Rainbow Run/spawn?

[shockley32]

Hello Gents! New to the forum, not to fishing. Taney is one of my favorite places to fish, go as often as I can get down there. I don't get there nearly enough as I live 85 miles to the north.

Any rate I was told the rainbows make a run/spawn at the end of Feb to first part of March similar to that of the browns in the fall. Is that true? If so are there very many nice bows up by the dam right now? Looking for 4 lbs plus fish.

It's hard to get away with Bennet opening up on the first, the Niangua River starts hopping, Spoonbill opening, white bass running up stream and the crappie starting to feel the urge. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brad

[Phil Lilley]

We see most of the spawners in December and some in January but our rainbows don't know really when they spawn. Their upbringing in the hatchery screws them all up so some are spawning for most of the winter, spring and summer.

But nothing like the browns spawn numbers, anytime.

[DoveTail]

Trying to learn more here. Why doesn't that screw up the browns as all fish are brought up in hatcheries? Or are there enough browns to sustain a population?

[Trav]

There is no self sustaining populations of trout in Taney. They may try to spawn some but it is all moot.

The Browns are the only noticable species as far as a run because the majority of the Brown population live in the deeper areas of the lake. When they have the call to spawn they leave the deep water and head to the shallows of the tailrace. More people catch them during that period of time so it is noticed more than the Bows. Since bows are always there anyway, thier attempted spawn is less noticed.

Additionally, most the bows are fairly young and dont totally simulate to thier envirement away from the hatchery until they have been in the lake for a few years. So, as Phil stated, they have no internal clock.

Most the browns, due to size restrictions and thier instinct to migrate to deeper waters, will have a higher level of maturity. Wich naturally will bring out the "wild trout" in them. I would think that the same would go for bows as well with the "trophy area" slot limits but unfortunately they are "farm dumb" and dont adapt the same.

I cant prove it, but I think all the cross-straining has a bit to do with thier intellectual inept. But that is just my theory.

[Gavin]

Its true..Hatchery bows are just plain confused when it comes to spawning..they do try to spawn, but the timing varies a lot. I see a lot of stocker bows on beds in late September early October.Wild bows in Crane, Mill, etc. spawn in January or February.

[Jeremy Hunt]

Trav it the nail right on the head. Couldn't have said it any better.

[shockley32]

Thanks for the info fellows!

Brad