Taneycomo Week Of 10/27

[Steve Smith]

A buddy and I spent last week [Monday 27th to Saturday Nov 1st] on Taneycomo’s upper end wade fishing and found it a pretty tough go. I could not believe how warm the water was all week, and understand the concerns. As far as water conditions, we had about three hours early in the week with zero generators and the rest of the week pretty much full blast generation. The unofficial rumor we heard was Beaver and Norfork had generation issues and Table Rock had to pick up the slack. I don’t know if that’s fact, but it was a reasonable explanation why the generation was on 24 hours for so many days. We were limited to fishing the outlets and nearby slack water to attempt any safe wading possibilities. We still had a blast though even with the limitations of water that could be waded. Sight fishing with Oregon Cheese egg patterns [jig head], some on zebra midges, and dark leech patterns worked well for my partner. However, Cracklebacks worked well too when I could fish slack water. Many times there were just too many people wade fishing to cast a dry fly parallel to the banks. Sight fishing for me is impossible, but my partner hooked up with several nice fish during the week. None of them were horses, but certainly not small stockers either. The fact is we did not see any one with a big fish all week long [not even snagged]. As I mentioned, my partner had the right pattern. Often using a gold bead or light colored patterns, he would watch trout take the fly, which would never twitch the indicator or line. It was one of those patterns that unless you could see fish take a fly, you’d never know it. The oddity was several questioned him on the fly being used, but it wasn’t the pattern that made a difference. Personally, I can count on one hand the fish that gave me any indication of a strike the entire week. Guess my poor eyesight is one of the reasons I am such a dry fly fanatic. Despite the poor wading conditions, it was a great week.

[Phil Lilley]

Steve- thanks for the report. But have to correct you on one thing. Generation has not been full blast. At four full units the level would be about 712 ft. and it's been about 705-6 at best. Yes they are running 4 units but only about 40%.

Don't mean to be critical at all... just don't want to give some the impression we're at flood stage. I agree, it is hard to wade and fish below the dam with any water running at all.

Thanks again for the report!

[Steve Smith]

Thanks Phil. Learn something everyday. I just assumed four generators was wide open. Never realized they can adjust flow. It's a good thing they were not running full blast or there would have been no way we could have fished.

[bigredbirdfan]

So Phil the only way to determine % of flow is by lake elevation? Or do charts, annoucements, or corps webpages tell this information?

Just curious, cause I will call the recording to get number of units on the water, but many times 4 units can be like 2 units or 2 units can be like 4 units. Guess I have much to learn about a silly little tailwater.