Sunday On Upper Taney

[Greg]

Well I decided to give upper Taney a try on Sun afternoon despite the high water (4 generators). I waded along the edge from the wire down to outlet 2 and back. The fishing was surprisingly good for me. About 15 fish in the 4 hours (4 PM to 8 PM). Several really nice fish too. One brown right at 20" (pics hopefully attached) and several rainbows just under that.

Not the most enjoyable wading and fishing in that kind of current. But still fun. I've missed good ole Taney since the rains/high water. Still looking forward to the water coming down though.

Had to use a lot of weight to get down to the fish. Had to keep changing patterns too. Caught several on: a mohair leech, zebra midge, and an egg pattern.

Greg

[Danoinark]

Nice. Greg did you use dropper rigs and did you go down in fly size fishing the 4 units?

Thanks for the report.

Dano

[Greg]

Dano - by a dropper rig do you mean a multiple fly setup? If so I did use that part of the time. But mostly my flies were just heavily weighted. I tied them up the night before and wrapped a lot of lead on the hook before tying. That and I also used several split shot a few inches above the fly. And a big indicator.

All that makes for some pretty difficult casting. Not for everyone and I wouldn't want to do it every time out. But it was still fun for the most part for a few hours.

Something I forgot to mention in the prior report was how hard the fish fought and how vibrant their colors are. I guess the high water is good for something! And it should make for some great fishing once they finally stop generating 24/7.

Greg

[Danoinark]

Dano - by a dropper rig do you mean a multiple fly setup?

Something I forgot to mention in the prior report was how hard the fish fought and how vibrant their colors are. I guess the high water is good for something! And it should make for some great fishing once they finally stop generating 24/7.

Greg

Greg

You got it. Multiple fly rigs.

So much water has caused an abundance of food sources, nutrients, and higher dissolved oxygen makes for very healthy fish. I agree with you to that once the water is down Taney will be on fire.

Dano

[zsmith62]

I've been going down about once a week recently, and the fishing last week, seemed fairly consistent with what greg said. However, along with the midge and eggs, dark brown scuds seemed to do good as well. Outlet 2 was pretty hot, along with the stretch between it and the outlet 3 cable. I'll be down tommorow morning, and I'll be sure to post my findings.

[Fly_Guy]

I've been fishing right at the wire for the past 3 trips in the last week or so, and if you get there early, there are smallmouth. I've caught roughly 20 in the past 3 trips, the biggest at 18 inches, w/ a super fat belly. Yesterday, caught 6 species of fish on upper taney! - 5 smallmouth, 1 kentucky, countless rainbows (well, probably around 10 or so), a brown, a goggleye, and 3 bluegill. Talk about a mixed bag - lots of fun. Right at the top wire, there is a super deep ledge where the smallmouth have been schooling, though the action isn't as hot as it once was. I've been using a white marabou jig with red thread tied into it, and a jig of brown/green/white marabou (the only colors i have). They've worked for all species. I've got to tell y'all - I've had two fish on that were so big, I thought I hooked the bottom! As I was trying to pull my jig free, I felt the "bottom" turn its head a few times, and said jig popped out. Talk about getting chills! Down from the wire before the outlet I've caught a smallmouth as well. The trick is to find the still area on the edge of the current, and let it get deep. I've already posted this pic, but this is the 18 incher. Happy fishing!

[drew03cmc]

Lovely fish gents! That makes me want to come fish the high water on Taney!

[Greg]

I've been fishing right at the wire for the past 3 trips in the last week or so, and if you get there early, there are smallmouth. I've caught roughly 20 in the past 3 trips, the biggest at 18 inches, w/ a super fat belly. Yesterday, caught 6 species of fish on upper taney! - 5 smallmouth, 1 kentucky, countless rainbows (well, probably around 10 or so), a brown, a goggleye, and 3 bluegill. Talk about a mixed bag - lots of fun. Right at the top wire, there is a super deep ledge where the smallmouth have been schooling, though the action isn't as hot as it once was. I've been using a white marabou jig with red thread tied into it, and a jig of brown/green/white marabou (the only colors i have). They've worked for all species. I've got to tell y'all - I've had two fish on that were so big, I thought I hooked the bottom! As I was trying to pull my jig free, I felt the "bottom" turn its head a few times, and said jig popped out. Talk about getting chills! Down from the wire before the outlet I've caught a smallmouth as well. The trick is to find the still area on the edge of the current, and let it get deep. I've already posted this pic, but this is the 18 incher. Happy fishing!

Nice fish. I had no idea there were still so many smallmouth up there. I would have thought the water up by the dam would be too cold for them and they would have migrated down to the lower lake by now. But evidently not.

Greg

[Fly_Guy]

I've noticed they are appearing in less frequency. If we get another opening of the flood gates though, I'd expect more.