Fishing Report - 6/25 - 6/26

[vanven]

Friday:

I was standing in my garage Friday morning trying to decide if I was going to head south or not. Leonard's post about the possibility of strong flows all weekend had me very apprehensive about the possibility of fishing Taneycomo over the weekend. I packed my stuff with the expectation of fishing Roaring River all weekend. I left my night fishing gear, the heavy socks, the headlamp, the sweatshirt. I had to get south for a weekend to get away.

I fished Roaring River on Friday. Not a lot to report other than seeing trout chase a beetle dry fly is always fun. I caught several small stockers. I visited Tim's shop and drooled all over a beautiful Winston 4wt. Friday was not a super exciting fishing day, but it helped. I headed back to Cassville around 7pm to find a hotel room. Taney was still generating and the weekend clearly looked to be full of stockers. I couldn't find a room anywhere in Cassville. Well I did find one, but at $69 a night I couldn't justify the cost.

I decided to drive to Branson to get a room. I would be close to Taney if something amazing happened with the generators, I could find a cheaper room, and I could eat something other than McDonald's/Sonic.

Saturday:

I woke up at 8am Saturday and checked the generation levels at Taneycomo. I was amazed to see that 0 units were running. I threw my stuff together and headed to the dam. I decided to avoid the sizable crowd at the outlets and went down to the boat ramp. I hadn't fished this area for quite a while. I did quite well. I caught several fish on a size 18 tan scud while the sun was high. Eventually around noon it got a bit overcast and I caught even more fish on a rusty midge and black/silver midge. About 1pm a thunderstorm decided to spring up. I was not anticipating this. I got caught on the south side of the water several hundred yards down from the boat ramp. The wind blew hard and it poured. At least it was a warm rain because by the time I managed to get back to the boat ramp, across the river, and up to my truck I was soaked. After the rain eased up I tied on another rusty midge in a 18 and caught several more fish in the 30 minutes before the horn sounded.

Lunch and a nap...

Saturday Night:

I heard rumors that the water would shut off at 8pm. I went out and bought a $4.88 headlamp as an emergency stop gap. I also picked up some glow in the dark indicators and big scuds in case I had to stay close to the outlet. I got down to the water around 9pm and it was still churning at 3 solid units. I fished the tail-out of the outlet area for a couple hours halfheartedly and picked up a couple of nice 18" rainbows. At 11:52pm I headed back up to the Tahoe and decided to call it a night.

I waited for 5 minutes to see if the schedule would change at midnight.

I called the generator hotline at 12:00am....3 units.

I called the generator hotline at 12:02am....3 units.

I got in the Tahoe and started to drive off. I called one last time as I passed Anglers and Archers at 12:07am. 0 UNITS!!!!

I drove back down and got dressed. I tied on 4x tippet and an olive PMS. I decided to use a polomar knot this time. I must have lost 12 flies to a poor cinch knot during the day. If I am breaking off at night it is because I hooked a monster and not my knot tying skills. I was not prepared to fish at night. I had not really packed for it. I was stuck wearing a troutbum tshirt and white athletic socks. It was cold down in the water but I was not leaving until I was exhausted.

I started up at outlet one. I was not alone. There were was a car load of people up there. I couldnt tell what they were doing but it involved some kids, a plastic bucket, and some loud spanish possibly. I didnt ask, I just dropped my head and fished downstream quickly in the dropping water. I picked up several nice fish in the 16-18 inch range. These were good solid fish with broad backs that fought. Fun fish.

By this point I had caught 10-15 fish in a bit over an hour and the excitement of netting them was getting old. I was simply lifting their heads, reaching down, and popping the PMS out without handling the fish. At around 1:50am below outlet 2 and near rebar I got a solid hookup. He pulled enough to get onto the reel then turned upstream and the fight was relatively easy after that. I am thinking silly stocker you probably jumped in front of a monster to greedily grab that fly. When I got the fish in I tried to lift his head to grab the fly. He didn't want to lift his head and fought a bit more. This repeated again. At this point I am sure my fly line is wrapped around the tip of my rod or something because this fish feels awfully heavy. I decide to net him, let him go, and get my rod issue fixed. When I made the first scoop I got him length wise I was amazed that the fish was the same size as my net. The second scoop I got him head first and he fit. When I turned on my $4.88 headlamp I was amazed at this fish. He stretched from the 11 inch mark at one end of my net to just under the 11 inch mark at the other. He was just under 22 inches in length and his girth was almost as wide as I could open my hands. I could get my thumb on his back and my finger tips under him. I didn't measure his girth in my rush. He had a solid jaw and I was very pleased to see the PMS hooked into his tongue. That was about the only place I could have hooked him solidly. He unhooked easily and I just about dropped my rod trying to use both hands to get a good view. I thanked him for his time, got one good view of his solid red side. Apparently he didn't feel the same kinship and bond as me, he made one big lunge and he was off like a rocket.

