Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

It's been an amazing year so far here on Lake Taneycomo. In the past three years our lake/river has seen a great deal of water -- water from the upper White River basin, Beaver and Table Rock lakes, as well as major river systems feeding each lake. This constant flow over this period has created fertile conditions for trout food, namely freshwater shrimp. These small crustaceons, that live in the gravel at the bottom of our lake, are very high in protein. You'll find dried freshwater shrimp, called "scuds," sold in pet stores to feed various small pets like turtles. When a fishery has an abundant population of scuds, its fish will exhibit very healthy growth rates. That's what we're seeing for our trout right now.

In the past, we would see big, fat rainbows after a lengthy shad run from Table Rock Lake. Threadfin shad would flow from the dam, dead or stunned from their trip through the turbines, and our trout would feast on them until their bellies would bulge. They would grow so fast that we'd see two-pound rainbows in no time, but that wouldn't last. In less than six months, most of these rainbows would move out of the trophy area and be caught out of the lake, ending a seemingly steller trophy run. The resident food base would not handle the growth spurt and the larger rainbows in the system. Why? In time, we'd experience long periods of no generation on our lake when water would not run, would not move, thus depleting the population of freshwater shrimp down to levels that could not sustain the size and number of rainbows.

Because of the three years of flowing water on Taneycomo, we are seeing big numbers of big rainbows throughout the lake, not just in the trophy area. Our scud population doesn't stop at Fall Creek, the lower boundary of the trophy area; it extends down further that anyone suspects. Back in the "hay day" of big trout on Taneycomo, the 1960's and early 1970's, huge schools of scuds were found in the Branson downtown area. A friend who then worked on the Sammy Lane Pirate Cruise remembers how the crew would stomp on their dock to knock the scuds off the floatation, causing a trout feeding frenzy. They would drop their lines in the water and pull out three- and four- pound rainbows one after the other. We might not have that kind of scud population, today but it's still amazingly good when we see two- and three- pound rainbows caught fairly consistently well below the trophy area.

Fishing Report

Generation has been, well, difficult to gauge. Southwest Power Administration's generation schedule is set midafternoon the day prior, but it was off yesterday after holding closely to projection for a couple of weeks. We've had front after front cross our area with downpours that last 5-10 minutes, but these rains are localized to the degree that we might get a big downpour here at the resort, but up the road two miles on the Branson strip they might stay dry. . . and visa versa. Table Rock has not seen a bump in it's level, but Bull Shoals has jumped almost two feet. Yesterday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ran, for the first time in quite a while, some serious water through Table Rock Dam, opening four turbines but not quite full. Our lake level topped 710 feet, nine feet higher that our power pool which is 701.3 feet.

Fluxuating water levels: Typically when generation is started at the dam and water starts to move, our trout start feeding. Bugs and worms get washed into the lake when the water floods the bank edges, weeds and grassy areas. Scuds might start moving up out of their hiding places in the rocks. Midge larvae don't usually move unless we see a drop of movement, say when the Corps is shutting down the turbines. But when the trout see generation flows they haven't seen in a while, I believe they don't feed as well as they do when they see consistent flows. When the Corps fluctuates the levels during the day, for instance, the flow and level of the lake will vary by six inches to a foot several times an hour -- up and down -- and our trout don't seem to like that or at least they don't think about eating during those periods. Not sure why they do that, but we wish they'd stop!

Guessing what the Corps will do the rest of the week would be tough. I would just go fishing and take whatever comes. You should start early in the day, not necessarily because you'll catch more fish early but to give yourself the best chance to find when the trout will feed the most. I'd say later in the afternoon and evening is going to be the slowest, assuming that the Corps might be running a lot of water at that time. We're finding the best times to catch trout are from 8 a.m. until noon, but that depends on cloud cover. We've had cloudy days for the most part this month, which is great for fishing, but if the clouds clear in the afternoon and it is supposed to hit the 90's, the rest of the week, mid- to late afternoons will be unconfortable at best. High sun and no wind together yield the poorest fishing time.

