Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Summer is flying by... and starting to fry! It's been a hot week here and all across the country. But it's not bad being next to a lake that's 46 degrees! Getting out in the evening on the lake is down right cold! What a paradox.

As you've noticed, the Corp has turned a switch since the last report. It's the water switch at the dam. It's been running ninety to nothing compared to the last 11 months. We aren't used to it... neither are the trout. And the bass are totally in shock I bet. They, and the blue gill, are long gone from behind our dock... probably down in Cooper Creek.

Water is coming on anywhere from 7 to 9 am and running into the night late. It's barely down in the morning when it comes back on making night fishing alittle tough I'd think. Some nights last week it never did shut down completely. The water comes on and builds to 4 units at 710 ft by midafternoon which is alot of water. Boating to the dam is no problem- just have to be careful not to drift into trees and definately do not use an anchor. We pull or anchors from our boats when the water is running this hard. An anchor catching in the wrong place and tied to the boat in the wrong place will swamp a boat in a matter of seconds sending the occupants into the icey waters and fast current. Spooky story? It should be.

Best to drift. Shepherd is stocking today in the Branson area by boat. Drift power eggs on the bottom from Money Island down thru the bridges. Before the water starts in the am, look for midging rainbows and throw zebra midges at rings on the surface, fishing 12 inches under a small indicator, 2 lb line best. As the week progresses we'll see where the rainbows gather. They may move up to around our place to Fall Creek.

Drift egg flies in yellow, orange, pink and white from the cable down. Get them on the bottom for best results. Some use drift rigs but a split shot will work. Also throw 1/8th oz jigs and work them against banks and off the bottom. White, sculpin, brown/orange, sculpin/peach, black best colors in that order.

Drift tan or gray #12 or #10 scuds on the bottom either under a float 9-12 feet deep with weight (get them on the bottom) or using a drift rig or split shot with a spin rod. Trail them with an egg fly or a red san juan worm. They did real well drifting from Lookout down to the Narrows last week, staying in the middle of the lake.

Some browns have moved up because of the water running. Throw crank baits- Rapalas, Pointers, Rogues medium size to medium/large in floating or sinking. Work them down hard and fast and then work them stop and go. A brown will trial a bait and hit it when it stops most of the time. Early and late is best on browns or on a cloudy day.