What Should We Expect?

[LostMyWife]

After reading several posts I am wondering what to expect when we get to Taney.

How deep is the water under the dam?

Should we leave our waders at home?

Is Fly Fishing even an option for us rookies?

If not, is spinning gear an option?

Should we bring the john boat and fish somewhere other than the trophy area?

Any crappie biting?

We need some help guys. This is our first vacation in almost 2 years and we want to enjoy it.

LMW

[Thom]

LMW

Welcome back.

If you walk in at outlet 1 and up the bank to the cable there lots of places to wade. My grandson and I caught lots of rainbows, browns, and even small mouth and whites there a few weeks ago. We used flyrods and spinning gear with large 1/8 or smaller white, sculpen, and white/red or black/yellow jigs. Also small scuds, egg flys, san jaun worms all worked for us. You just have to weight enough to get it down where the fish are.

Thom

[Phil Lilley]

After reading several posts I am wondering what to expect when we get to Taney.

How deep is the water under the dam?

Same as other times... not much change.

Should we leave our waders at home?

No- I think there's a decent chance we'll see some down water this weekend.

Is Fly Fishing even an option for us rookies?

If the water is down- yes. Even if it's not, Linc caught alot of trout on his fly rod this week with high water.

If not, is spinning gear an option?

Jigs jigs jigs... oh yes.

Should we bring the john boat and fish somewhere other than the trophy area?

Jig below the dam to the ramp. White, sculpin 1/8th oz if it's running. Bring the boat.

Any crappie biting?

No

We need some help guys. This is our first vacation in almost 2 years and we want to enjoy it.

Weather looks really nice- water should be good and the fishing great.

[LostMyWife]

Thanks guys

My grizzly does not have anything but a 55 lb thrust trolling motor. Can it handle the current?

Last time we were down there was not a lot of current or water for that matter.

LMW

[LostMyWife]

Hey Guys

Got down late Wednesday night. It took a while to get the motor on our boat.

Not to self, don't borrow sons truck until you know it runs right. Shorted out trailer plug is a bad thing on a holiday run to taney.

Thursday started early. We needed to get some time in on the boat with the new motor. One look at Taney on Thursday and I was convinced that I was not making it out first outing. I had to get use to the new motor and Robbie has a new trolling motor to learn. We decided TR was the place to be. Worked out OK. Caught a bunch of nice blue gill.

Went to taney agian on Thursday afternoon. Water was way up and fast. No way. Back to TR.

Friday we decided to hit TR in the rain. Robbie hooked a 2 pound bass on ultra light, caught a few but wanted to get taney now that we were sufficiently schooled on handling the boat. Robbie was pretty good in the front with the trolling motor. So miracles do happen. OUCH

Got to taney about 1:30 only to find some fast high water again. Went to Coopers and put the boat in. We hit Lilley's at about 3 after making two runs up towards the dam. This was our first time ontaney with the boat. I recall Michael taking about guys hung on the gravel bars and I decided not to join that little club so we hit Lilley's for bait and maps. They were pretty busy. Parked the boat in one of the nameless slips only to find that it was taken. RObbie played the I can't drive the boat card so they were cool about it.

Floating taney was great. We did not have the tackle right today, tomorrow will be different. We had the wrong line on the spools, wrong size hooks and the wrong bait setup. I spent a lot of time on the sitre reading and we will do better tommorrow.

We have spent our last dollar at the condos in Kimberling. Lilley's looks to be the place to be. Robbie got one look at the setup and asked why we were driving all the way to Kimberling.

Alright, enough is enough. See ya tomorrow morning, early, before generation I hope.

Oh yea, thanks Phil! The maps were great. The articles will help. I think a guide may be in our future on the next trip.

[Thom]

LMW:

I have found that Lilleys is a great place to stay for the following reasons when I run out of timeshare time it is where I head as well as most of my friends and family.

1. It is located on a great spot on Taney. Upstream or down good fishing depending on how you fish.

2. Great place to launch (Coopers) and dock folks will help you get set up launching if needed.

3. Always someone available at dock for help or advice.

4. Keeping boat at dock is less expensive if you are a guest than launching every day.

5. Lodging and tackle shop (well stocked) as good or better than most anywhere.

6. Boat rental very reasonable also.

7. Customer service excellent. Just ask and they will usually exceed your expectations.

Thom

[LostMyWife]

We have been to Lilley's Shop twice. Have not stayed there yet, but that will change with our next trip down.

We saw the cabins from the water, saw his docks and loved them. Now I just need to get the time off.

Anyway, we drifted Taney today. We got to the dam to check out the water too late and were totally amazed at the difference in the water level. We are going there first in the morning.

Back to drifting. There is something to be said for the level of relaxation you get drifting. Up until the time some over zealous young lady decided that the area in front of Cooper Creek and Lilley's Landing was her own personal place to do full throttle power turns, it was very relaxing. Robbie made a few threats to me so that i would not say anything. The funny thing was once she got past the docks, she calmed down and idled up the river.

Back to fishing. After reading Phil's articles, we decided to fish with 4 pound test line, white and pink power bait and very small hooks. we caught several fish, Including a 16 ich bow, which was a personal best for me.

All in all it was a great day on the lake!

One more partialday and we are homeward bound.

LMW

[Thom]

LMW:

I am jealous but I will be back there soon. Great to hear you and wife had a great time. It seems that every time I fish Taney I learn something new and meet some great folks.

Even a bad day fishing is better than a good one at work. Sounds as though you did great fishing yesterday though. Wait until you catch em midging or hitting small jigs. Lots of non stop fun.

Thom