Bass Fishing Taneycomo

[Trav]

Try searching the archives. I have discussed Lower Taney bass extensively. In fact...most of what you need to know about Lower Taney I have expressed more than once.

I will give an update. Ever since they opened the gates at the dam the lake has gone through a drastic change. It has radically effected the big trout population but this has benefited the natural fish in the lake.

Many of the fish which came over the dam has added to populations in the creeks but the lake itself has and will continue to adapt to the reconstruction of the channels caused by the floods. Right now, Lower Taney is basically a relic of what it was and the Bass have taken advantage of the lack of big trout. The first to rule it's change was the white bass. They have thrived the past two years. Of course they adapt to cold water fisheries much better than the natural species.

The biggest threat to the Lower Taney is the invasive species. Both in fish and aquatic vegatation. There are huge schools of three pound shad, coontail chokes the coves and the white carp has ruined most of the natural spawning areas of Bull Creek. In my opinion, the Lower Taney has only the cold water keeping it from being overtaken by those elements.

Of course my opinion is tainted by the days of old. Where big brownies hover cover that is no longer there and the creeks gave shelter to Largemouth Bass. Sorry if I sound pesimistic but the secret is gone. The floods will for years have its ramifications on Taney when it comes to natural fishes and the put and take fishery of big bows and browns have to start over. Being a cold water fishery it will take years for it to be a predictable body of water again. And we have man to blame mostly. I mean...think about it...it is a man made object keeping it cold and killing the natural resources(food) needed to reestablish the fishing.

I have moved off the lake. As a bass man I wouldn't waste my time on it for at least another three years. If you want "put and take" trout then it will continue to be the lake's prowess as a fish tank. Other than that...plan your bass trips for lakes that have benifited from the floods. Table Rock is going to be the big ticket for the next decade. The Rock is a tough fishery due to its depth and size but it is chuck full of bass spawned during the high water. If you catch a dozen 10 inchers this summer you can credit the high water for that population.

[Gatorjet]

Thanks for your report Trav. Although the lower part of the lake sounds disappointing, the middle portion appears to have improved a lot. Or maybe just more people fishing it. I know this thread is about bass, but since you mentioned the trout I must say the tournaments out of Lilley's have turned up a lot of quality fish from Cooper Creek all the way to Powersite. Also the new state record brown caught below Cooper Creek. I think the winners of R.A.W last Saturday fished somewhere near Rockaway. My son and I caught enough good quality fish in an area between Cooper Creek and the Landing to take 4th place, and big fish. At 2.75# it wasn't a monster, but not a stocker either. Out of the 8 fish we weighed in only 3 appeared to be newly stocked fish.

I planned to try some bass fishing this spring and summer at Taney. I'll still give it a try, just to learn a little down there if nothing else.

[Trav]

Thanks for your report Trav. Although the lower part of the lake sounds disappointing, the middle portion appears to have improved a lot. Or maybe just more people fishing it. I know this thread is about bass, but since you mentioned the trout I must say the tournaments out of Lilley's have turned up a lot of quality fish from Cooper Creek all the way to Powersite. Also the new state record brown caught below Cooper Creek. I think the winners of R.A.W last Saturday fished somewhere near Rockaway. My son and I caught enough good quality fish in an area between Cooper Creek and the Landing to take 4th place, and big fish. At 2.75# it wasn't a monster, but not a stocker either. Out of the 8 fish we weighed in only 3 appeared to be newly stocked fish.

I planned to try some bass fishing this spring and summer at Taney. I'll still give it a try, just to learn a little down there if nothing else.

I am sorry if my report appeared as less than favorable.

Taney is a great put and take fishery. I can't debate that. I would go so far as to say it is one of the best of its kind in the country. Talking bad of it is as distasteful as bad mouthing an ex girlfreind who did you no wrong.

