Fishing Report?

[Phil Lilley]

For once I'm asking... my people say it's been fair. I know we let out all our boats this past Saturday and lots of rainbows were caught. Some nice ones off the dock I hear. But what about the rest of the lake... anyone been out?

[FRENZEL]

I saw Babler heading down to the ramp the other day. I will probably be out tomorrow. Gonna try to hit Taney and the rock. I haven't been out since the rains.

[duckydoty]

Fishing has been great in the evenings when they shut the water off. Went out Thursday evening and the water was shut off at midnight. Chased the water down on the flats between outlet one and two. Fish hit white slump busters 5 and 6 times on just about every cast. Had a buddy from Michigan with me and he brought to hand a 23 inch bow just above the point once the water bottomed just about all the way out. Went up to the submerged island on the south side by the cable around 4 a.m. and just slayed them up there. Warning to all fishing on the south side by the cable and parked on the north side. If the dam starts making a loud swishing sound, start heading for the other side. I noticed a sound like rushing water and then noticed the water was rapidly rising, told the fella that was fishing with me it was time to go and go fast. As soon as we started heading out the horn went off. I thought it was supposed to go off before they started letting water out?????

Anyway, fishing from shore has and can be good when they are running water in other places besides the outlets. Walk down the trails and paths and look for seems behind logs and back eddy areas. They are there and the fishing can be very productive with scuds and midges fished with indicators. You will have to roll cast in most of these areas but it gets you on some fish. One of my favorite spots is down the trail from the brown trout hatchery. When you come to the 1st set of stairs there is a small eddy area just down the hill from the platform with the bench and the tree in the middle of the walk way. A lot more fun than fishing the outlet and a lot less crowded. The south side can provide some excellent fishing access while the water is up also. Behind the island across from outlet 2 is a great spot. Further down are some excellent eddy and seam areas to fish also. Dont let the high water deter you from fishing Taney. You might have to look a little harder for the perfect spot, but they are there.

[twosets]

Hey Phil

Sorry I missed you yesterday

I fished Sunday in a cold hard rain and had one strike in 4 hours between lookout and fall creek.

Generation was high but I still wanted to use my flyrod.

First drift I used a dandy peach jig (1/124) I tied with some split shot to get it down under a big carrot float

I then fished the dead water and seams below lookout island, had a strike on a midge and also threw some larger jigs, sculpin and white.

Then I drifted a 1/32 white jig with my flyrod under a big float 10 ft , nothing

I finally bounces a 2 jig rig off the bottom, zilch

Man, it was a cold hard rain.

There were a few other fools out there as well but I only saw a lad in a drift boat hooks up a fish.

[dgames]

For once I'm asking... my people say it's been fair. I know we let out all our boats this past Saturday and lots of rainbows were caught. Some nice ones off the dock I hear. But what about the rest of the lake... anyone been out?

Fished Thurs & Friday. My first trip to Taneycomo since about 1991. Stayed at Lilly's and rented a jonboat both days. Man they were running a lot of water - especially Friday.

Tried dead drifting from the boat out in the main current with indicator & long leader and didn't get anything doing that. We did beach the boat at the island across from the outlet and the island above overlook and got out and waded. Did well at both islands doing this on Thursday. I had my best luck on a light yellow zebra midge. Tried stripping a black woolly bugger some as well. Did really well on this at the overlook island and caught another one at the end of the day pounding the banks across from Lilly's dock.

Friday the water was probably 6" or more higher than Thursday. With this higher water, we couldn't get around that upper island very well and could not get a fish to take anything in the water we could reach. Had some short hits on the bugger, but no hookups. We actually spent several hours in that upper section and got skunked for the morning. Frustrated, we went back down to the overlook island. Much better luck there and ended up catching a dozen or so in 2 or 3 hours. Again, they loved the wooly bugger there. Also caught fish on zebra midge and soft hackle dead drifted.

At the end of the day, we drifted along the bluff banks and I played around with a spinning rod throwing a rapala against the banks. Caught several this way and had lots of follows and short hits as well. This was kind of fun for a change of pace.

[tippett7]

When the water gets that crazy I found the only way to get to the bottom is using about a 2 ft section of sink line. The fish seem to stay on the bottom when they run that much water.

[twosets]

hey tipit

What is sink line and how do you use it?

[DoveTail]

hey tipit

What is sink line and how do you use it?

Twosets,

They make tungsten lines for fly fishing that sink. SA makes one that is 10' with welded loops on both ends, I think you can buy a sectoin of Rio and cut it however long you like. I fish them the same, the current will move it along the bottom with whatever fly you have on.

I pressume you are asking about fly lines, with a spinning reel you would not need a heavy weight jig to get to the bottom.

[FRENZEL]

Well I lied.. We decided to try our luck with the Bass on the Rock. Looked like a lot o water comin through though.

[back2roots]

Well....I'm bummed! Have not had a chance to get a line wet since early February! When I'm off...they're running water or all my favorite bank spots are taken....still don't have a boat. Oh well......thems' the berries!