Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

LOWER RESTRICTED AREA ( JUST BELOW LOOKOUT TO FALL CREEK)

This area of upper lake Taneycomo can be classified as a river portion of the lake. Water flow and movement or the lack there of, are always an important factor in fishing this river/lake stretch.

Let’s number the entire 1 plus miles of this area, into zones. Due to the curvature of the lake in this area, we will start on the Southwest shore line directly in front of the large white house, in this location known to belong to Andy William’s.

Zone 1 Andy’s house to the tennis courts, on the same southwest side. Directly in front of the William’s house a long ridge or shoal runs parallel to the shore line some 40 ft. from the bank. This reef section is very wade able during no flow and up to 2 generators. The shoal or ridge runs about 300 yards and is an area that holds fish at all times.

During heavy generation, this is an inside bank with a somewhat slower milder flow that allows the fish to maintain position outside of the direct current. The ridge creates a seam that provides easy access for feeding trout to gather necessary subsistence with little movement.

Along this gravel flat extending 1/2 of the width of the lake from West to East, is a feeding ground and a holding area for large numbers of rainbows. Midge’s scuds, and sow bugs are present in this area and it is easily wade able or boat fished using like patterns. On slow or zero flow small crustation patterns from size 16 to 22 work well as do emergers and midge patterns in similar sizes. Natural color selections in life like tones tend to get more attention than flashy presentations.

On power generation, bright hue’s in purple, pink, peach, and larger size naturals in 10’s and 12’s will get attention.

Zone 2 is that area just below the tennis courts that has a small un/named creek running in that has formed a delta that forges 2/3 of the lakes width, and encompasses and area running North and South, of about 200 yards. This area should be navigated very carefully while operating a boat during low, or minimum flow, due to this shallow rock delta, that has been formed by the creek.

Similar fly patterns work very well in this location and you can also add a san juan worm, to the mix if a flow is present after a rain from the creek. This is also a good area for dry fly presentation or a tandem rig. Small stimulators, humpy’s or caddis are great dry’s and a small scud or midge can be added to complete the double fly rig.

Zone 3 continues on the same side and is a gravel flat that is extremely shallow flowing thru the remaining houses on the Western shore of the lake.

This area can be extremely hard to fish and probably holds the smallest density of fish in the area. Light midging does occur at times in this area but the trout seem to run small, and are extremely sensitive to movement and water disturbance. Emergers, midges and small scud presentations can take these wary fish, and you are always more apt to be successful here if there is current and wind present.

Zone 4 is a large flat that has formed just below the glass front house on the West shore. This area shallow reef area extends to within 30 feet of the Eastern shore and encompasses a North South area of approximately 300 yards.

This flat has excellent possibilities for wade fishing as well as boat fishing. On zero or moderate flow naturals as described above are very good as well as a multitude of dry fly presentation. On generation this flat is known to be an excellent producer or egg patterns and bright pink and chrome micro jigs.

Zone 5 Starts at the Fall Creek condo’s and extends to Fall Creek on the same shoreline. The bottom structure changes here from gravel to more of a table rock or chunk rock, and the presents of timber and log jams are present .

Brown and Rainbows both occupy this deeper area as this is the beginning of a channel swing bank.

On water flow or generation, this area is extremely hard to fish, as the fish maintain a bottom attitude and making effective presentations to deeper fish in this location is extremely hard.

Shore line structure can be fished with suspending stick baits and straight line jig presentations in sculpin in sizes of ¼ too 1/64 oz. are a good bet.

On zero generation, jig and float fishing this stretch is deadly. Natural presentations using, sculpin, olive, and ginger micro jigs will account for wonderful catches. Make sure your jig is near the bottom usually about 6 ft. under the indicator thru here. Fluorocarbon leaders will increase your catch, sized properly with the jig of your choice.

Zone 6 crossing the lake to the point of the narrow island starting back up the lake beginning at the base of the restricted zone and continuing to the narrows described in Zone 5.

This area is a large ridge or gravel flat that breaks into a narrow channel at its extreme South end.

Excellent dry fly fishing can be enjoyed the entire length of the flat. Midging is a constant in this area and on zero generation it is quite wade able. Similar patterns apply.

Zone 7 Channel cut to Casket Rock. This is the main lake artery in this area with the flat from the West bank coming out to within casting distance of the East shoreline. This slot as the locals call it is a very nice holding area for both rainbow and brown trout. Large boulders are strewn along with fallen trees and log jams in this area. As this is the channel ,boat traffic is restricted to the narrow channel area proceeding up and down stream, and good Ozark curtsey should always apply when fishing this stretch.

Deeper water presentation are very good here with strike indicators helping to maintain depth on your presentations. During water flow, this bluff bank with its various hidey holes are good locations , for larger fish to hide. Stick baits, large streamers, and straight line jigs will catch quality fish.

Zone 8. Casket Rock to Lookout, along the East Shoreline. Locally named Casket Rock is a huge 4 sided piece of limestone measuring 4 ft. by 6 ft. by 12 feet. This area is the channel bank, constituting the deepest water thru out the entire stretch. Bottom configurations consists of a mixture of gravel, boulders, and submerged stumps and wood debris.

On generation this is the probably the sections best location for attracting large brown trout. Stick baits are by far the most common baits presented here for larger fish. This deep slot is also an excellent place for dragging egg presenting on Taneycomo drift rigs.

Non-generation, this shady bank stays very strong till late in the morning due to shadows. Presentations include straight line jigs, jig and float combinations, and at certain seasons the deep bank can be plied with large dry fly patterns, presented directly to the bank to entice both rainbows and browns cruising the bank looking for terrestrials.

Due to private property and lack of access in this entire section, it is most frequently fished by boat. It does have excellent wade able water thru access at either Point Royal, or thru the Fall Creek complex.

[alletec]

Thanks for all the the info guys. I am going to have to print all this out and laminate it to talk fishing with me every time. Thanks again for dissecting the area.

[Phil Lilley]

I got out today. Went downstream looking for whites and crappie- nothing. Lake temp - 41. Went up in Roark - 44 at the bridges. Good color water. Did catch a dozen rainbows in front of the single dock on the east bank across the channel and off the tree line. Jig and float- 5 feet deep, white jig or sculpin.

Headed to the dam after a short break and tried white 1/8th oz jigs- caught 2 rainbows. Drifted on down to Andy's house and started there on the west side (shallow side) and drifted with spin gear a #10 gray scud 2 fly rig with a #4 split shot. Caught 8 on the first pass and 9 on the second. Half were smaller than 12 and half were 12-14 inches. Drifted on down to Short Creek and caught 6 more, again staying on the shallow side. But subed out on scud for a red san juan and caught half on it.