Fall Brown Run

[Poke 'Em]

Hello all.

I'm fairly new to the area (been here about 3 1/2 months), so I haven't yet experienced a full season of tailwater fishing.

My brother was thinking about coming down from Indiana some time in the next couple of months for the fall brown run.

My questions are, when does the run usually start (and how long does it last until), and is there any real chance of being wadeable water by then? It seemed like we were just getting close to having wadeable water when Gustav came through. Of course, it depends on what happens with Ike, but if we manage to avoid Ike, do you think it might be worth his while to come down?

[fly2fish]

We have been fishing the high water below the dam since early spring and it has not only been different (as far as the type of fish), but larger fish on the average. Even if there is still some generation going on it will still be awsome this fall. If you are not sure about fishing the high water especially at night give Leonard a call and set up a night. I thought I would be fishing low water tomorrow night and this weekend but not so but I ain't letting that stop me. The brown run usually starts early Oct. and a few stragglers hang around through Dec. With the high water a lot of big browns are already in the area.

HC

[Bman]

We have been fishing the high water below the dam since early spring and it has not only been different (as far as the type of fish), but larger fish on the average. Even if there is still some generation going on it will still be awsome this fall. If you are not sure about fishing the high water especially at night give Leonard a call and set up a night. I thought I would be fishing low water tomorrow night and this weekend but not so but I ain't letting that stop me. The brown run usually starts early Oct. and a few stragglers hang around through Dec. With the high water a lot of big browns are already in the area.

HC

With 2-4 units running, you are stuck in the outlets, right? Like opening day at the parks? Or are there other spots.

[Troy Gregg]

I have been fishing from the cable down the past couple of evenings and I have am starting to see more browns moving up the lake, I have seen a couple of monsters as well. I can't wait until the run is in full swing.

[fly2fish]

With 2-4 units running, you are stuck in the outlets, right? Like opening day at the parks? Or are there other spots.

I fish 90% of the time at night and with 4 units there is room from outlet 1 up to the cable and directly down from outlet 1 several yards. With 2 units there is some room to get a backcast in around the point at outlet 1. Outlet 2 you can drift fish with the glow indicators with midges, scuds, eggs etc. no matter what the level is. Some of the best nights this summer was 4 units and 5 gates open. I to was hoping for low water tonight but will take another night of throwing the spinning rod with PMS's.

HC

[soggyfeet]

Fall Brown run there is no such thing. Its the summer brown run you want. I just hope by mid Oct the water is at a normal level, I dont like fishing that far up the lake.

[laker67]

? And there are little browns in the river? Interesting..if so.

Yes, every year we have fish under 10 pounds in the river.

[Bman]

I fish 90% of the time at night and with 4 units there is room from outlet 1 up to the cable and directly down from outlet 1 several yards. With 2 units there is some room to get a backcast in around the point at outlet 1. Outlet 2 you can drift fish with the glow indicators with midges, scuds, eggs etc. no matter what the level is. Some of the best nights this summer was 4 units and 5 gates open. I to was hoping for low water tonight but will take another night of throwing the spinning rod with PMS's.

HC

Thanks for the great info, I'm just thinking of what those spots would be like during the day with 4 units. Thinking elbow to elbow. With Ike on the way, I think we could see floodgates open again. As well as 4 units for weeks and weeks to come. Lets hope not.

[Indiana Trout]

I guess what I meant to ask is, are there fingerling browns in Taney. Do they spawn and have all sizes or is it just big fish? Can you catch 5 inchers sometimes?

I have, but I was a LOOOONG time ago...

[Danoinark]

So where then do the big browns come from? THey dont stock browns do they? I am stumped here now.

Kevin,

They do stock browns, and their brown trout hatchery is on site. The browns do go through the motions of spawning, but I tend to believe no eggs are hatched in the stream. The redds ( gravel spawning beds) are disrupted because of flow fluctuations due to generation. Also dissolved oxygen levels and water temperatures have to be near perfect for it to happen. Here is an article that Phil wrote years ago about the spawn. Dano

"97 brown trout spawn very successful

JP Lilley

According to James Civiello, Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery manager, their brown trout spawn was extremely successful due to the increase in four year old browns moving up into the "ditch".

There are three major affluent outlets releasing water from the trout hatchery back into Lake Taneycomo. Of these three outlets, outlet #3 runs into the lake like a small stream, originating from a pipe that carries water from a earthen pond and the east side of the grounds. The water forms a small ditch at that point and then flows down a reviene to the lake. Brown trout move up this small stream up to the ditch where they are harvested by hatchery workers and then are taken to a holding tank until they are ready for "milking". The browns, both female and male, are stripped of their eggs and sperm and then released back into Lake Taneycomo.

James explained trout begin their spawning years at the ripe old age of three years. At four years, they are prime producers and at five, some continue to produce well, but some are culled out. Rainbow spawners in the system generally are the same but they are raised in the raceways at the hatchery. When they are culled, they are released back into the lake or taken to other state parks around Missouri.

This month, 300 brown trout were taken from the ditch and over 300,000 eggs were harvested. James also said pilinary reports show 80% of the eggs will hatch, which is a good success rate. He expects 10% of those that hatch will "dropout" and not make it past the fry stage.