Yet...I stand by my convictions when it comes to the Lower end. I will be the first to say my opinions do not refer to the area above Bull Creek. Everyone knows I have never been too crazy about the skinny part of the lake. Too many tourists since its conception but tourism is what built its success.

With that said I will be totally honest toward my reasoning.

I am a deep water/offshore structure fisherman and I am not all that fond of bows. They are incindental catches to me. When it comes to trout I have adamently stated in the past that I seek large Browns only. As primarily a Bass man it suits my preffered style of angling. Watching the flood gates open and literally flushing away structure which took me decades to familiarize myself with has allowed my discouragement to lash out. Losing this advantage has stained my opinion of the Lower Taney. This is my Bad. And Mine alone.

Seeing the beauty of the lake being taken over by competitve species, aquatic vegatation, pollution, development and tourists didn't help much either. I mean..we are talking about thirty years of devotion lost...no...eroded in a fell swoop.

I must also admit that after spending three decades living on the lake, I have let these changes to my childhood stomping grounds to burn me out on even having any desire to fish it. To the point I have submitted to time, nature and the human anthill and chose to move my residence off the lake.

As a fisherman I know I must adapt to succeed but like childhood lovers who have simply grown apart, I respectfully let the life of the relationship to move on to others who can appreciate it better. And it was not without emotion. My frustration caused me a few great freinds who live on the lake as I took a turn toward a bitterness that expanded beyond my known integrity. I think we all can agree that we feel and react in strange ways when what we are familiar with changes how you think of the world. Even if it is in your own head.

Don't get me wrong, my lifetime experience with man made cold water fisheries has benefitted my abilities greatly and is what honed my skills I carry today. I do appreciate the challenges the Lower Taney provided. And not a single "native" Taney County man can argue the fact that the "monster" of the the Lower Taney can do nothing but make you a better fisherman. You won't find a more challenging body of water than the area below Bull Creek. For Bass or trout.

I am not saying any other lake in the Ozarks hasn't felt similar changes. Just the ones I watched with this one has broken my heart. And obviously it is because of how close I felt to it.

BUT

Like childhood lovers who have simply grown apart...the lake and I will always be freinds and as time passes I will visit often and keep in touch in the future.

And speaking of futures....I firmly beleive in Live and let live. Time apart will be good and when I return I will have Taney, not just the Lower, the whole lake will be my ally. For it taught me my own credence to others.

Peace

[King Fish]

I am sorry if my report appeared as less than favorable.

Taney is a great put and take fishery. I can't debate that. I would go so far as to say it is one of the best of its kind in the country. Talking bad of it is as distasteful as bad mouthing an ex girlfreind who did you no wrong.

Yet...I stand by my convictions when it comes to the Lower end. I will be the first to say my opinions do not refer to the area above Bull Creek. Everyone knows I have never been too crazy about the skinny part of the lake. Too many tourists since its conception but tourism is what built its success.

With that said I will be totally honest toward my reasoning.

I am a deep water/offshore structure fisherman and I am not all that fond of bows. They are incindental catches to me. When it comes to trout I have adamently stated in the past that I seek large Browns only. As primarily a Bass man it suits my preffered style of angling. Watching the flood gates open and literally flushing away structure which took me decades to familiarize myself with has allowed my discouragement to lash out. Losing this advantage has stained my opinion of the Lower Taney. This is my Bad. And Mine alone.

Seeing the beauty of the lake being taken over by competitve species, aquatic vegatation, pollution, development and tourists didn't help much either. I mean..we are talking about thirty years of devotion lost...no...eroded in a fell swoop.

I must also admit that after spending three decades living on the lake, I have let these changes to my childhood stomping grounds to burn me out on even having any desire to fish it. To the point I have submitted to time, nature and the human anthill and chose to move my residence off the lake.