But early, catching has been pretty good. Our guides have been doing the best, bait-wise, on night crawlers. It's surprising how many anglers step into our office and ask what the best bait is and expect a colored answer -- "pink Power Bait" is what they want to hear. When we answer "night crawlers," it's as if we said that the fish were all dead, or at least not biting. Live, "real" bait generally catches more fish than artificial bait. Now Eddie Ketchum, my Berkley fishing buddy, may not agree, but we see stocker rainbows being caught on Power Bait more than the larger, wiser rainbows. We float our worms, injecting them with air using a blow bottle. This floats the worm off the bottom so that the trout will see them quickly and eat them quickly.

The best area has been from Short to Fall Creeks, but this area has been the hardest hit the last few weeks. Fish numbers have been dropping from the pressure, so some of our guides and clients have been heading down to Monkey Island, just above downtown Branson, and finding good numbers of rainbows. Same thing, floating night crawlers off the bottom. Use a pre-made drift rig or just a small #6 hook and a split shot up the line about 18 inches. Use only the head half of the worm but save the tails. Hook the worm once, leaving each half of the worm hanging off the hook freely. You don't have to hide the hook!!! Inject the worm on the head half and let 'er fly. One more helpful hint - set the rod down and secure it. Wait for the bite, lift the rod and let the trout take the worm, then set the hook.

If they swallow the bait, and you want to release the fish, don't touch the fish, just cut the line close to the fish's mouth and drop it back into the water. Digging the hook out will likely kill the trout.

Yes, Gulp Power Bait eggs will catch rainbows, too. Use one white egg with another colored egg. The odd color varies, so buy all the other colors and keep switching until you find the right combination. Only use two eggs, though. I've seen people using a whole chain of eggs on larger hooks. I don't think rainbows are into eating candy necklaces.

Jig and float fishing catches more trout than just about any other technique. Tie on a small barrell swivel, but before that, slip on a float. Then tie on about six feet of two-pound line, preferablly flourocarbon. We use Vanish. Then tie on a 1/256th-ounce micro jig, either tan or olive. We've been fishing this rig anywhere from Lookout Island in the trophy area down to Monkey Island and catching trout. Throw it out and let it sit a minute, then twitch the float a bit and watch for the slightest movement. Have to be quick at times, but other times, they'll take it under.

Fly fishing below the dam is very good, but you have to know what you're doing. Early is best. It does get tough as the sun rises high in the sky. The water is clear and shallow and the trout up there are pretty smart -- they've seen and have eaten a lot of flies. As I told a young man the other day in the shop, you can use 6x tippet, but if you want to hook up more often, use 7x. The other thing you must have is an arsenal of flies in your box of different colors and sizes of scuds, midges and woolies.

If the water is running, you'll be limited where you can access the lake . . . and there will be a crowd at those accesses. Scuds will be your friend. Weighted #16 to #20's in various shades of gray, olive or tan. San Juan worms in red, brown and purple. Zebra midge #16 to #18's in red, black and olive. Small egg patterns in orange, white and brown. If you catch the water down, strip a #16 red or yellow soft hackle or an olive #14 wooly bugger. If you catch the water down at night, we have some great night patterns created just for our water. Hibernators and PMS, as well as leaches and buggers in large sizes (#6 to #2's) and mostly dark colors.

If you're fly fishing from a boat in the trophy area, if the water is running you'll need to drift your fly on the bottom. Best way is to use a fairly large indicator and allow plenty of line below it to drag the bottom. From Lookout down to Fall Creek, stay in the middle to shallow side of the lake and fish your fly about 10 feet deep, depending on how much water they're running. Add a split shot if you think your fly isn't making contact with the bottom. You can sub your scud or egg fly for a micro jig. Pink with a chrome head or a tan jig has been working pretty well.

