Lake Taneycomo Current Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

How can a few days of rain change fishing conditions? We've gone from low water conditions to high water in a very short time. That's an understatement!

We were looking at no generation most days but now it looks like it will be weeks before we see low water again.

Depending on how much rain we get today and the next week, we very well will see flood gates open at Table Rock Dam by Wednesday of this week. Table Rock has risen 4 feet in just a couple of days and the rise continues with more than 4 inches of rain in the 24-hour forecast.

What will this do to fishing? Of course, bank or dock fishing will be tough at best. Getting out in a boat, you're looking at drifting only. Tying up along banks and in eddies will be dangerous. Creeks are still high and muddy. These should clear up in a couple of days.

With the influx of water coming in from runoff areas, our trout are seeing alot of bugs and worms getting washed in to the lake. They're on a feeding frenzy for sure and if you can get to them with a good presentation, you'll do well.

If I were fishing, I'd first head to the dam and drift the trophy area and try egg flies, san juan worms and big scuds. I'd also throw a white or sculpin 1/8th oz jig and get it close to the bottom. Most of these trout will be close to the bottom. They'll also be along the banks in slower water and you can target them with spinners, jigs and rapalas. I wouldn't mess with a float because you'd have to fish your flies or jigs more than 15 feet deep.

Below Fall Creek, I'd drift night crawlers for sure. Power Eggs and Gulp Eggs should work pretty good too, especially after the water clears up. Increase your weight if you can't feel the bottom.

If they open flood gates at Table Rock Dam, white jigs will be hot! We should see shad come over the dam along with some bass, crappie and walleye possibly. These fish are in close to the dam area spawning right now. Last time they ran gates this time of year, we saw alot of these fish below the dam. Water temperatures from Table Rock won't hurt our trout at all. Actually- they'll like the 60 degree water, I think better than the 40 degree water they've been seeing.