This was my biggest rainbow ever. I would guess he was in the 5-6 pound range. I was very proud to catch him and see him take off so quickly. I fished for half an hour after that and never really got back into it. I was cold, my feet had been aching from the cold for an hour. I was done.

I walked up to my car right before 3am. A couple had just pulled up and they were starting to get ready to fish the late shift. I got out of my waders and packed everything into the back of the Tahoe. I was just going to ride back to the hotel in my wading liners. It was late and I was tired. I closed the back and walked around to the driver door just as the back clicked shut. My door wouldn't open, the back door wont open, the back hatch wont open, it is locked. I had just locked my keys in my car for the first time in my 22 years of driving. The couple saw me standing there, actually they probably heard the stream of curse words coming from my mouth and offered me their cell phone. A few minutes later Onstar had my truck onlocked and I was back in business.

I owe that couple a very big thank you. That is one of the things I like best about fishing Taneycomo at night. The people are always friendlier. They are almost always willing to hand you the hot fly of the night and to spend a few minutes chatting. They aren't in a rush to beat the other 53 guys to their favorite spot. So thanks again friendly couple, I appreciate you willingness to help out a foul mouthed stranger.

-Jerod

[Trout Commander]

Nice report Jerod.

I hit just below the outlets a little after 8:00 for my first trip with the fly rod, fished through the storm (well I did break to hit the fly shop and return with a handful of yellow micro jigs that seemed to be the ticket for a couple other fellows, a couple slices of pizza from the night before and a boulevard wheat for lunch) and just as I figured out (somewhat more than when I started) what I was doing and managed a couple of strikes (which I proceeded to miss) the horn blew at about a 1/4 til one I believe and my day was over. A good trip even though I came up empty handed. It was a good learning experience, no one was harmed and I don't think I messed up anyone elses fishing.

Glad you had better luck!

[Thom]

Jerod:

Absolutely fabulous report. Worthy of a F&S article. I have never used the onstar on my tahoe for unlocking the car but it is a comforting feature to have. I use it often for directions and vehicle diagnosis. Easaist tire guage I have ever had. I like the fact that it is satellite driven and I have never been in an area that it doesnt work when I am out of cell phone range with my other phones.

Thanks again for letting us relive your trip with you.

Thom

[Leonard]

well at least I was 1/2 right on the water...LOL

Great report!

Next time Ill try to get down there and fish with you..

that PMS kicked some .... tail..

[troutgnat]

well at least I was 1/2 right on the water...LOL

Great report!

Next time Ill try to get down there and fish with you..

that PMS kicked some .... tail..

Jerod,

Thank you, I felt as though I was living in your shoes!

[Dave Cook]

I'd like to add that Jerod wasn't cussing, at least not out loud.

Glad I could be there to give an assist. I've been in your shoes and with no On-star.

Back to fishing reports. Carol and I walked down to the point and fish mostly PMS's for what was left of the night. She learned my secret technique. Throw it out there. If a fish doesn't rip the rod out of your hands immediately, then let the fly drift (this is where I take a nap), then when you are ready to cast again, there is usually a trout swimming around with your fly patiently waiting for you to set the hook. You can repeat this all night long and the trout never get tired of it. She was fishing a 4 wt, 4x tippet, I was hauling a 7 wt with 2x. Her PMS was olive mine was purple. We both caught fish all night. It was fun to have some moonlight penetrate the fog. I could actually see my flyline drift downstream. We fished until dawn.

After daybreak the trout go nuts feeding on top. Carol found that a renegade was on their menu and enjoyed some dry fly action before we called it a night.

[vanven]

Now I know who to thank. Thanks for the help Dave and Carol!

It was odd fishing with such a bright moon. I had a fog rainbow around me all night. If I looked behind me there was a solid white rainbow that extended about 10 feet off the water. I hadn't seen that before. I didn't even need the headlamp to see it.

-Jerod