Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

It's been 2 weeks since my last report... it's been a busy 2 weeks. But fishing conditions haven't changed much at all neither has fishing itself. We're in the dog days of summer when patterns are pretty much set in stone and the only thing that varies is generation schedules.

Speaking of... they are still running "fish water" late afternoon for a couple of hours. I think this will change somewhat once the heat sets in. Beaver Lake is low, Table Rock is about normal and Bull Shoals is alittle low but not much at all. It's kinda hard to guess what the Corp has in mind for water management now that we're in another drought- only 1.5 inches for the month of June officially. Not good. Will they conserve water and not run as much as they would if the lakes were higher and it was actually raining occasionally? It seems so far at least that they are conserving and not running even on hot days (over 95).

Not running water affects water temps and the boundary of very warm water seems to be Branson. I heard water temps were in the 80's at the bridges the other day-- that's surface temps with subsurface temps I'm sure safely in the 60's--- for now. But more of the same will mean MDC will not be able to stock rainbows very far downstream. They won't even be able to load their stock boat at the Branson ramp- they'll be confined to the Cooper Creek ramp and higher... so you know where the higher concentration of fish will be- upstream.

I've talked about bass fishing on Taney more this spring and summer than ever before. Why? Because it remains a viable option for anglers here on Taney. Because Taney isn't deep, bass remain fairly easy to get to even in the middle of summer. I haven's been in a couple of weeks but I'm sure soft plastics and crank baits would be good along it's banks from Branson downstream. I need to go out and try some different baits including jigs and grubs targeting smallmouth. I also want to hit the coves and creek for some big blue gill and popping bugs with the fly rod. All I need is TIME.

Speaking of bugs- Brian Shaffer showed me a small beetle he's been using along the banks and says they are tearing it up. It looks like a small June Bug about an eighth inch in diameter- it floats and he says he slaps in on the water and gets a big take. Babler has been seeing alot of action along the bluff banks from Short Creek to Lookout early in the mornings but hasn't had the chance to throw any dries at them. With all the bass along our bank, a big popper might just draw a bass- or trout bite. Sounds fun!

Night fishing below the dam has been a hot topic on the forum. Lots and lots of interest and quite a few OAF members actually fishing at night lately... me not one of them though. I need to give up on watch the Cardinals play (and winning) and just go fishing I guess.

The last couple of weeks, fishing has been real good for our guests, best has been out in boats using power bait. White egg and something else- a combo of contrast. From Cooper Creek down to Monkey Island has been the best for using bait and morning time the best time.

Jig and float using the micro jig- THE micro jig Babler has made famous- orange headed sculpin micro/micro jig. Later in the morning is better- the wind needs to be blowing a bit chopping up the surface. Lots of rainbows from Fall Creek to the Narrows - LOTS! Even in front of Fall Creek Marina LOTS of rainbows.

Linc has been driving to the dam and fishing his Zebras at the Rocking Chair and tearing them up in the evenings. Another hot spot, he said, is the Gauntlet below Rebar- fish on every cast at times. He fixed up a gal who was struggling the other day and after catching a fish on her third cast told him that was her first trout on a fly rod... cool! Linc is our new office/dock guy.

[alletec]

Phil,

I am sorry to hear you have not had a chance to go fishing in a few weeks. For me it has been since January. We are coming down this Saturday for the week and I can't wait. In my mind I am al ready there.

Glad to hear the fish are biting well. I am also glad to hear the bass are bighting as well. I am bringing my bass stuff and may be able to help you out with your report next week. Let me know. See ya Saturday.

Jeff Alley

St. Louis MO

[Phil Lilley]

Looking forward to seeing the clan and talking Cardinal baseball...

[patv]

I will also be there on Saturday, hope the fishing stays pretty good. Last year was a great fishing week, the 2nd week of July. Looking forward to the early mornings on the lake! See you Saturday!

Pat V

[d-hawkins]

I fished for Bass last Saturday and Sunday just below Branson on the Branson Side of Lake Taneycomo. We started fishing across from Taneycomo Lakefront Resort and fished about a mile down the lake on the West side. On Saturday I fished mainly with a Shad Rap. I caught 11 bass in about 3 hours. None were larger than 15". On Sunday I fished the same are and caught 6 bass in a 2 hour time frame. I caught them again on a shad rap and on a rattle trap. Monday I went to bull creek and fished all morning. I tryed everything and could not get a bite. But it was a fun weekend on Taneycomo.

[CaptainJoe]

d-h,

What colors were your shad rap and rattle trap? I fished the docks on the opposite side where you fished and only got two keepers. Fished Bull Creek also and could not get a bite. Maybe I went too far back. The water was sure hot (80's).

Thanks,

Captain Joe

[d-hawkins]

Capt. Joe,

I was using a silver color shad rap and a silver color rattle trap. I tried several spinner baits and did not get a bite on any spinners. I also tried buzz baits and meps spinners but no luck. I struck out in Bull Creek. I will be back down late next week and will try again.

Dan

[CaptainJoe]

Dan,

Thanks for the info. I used a silver/black rattle trap in the Rockaway area, but only landed short fish. How deep were you fishing? I was in 20 feet, fishing towards the bank, and working it back. White buzz baits are good until the sun comes up.

Captain Joe