Table Rock Rain

[Crappie5]

Looking at the graph the lake is back on the rise again. It has came up 2' since Monday. With more rain on the way what are we going to do. Arkansas is suppposed to really get pounded and this will all run in. How about all our great Guides, this has to be hitting them real hard? It's April and water temps are getting prime, we should be tearing them up right now.

Any thoughts out there as to what we need to be doing?

[Phil Lilley]

Beaver is running flood gates. The lake is at 99% and they're barely keeping up. More rain means more water into Table Rock. They are pushing as much water thru Taney as possible without flooding low lying houses downstream. They may have to move more shortly. That means opening the other 5 gates or opening the ones they have open more.

As for fishing... Babler should be able to report. A few guides caught fish yesterday.

[Don House]

I know Bill will put his two cents in, but fishing on the Rock is to say the least hard! Most guides can find a few fish but the average guide trip our clients don't really know how to pitch or flip and alot of casting can be a challenge also trying to get baits in the flooded bushes. Spinnerbaits in the flooded bushes seems to be working but very hit and miss long with crankbaits and some shakey jigs also.

Me personally for the time being I'm trying to take everyone I can over to Taneycomo. Taneycomo right now it is HOT!!! Yesterdays trip was the best fishing I have ever had on Taneycomo, had to make some changes "thanks to Bill" to help with the wind and fast moving water, you can read Bill's report on the Taneycomo Upper Lake form, I know he did very well also. Trout Fishing is alot of fun even better when you get to tangle with a 2 plus pound Rainbow. And really trout fishing is not as easy as most people think, it is a real challenge.

So if you want to catch a good amount of fish Taneycomo is the ticket, if you don't mind fishing for one to two bites for 8 hours then Table Rock will be your bet. And yes to answer your question this weather is hurting alot of the guides down here including me, so much I'm seeing alot of guides that don't fish for trout working Taneycomo now, that should tell you something.

Good Fishing here comes the rain again.

Capt. Don

[MidwestBiker]

It's unbelieveable the amount of rain the last 45 days has dumped. I agree, we needed the ran and needed to get the lakes back up a bit. I know for the near term, the water looks like it will rise even more. But long term - if the rain ends Monday and the rest of the month gets "normal" April rainfall - what do you think TR going to look like around Apr 26 or May 2nd?

From the looks of some of the posted pictures and the reports, I can only imagine the lake will still be high. I would love input from those who live on TR year around (I am in St Louis) as I'm new to the forum and have become addicted to keeping up-to-date on this. I have a week long trip scheduled for the first week of May (staying at Boomarang Resort) close to the dam and am worried the high water will still be high. It gets even worse - I understand that all the water released eventually goes into Bull Shoals (through Taney) and when we leave TR we are supposed to spend a few days on BS.

Midwestbiker

(Dave G)

[Phil Lilley]

They can dump TR 6 inches per day but that's NOT with Beaver dumping at the same time. It's feasible for TR to be back to spring time levels by the end of the month if it stops raining... but that's a big IF.

[ozarksfishin]

Crappie5, I have to agree with Don, fishing is tough right now on Table Rock. Those fish are not used to the color and high water. Me and Don had a two day guide trip Tues. and Wed. and when we showed up at the ramp at Scotty's, there were at least 8 or 10 guide's trucks at the boat ramp. So you know fishing is tough on the Rock! Speaking for myself, it is killing me not to be able to find some Crappie. I actually got on some before all the rain, and thought it was going to be another great year. O well, at least the trout are biting!! BTW, I have a question for Babs and Lilley, on the two days we were out, I caught two Smallmouth (one each day) drifting a white Scud up by the Dam. Is there alot of Smallies up that way? I didn't think there were. Good fishin, look for me up that way tommorow Babler, I have another guide trip.

[Phil Lilley]

BTW, I have a question for Babs and Lilley, on the two days we were out, I caught two Smallmouth (one each day) drifting a white Scud up by the Dam. Is there alot of Smallies up that way?

When flood gates are open, strange things happen below the dam. I'm sure they are fish that have made their way to the dam from down lake to see what the fuss is. I guess they recognize the nutrient value of scuds, just like trout do.