As a fisherman I know I must adapt to succeed but like childhood lovers who have simply grown apart, I respectfully let the life of the relationship to move on to others who can appreciate it better. And it was not without emotion. My frustration caused me a few great freinds who live on the lake as I took a turn toward a bitterness that expanded beyond my known integrity. I think we all can agree that we feel and react in strange ways when what we are familiar with changes how you think of the world. Even if it is in your own head.

Don't get me wrong, my lifetime experience with man made cold water fisheries has benefitted my abilities greatly and is what honed my skills I carry today. I do appreciate the challenges the Lower Taney provided. And not a single "native" Taney County man can argue the fact that the "monster" of the the Lower Taney can do nothing but make you a better fisherman. You won't find a more challenging body of water than the area below Bull Creek. For Bass or trout.

I am not saying any other lake in the Ozarks hasn't felt similar changes. Just the ones I watched with this one has broken my heart. And obviously it is because of how close I felt to it.

BUT

Like childhood lovers who have simply grown apart...the lake and I will always be freinds and as time passes I will visit often and keep in touch in the future.

And speaking of futures....I firmly beleive in Live and let live. Time apart will be good and when I return I will have Taney, not just the Lower, the whole lake will be my ally. For it taught me my own credence to others.

Peace

WOW! that was so poetic.. I feel your pain there Trav.. I really do.. but it takes a lot of time to learn a lake.. I've been fishing Taney since 1980 and I go 3-4 times a year sometimes more and my time investment has rewarded me over the years where it's the water I know best.. and I've seen a decline in the 90's but it seems to me the quality of fish has improved since the mid/late 90's and it's hard to learn something else.. but I know I should.. What do you consider your favorite or home lake now.. just curious thx

PK

[Trav]

WOW! that was so poetic.. I feel your pain there Trav.. I really do.. but it takes a lot of time to learn a lake.. I've been fishing Taney since 1980 and I go 3-4 times a year sometimes more and my time investment has rewarded me over the years where it's the water I know best.. and I've seen a decline in the 90's but it seems to me the quality of fish has improved since the mid/late 90's and it's hard to learn something else.. but I know I should.. What do you consider your favorite or home lake now.. just curious thx

PK

Right now you can consider Trav to be a gypsy. I do plan on hitting the Rock very regular but am having an affair with Pomme...she is sexy!! Right now I live a couple miles from Lake Springfeild but they won't allow my boat there because of the horse power.

Speaking of Pomme....don't you hate those toothy critters when you finesse fish? Steel leaders are like wearing ten condoms...can't feel anything...wink

[Sam]

Right now I live a couple miles from Lake Springfeild but they won't allow my boat there because of the horse power.

Speaking of Lake Springfield, that's been a gripe of mine for years. It's about 10 miles from me, and it's a pretty good (and mostly ignored) bass and crappie lake close to home. I can't put my boat on it, though, because of the size of the outboard motor.

ALL the stuff I need is in my boat - compartments full of tackle, depth finders, ice box, live well, etc. I could get along just fine with the trolling motor alone on Lake Springfield. But I called the city office responsible for the lake once and explained that I'd be happy to leave the ignition key at home, keep the big motor kicked up out of the water, and even remove the prop if they wanted - anything to prove that I wasn't running the motor on the lake. Nope - they said they'd give me a ticket just for POSSESSION of a motor that's too big there. Period.

Now, I fully understand that they don't want the noise and wakes of large motors on that lake, fair enough. But when you're willing to disable the outboard and use a trolling motor only, and they'll still write you a ticket - that's not right.

[King Fish]

Right now you can consider Trav to be a gypsy. I do plan on hitting the Rock very regular but am having an affair with Pomme...she is sexy!! Right now I live a couple miles from Lake Springfeild but they won't allow my boat there because of the horse power.

Speaking of Pomme....don't you hate those toothy critters when you finesse fish? Steel leaders are like wearing ten condoms...can't feel anything...wink

Now thats funny.. 10 condoms.. you don't think thats funny get the Hell outta here... good one.. thx Trav

PK