Bull Creek Bluegill

[Greasy B]

For many years I have been hearing about the bluegill fishing in the Bull Creek area of Taneycomo. Can anyone give me an update on the spawning activity at Bull creek? On my home waters the first wave of spawning is over and I’m waiting for the next full moon before it will pick up, is this also the case at Bull Creek? Thanks for any comments.

[Sam]

I don't know about the spawning, because going up Bull Creek is a summertime thing for me. I like to take the grandkids up there, using ultralight spinning tackle and just a piece of nightcrawler on a gold minnow hook - no sinker, no bobber. We take the boat up as far as we can go, then work down the deeper bank. We cast the nightcrawlers under shade trees and watch the line on top of the water. When it twitches and starts to straighten out, set the hook.

We get at least a little black perch, bluegill, goggleye, or bass every cast that way, of course. Lots of unhooking and throwing back, so the long-shank skinny minnow hooks help with that. I'll keep any panfish over 8", so we get to take some home too - it's a good kind of trip for kids.

I was doing that one time and came across a deep hole by the bank with a log in the middle of it. I threw the nightcrawler in there a couple of times and didn't get a perch bite. Strange! It was such a good-looking spot I had an idea there was something in there that had the perch scared out, so I kept trying. After a half-dozen casts a 5 lb. channel cat came out from under the log and took the bait, and I got him in. That was fun!

[Wayne SW/MO]

Speaking of Bull Creek I saw a boat, with motor, at the Walnut Shade bridge the other day. I've never seen a boat up there till now.

[Greasy B]

Thanks for the comments. Can anyone recommend a place to stay in Rockaway Beach? I’m assuming there is a public ramp in town.

Gosh I love bluegill fishing. I’m a little worried most of the bedding has passed me by. I’ve attached a picture of a fine fish caught last weekend.

[slider]

Speaking of Bull Creek I saw a boat, with motor, at the Walnut Shade bridge the other day. I've never seen a boat up there till now.

Wayne they have been putting boats in there off of the gravel bars this year grabbing suckers.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Thanks for the comments. Can anyone recommend a place to stay in Rockaway Beach? I'm assuming there is a public ramp in town.

Gosh I love bluegill fishing. I'm a little worried most of the bedding has passed me by. I've attached a picture of a fine fish caught last weekend.

This place does a good business. Duck Harbor

The public ramp is right there, but I believe these people give you a stall.

Slider in 9 years I've never seen a grabber or a boat there, but I have seen a lot of grabbers at the Bull Creek bridge.

[vonreed]

I've never been on Taneycomo fishing for bluegills but there is big ones in there that I've seen caught. Also I've seen people grabbing suckers at Walnut Shade every year while on my way to Forsyth. Usually they have ladders though.

[slider]

This place does a good business. Duck Harbor

The public ramp is right there, but I believe these people give you a stall.

Slider in 9 years I've never seen a grabber or a boat there, but I have seen a lot of grabbers at the Bull Creek bridge.

Wayne this is where we do most of our grabbing when we get the water that we had this spring. I bet you could go down there right now and see lots of suckers. To bad though season is closed.

[Beagle_nut]

Duck Harbor is great, right on the water. If they're booked or if you want a bigger cabin or just a motel room try Rockaway Inn. They're a block up the hill but they have a deal with Duck Harbor where their guests get one of Duck Harbor's boat stalls free, and if you stay at Duck Harbor you can use Rockaway Inn's pool. We've stayed at both places and they're both well run by very nice people.

[Greasy B]

Great, thanks for the advice on local accommodations. Whenever I start going to a new destination I always pick an outfitter or resort and stick with them to develop a positive relationship, friends and advice are invaluable when I’m on the road. Judging from my experience this last weekend the gill’s are on siesta until the next full moon. From what I’m hearing Bull Creek sounds like a great place for sight fishing with my fly rod regardless of spawning activity. I would also expect that by mid June the thermal refuge effect will also come into play. I wonder if the main stem of Taney will be stratified enough to provide a thermal refuge in the upper water column in mid June?