Why Isn't Lower Taneycomo Smallmouth Heaven?

[Nolan_Whaley]

Maybe i'm showing my ignorance... Why isn't the lower portion of Taneycomo a trophy smallmouth area? Not enough forage? Browns eat smallies?

I'd think the water temps would be great for smallmouth. Is it just too hard to manage for trout on the upper end, and smallies on the lower?

I'm sure i don't know, but on the surface, it would seem to be an ideal location. Anyone have thoughts on this?

[Gavin]

Its just not good habitat for them...if it was they would be there in abundance.

[BrianS]

I caught a good smallie there several years ago. Probably the only one in there lol

[Trav]

Smallies like gravel to spawn. The majority of the lakebed in Lower Taney is muck, layers of leaves, mud and logs. Great for carp though! Oops...did I say that?

[Nolan_Whaley]

I did see a bunch of large carp on my trip over there.

Lots of sand/silt, and the shallow water choked with vegetation. Some of those docks are close to unusable with so much silt & weed beds.

So... does that also mean a lack of crawfish? i saw a few schools of bait fish, but not lots.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Its not a good environment for them. If it was they would be there. Bulls Shoals and Table Rock don't have a good population of smallies across the entire area.

[Trav]

I grew up on Lower Taney. Have seen the bad and good. It is at its worst right now. Invasive plants and carp running the whole dumping ground ......And it is a dumping ground for the the upper trout infestation. It sounds harsh...sorry about that...

[Wayne SW/MO]

Taneycomo flooded a lot of bottom land and I'm sure when the current stopped, the river bed silted pretty fast. If you look at Table Rock and Bull Shoals you'll see that the prime smallie areas are where high, rocky ground was flooded.