Late Fishing Report

[Don]

I heard midge fishing was good on Beaver Lake tailwaters so I planned to go. However, a buddy of mine, Mike Utt, called the friday before and said he was heading to Taneycomo that weekend to fish from Saturday until Monday. I put my initial plan aside because I would rather catch up on good times with friends and make a few trout lips sore at the same time. I explained that I couldn't make it until Monday and he replied that he would be there.

About 8:30 AM, Monday morning, I arrived at Anglers and Archery, Taneycomo's oldest fly shop, to get a few supplies. I called Mike and he gave me directions to Point Royale, where he was staying. He stated he caught about twenty fish Saturday on small yellow jigs so I brought a few along. I was there in minutes to meet Mike and his neighbors from the St. Louis area, John Tippel and his son Jacob. We made our intros and suited up. We hit the lake with cool weather, overcast skies, and a few intermittent light showers. We fished and visited from 9 until noon. What a great bunch of guys to fish with. Mike was knocking them out on those jigs and I picked up a couple. I noticed a few fish surfacing so I tied on a harvester midge, one I particularly like to use in the early spring. I claimed five stocker-sized bows on the midge. One obvious notation that I have experienced on the midge, I never had a strike while raindrops were hitting the water.

We said our goodbyes around noon and the gang took off on their long drive back home. I had a few hours left on my agenda and decided too see what was going on up by the dam. I waded in between chutes 1 and 2. I looked up river and down river and estimated there were about twenty fishermen on the water. The weather must have kept alot of folks at home. I tied on a brown and copper zebra midge and started drifting midstream. There were not alot of rods bent over on the lake, things seemed kind of slow.

As I glanced towards the shore, I noticed a pod of nice-sized trout porpoising in shallow water. I think they were having relations. I thought to myself, they usually don't bite much at those times, but what the heck. I flung the midge slightly upstream ,and bam, fist cast yielded a 16-inch male rainbow. 15-20 casts later proved unsuccessful but I noticed some of those fish were nice-sized. I tied on a grey and wine G-bug, and again, bam, on the first cast. This time I hauled in a nice 18-inch rainbow.

No strikes on the fly after then. Next up was a small grey scud. First cast, hooked up, then broke me off as I watched my white indicator swim up river slightly under the surface. A little later, I hung up my freshly-tied-on grey scud right in the middle of the fishes' "spot." I hated to invade their space but I waded up close enough to free my fly from the rock on the stream bed. As I looked down, I noticed my white indicator floating nearby. I retreived it and my first grey scud was hanging on the line below. The fish had returned to visit his friends and dislodged the fly after he came back. Next up, was a weighted tan sowbug that I like to fish on the Little Red River. Again, first cast, bam! The fight was on! I had to play it a little longer than the other fish and finally netted my first 20-incher of the season.

About 15 minutes later the pod of fish disappeared into depths unknown. I worked midstream for a few minutes with no takers. I traveled down to the big water below chute 2 and picked up a stocker bow on the yellow jig then called it quits. Another great day on the water.

[Trout Commander]

Great report, Don. Well written and full to the brim with valuable info. Thanks for sharing and look forward to the pics!

[flyfshn]

Don, it was a pleasure fishing with you again my friend! I had every intention of writing a fishing report, but my job has had me going non stop......and I defintely could not have written a fishing report as well as you did!

I love fishing at Taneycomo and it was a last minute trip. I pm'd Phil and asked him to look into his crystal ball to let me know his prediction for generation (his favorite question). He told me he did not think they would be generating, so we headed down.

We fished on Saturday at Pointe Royale. I tried a few scuds and midges of all sizes/colors and caught a few fish. There was a young man, Darin Schildknecht, fishing next to me that was catching a fish just about every cast. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I asked him what he was using. He told me it was an egg and we talked about fly fishing for a while. He told me he was a guide and I have to tell you, if I was looking for a guide, I would hire him.

In the past, I have had good luck with a 1/80 oz, cream colored jig. I tied one on and immediately started catching fish. By the end of the day, I caught 21 fish. It was great!

Sunday we attempted to fish, but Phil's crystal ball was wrong, they were generating and it was WINDY. No luck, so we headed to Lilley's Landing to buy some fly tying materials.

As Don mentioned in his report, we met him and fished from 9-12, but unfortunately had to head out for the four hour trip home. It was great to see Don again and catch up. I caught 18 fish.....all on the cream colored jig!

It was a great weekend! I am very jealous of all of you folks that live close to Taney!!

[Gallagher]

Great fishing report Don! Thanks for posting those pics of inspiration. I've been meaning to get down to Taney & break in a new rod/reel but work has prevented that from happening thus far. Glad to hear you're yankin' the lips off of 'em!

[jjtroutbum]

Great report and back up reports fellas. Thanks.