Sunday, Oct. 2

[jim murphy]

Rodney, Jason, and I fished from the Hatchery boat ramp to Fall Creek. We caught approx. 60 between the three of us. A majority of the fish were caught on a size 16 bomber. I used 5X tippet until about 1 then switched to 6X.

Several of the fish that we took throat samples from, had been eating midges that were olive in color and about a size 16 to 18. Only one fish we sampled had eaten a scud, which seemed a little out of the ordinary, as well as several fish had eaten pieces of moss and midge shucks.

Here are a few things to consider as to what is happening to our fishery, just from my observations?

Of the few fish we sampled only one had eaten a scud, scuds are one of their main forage foods available. Has something happened to the invertebra in the upper end of Lake Taneycomo? What is the invertebra population from the Big Hole to Fall Creek, must be low do to low numbers of Trout we have seen in these areas? No food, no fish.

A large number of White Suckers have moved into the upper end of Taneycomo. Why are these large numbers of fish up here? Better habitat, food, water quality, tired of dealing with all of the development in Branson.

The weed beds in the Trophy area are abscent this year? This is something that is not to out of the ordinary but could have an impact as well. The one weed bed, at the Lookout Hole, that seems to grow all the time, is smaller this year than normal.

The #3 Outlet and waterfall have been dry since this Spring. What impact has this lack of water run off had on our fishery? It may be only about 30 cfs, but every little bit helps as well as increases the disolved oxygen levels some.

A majority Lake Taneycomo's supply of water comes from Table Rock Lake. Is there something wrong with Table Rock's water quality? I have not read any of the reports on this forum lately, but some of my friends who fish Table Rock with some regularity said that the fishing has not been that great since this Spring.

We have had a long dry year, not much rain or any fresh water run off. How much of this is a factor?

We cannot just blame the poor fishing at Taneycomo on the White suckers. There are too many other factors that need to be considered, all of which or any combination of could be impacting our prized Trout fishery. Question is is it going to get any better or is it going to get worse.

jim

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hi Jim.

Great report. Sounds like you caught more fish than most lately. I agree with all your theories. The one I think that has the biggest effect is the lack of rain for the past 3 years. We really need some this fall and winter.

I follow reports from a forum on the White and Norkork (www.flyfishingarkansas.com) and they are making the same observations there as you are on Taney. Lots of suckers on the upper Norfork and with the current Overlook Estates debacle a study was done that showed a dramatic decrease in scud populations as compared to just last year. Sowbugs have all but disappeared in the White River drainage over the past 7 years or so.

Overall poor water quality in the whole system. It's sad but I think it will get worse before it gets better. A big increase in rain would help a lot as would more environmental control of runoff and tighter restrictions on future developement. Take a look at John Wilson's Fly Fishing Arkansas website. Click on the forum and see what's happening on the Norfork and White from just one careless developer.

Snagged.

[motroutbum]

I also agree. I think that a large part of the problem was this spring when they didnt run water for like 3 months or how ever long it was. if you can remember back that far, think of all the moss and other crap on the bottom thatturned the bottom a yellow color. (there is a difference in weed beds and the algal crap that was present) It pretty much suffocated the scuds and sow bugs. In order for them to survive, they need to have fresh clean water that is constantly moving. They didnt have that for quite a while. When i came back in june for a week and fished, i didnt see a single scud. Thats just my $.02. Jim--glad you and rod and jason had a great day.

[Terry Beeson]

Arkansas has debated the "minimum flow" issue for a few years... Anything in Missouri on "minimum flow" to help that situation?

[Phil Lilley]

I've seen these patterns come and go over the 23 years I've been here but the last 2-3 years has been the longest and worse.

Low flow- low scud numbers.

I am confused about the White and Norfork's scud numbers. Those tailwaters have multiple riffle water that moves even during low flow so why are their numbers down?

So, the fact the these tailwater are also having scud problems, does this throw a wrench in our theory?

Suckers- they may be up there because of the algea growth- don't know.

[bassfishingmaniac]

Hey fellow fisherman:

I was down over the weekend of 9/23,24 and Monday the 25th with my brother. Never worked so hard to catch 6 to 8 trout a day. I normally can catch 20 to 25 by noon.

My brother works for the EPA and has contacts with state agencies. He went ahead and called one of the fisheries biologists about the situation. She attributed the conditions to the drought... basically what most of you had surmised anyway. In fact fishing success is way down statewide (not just Taneycomo) for the same reason.

Hopefully there are enough browns moving upstream soon. I will be coming down on 10/14 for a week.

[twosets]

I would think that the low rainfall is a significant factor, but I wonder how much of a factor the very high water temps (associated in part to the construction in Branson) this spring and summer had to do with this situation.

Phil, in your 23 years have the temps ever been that high for that long?

Just wondering.

Here's to a wet winter

George

[Don]

Wken I was having a challenging day on Sunday afternoon, I scooped up some rock and gravel to help match the hatch. The scuds I saw were small, about size 20. My friend did the same and he said maybe about size 18? The color of the scuds were dark gray on top with tan/ginger legs. Anyhow, the factor I noticed the most was the strong stagnant smell. I realize there's a stink to the bottom but it seemed much stronger than usual. Table rock is sewer runoff from the ever growing Springfield area and other surrounding cities and counties. I realize pollutants settle to lake bottom of a lake over time, or as repeadedly mentioned, it's just the drought factor. Is it just me or is the sowbug doomed on Taney as it is on White and Norfork?

Don

[Phil Lilley]

You're refering to high temps in this part of the lake- they were a bit higher for a bit longer but not sure this would be a reason. Most are talking about the upper lake and the evidence there- less trout, smaller trout, low scud count.

Next time you're below the dam, look under the rocks and in the moss in #2 outlet and see what the bugs look like there. You'll be surprised.

[jim murphy]

We have had weed beds come and go, drought conditions and low generation in the past. And like Phil has stated, it runs in cycles. How long will this cycle last? The drought cycle out at the San Juan lasted about 4 years, and has rebounded well.

About 5 years ago, the algae was worst than it is now. I remember that you could not walk through any slow or non flowing section without stirring up a sludge trail, but fish numbers and invertebrae numbers were not as low as we have now or at least did not appear to be.

Maybe, we need another flood like we had back in '94, I think, and flush all the lakes and rivers. Only problem is that the Wonderful, much needed Branson Landing Development may not be able to handle that much water.

jim