If you catch the water off, shorten up your line under the indicator and use a micro jig in olive or tan. If you're using a scud, get it to the bottom and switch it to attract a strike.

[Trout Commander]

Thanks for the report Phil!

The wife is wanting to head down and do some shopping so that means I will be able to get in a few hours this evening.

[Gatorjet]

Another great report Phil. The timing for all this great fishing has been perfect for me. Now being retired and having a lot of time to come down and fish.

I'll be there next week with my daughter and her boyfriend. He is an avid fisherman, but has never fished Taney. She hasn't fished with me on Taney since she was a little girl. Gonna be fun!

The only regrets are that Megan didn't have anything available next week, so we have to stay next door.

I'm also going to use this trip for some practice and learning summer fishing in preparation for the Guns and Hoses Tournament.

Thanks for another great report.

Bob

[Trevor K]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what is the advantage of using just the head end of the worm?

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks Phil.

I got to the water about 9:30 this morning and the level was around 704ish. I was well below #2 and was using an egg with a weighted scud dropper and 4, #4 spit shot. I broke off 3 nice fish in a row and they all took the egg which led to having to tie on a whole new rig. Oh, 6X rio tippet.

Then the water came up enough around 10:30 when the horn blew to run me out. I drove to Galena to float, but the water looked up a little and stained so I didn't float.

I'll be out early tomorrow to see if they cut down on the generation.

SIO3

[Phil Lilley]

Head of the worm - ask Babler.

[Rolan Duffield]

Great report, Phil. Glad to see the scud population thriving. Keeping the rocky areas covered with water is a major factor in maintaining the shrimp and scud population alive for the Trout and that can only help improves their growth rate.

Your report is a good testament and reason to maintain a low flow condition when not generating the turbines.

Rolan

[snagged in outlet 3]

Got to the water around 8AM. Started slow while the fog was still on the water.

Dragged some eggs, scuds and midges without any takers.

Got above rebar and got spooled on a sowbug using 7X.

Hooked up again on an olive scud and brought that fish in after a healthy fight. It was 16 inches and fat. That fish fought well enough for the whole trip. Spent the next 2 hours whackin em in the rebar hole!!!!

Drove back to Indian Point and spent the day boating, tubing and swimming. Drove down the lake to have lunch at The Truman Smokehouse.

The Branson area is awesome in my opinion. Oh, my families as well.

I'll hit the water again tomorrow morning if the waters off.

SIO3

[Megabucks461]

Tourist type of question. Can you fish from a bass boat and drift up near areas one and two? If so where do you put in? I would like to take my grandson and SIL out on Taney to drift and float fish for trout. Thank you.

[Thom]

Put in at Coopers creek MDC access. It is located just off of Fall creek road. Turn off at the Lilleys landing sign and take the first road to the left.

You can easily boat up to Fall creek (that area below fall creek is non restricted for rainbows) Below fall creek you will see a new boat dock (Fall creek boat dock). Float down the center area there and then hang just out from the channel on the bluff side there (opposite side from the homes on the other side).

Then you might want to switch sides at the condos just after you see the gravel boat access (ramp is private) and fish that floating about the middle until you get past short creek. (watch for the shallow shoals where the creek comes in and stay about in the center of the stream there. Then move over and float the side where the docks are until you get back to Coopers creek. float out from the bluff side and throw in toward the bluffs. You can float all the way to Branson and tie up a Bass Pro shop to have lunch in their resturant.

All of that area below fall creek is non restricted except for Brown trout. Above fall creek rainbows must be under 12" or over 20" and the water there is a little harder to navigate. There is a limit of 4 trout with only one brown which must be over 20".(total aggregate is still 4 trout.) I would recommend that you release all of the browns however. You should be able to catch you limits with the bows and leave the Browns there to grow larger for another day. Take a picture and let that be your throphy.

Stop in at Lilleys and ask for a map and what is working. You will get good advice there and find very good prices on jigs, bait and lures that they might recommend.