasn't very happy and the fish probally didn't survive but it was the right thing to do. I had a friendly conversation and shared about three og the flies that I had tied that were catching fish that day with him free of charge except for the lecture on why Taney was the great place to fish because of the regs of the slot. Enjoy the legal fish you take a lunch and the ones that you and your children and freinds will release and catch in the future.