Float Fishing The Lake In A Canoe

[hank franklin]

Okay, so I think I'm going to bring my canoe down for a spin on Taneycomo. Am planning to put in at Shepherd of the Hills and have my wife pick me up at the Branson bridge. It's been 25 years since I've been on Taneycomo so bear with me. Will be in town week of June 23.

First, is this floating plan even doable? Is the flow fairly consistent or does it shut down entirely at times? I really don't recall it ever shutting down entirely but I'd hate to be out there several miles from home and have to paddle the whole way.

Second, will there be gravel bars? I've read Phil's description of the Lake and the gravel bars in the upper section. However, are the gravel bars still out considering the wet year and the (I assume) higher than normal water?

Any other pointers or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Hank

[Kyle]

Hank

My father and I floated Taney about 8 years ago. If you put in as long as they are running at least one unit it is not a big deal. It was later in the summer when we went and there were plenty of gravel bars then. The lower lake can get pretty slow at times so you may want to think about getting picked up further up stream than the bridge.

good luck

Kyle

[twosets]

Your float is certainly doable. If they continue the generation as it has been, it could be a pretty short float. During the high generation the gravel bars are pretty much underwater.

If they are not generating, you could get picked up at the cooper creek boat launch and shorten you trip by several miles. Might be a good idea to bring a call phone.

[hank franklin]

Thanks. Is there any way to know what the generation schedule is?

[zsmith62]

Well... you can almost count on there being generation with things being the way they've been recently. Just look in the taney subforum for generation charts or go to http://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx

[fly2fish]

With it up 7 to 9 feet during the day (and most of the night) it is more close to dangerous than doable, the first couple miles especially. After that you are fairly clear and in deeper water. I don't know if you can get much fishing in until you get to the calmer waters.

HC

[Gavin]

A canoe wouldnt be my choice if they ae running a lot of water. There really isnt anything to hit, but volume of water and the current is tremendous. A wipe out could easilly cost you your life...A rental jon boat would be a better choice..At the very least wear your pfd and put some WW float bags in the boat.. If the water is off, you might consider floating from the MDC boat ramp just downstream of the hatchery. Most of the wade fishing occurs above the ramp. Cheers.

[ColdWaterFshr]

You could do it, but it wouldn't be a relaxing way to fish.

The lake gets a lot of 200hp boat traffic and you'll simply be grabbing the gunwales every 2 minutes just to steady yourself with all the wakes being thrown.

Gavins right -- get a rental jon-boat and at least give yourself a fighting chance.

[Greg]

A agree with a couple of other forum members in that I think floating the upper part of the lake would be kind of dangerous if they are running 3 or 4 generators. Personally I wouldn't do it.

Greg

[hank franklin]

Appreciate the advice. Sounds like putting in on the upper stretches is a bad idea. What about further downstream? I'm pretty married to my canoe.

Put in at Cooper Creek and float down to Branson? Not as long a run but at least not life-threatening, right?

I imagine you could float all the way down to Rockaway Beach. Current still decent down there, huh? That's where we went when I was a kid.

Part of this plan is my desire to get my canoe on every major waterway in Missouri. Never been on the "White River" in this canoe. Taney is as close as I can get.