Fly Trout Lake Taneycomo Wade Report, May 31

[Phil Lilley]

This is Phil Lilley with a short fly fishing report for Lake Taneycomo. I drove to the dam at 2:30 pm today. Parked at the MDC ramp parking lot about 3/4 mile below Table Rock Dam and walked down the hiking path upriver to the path at the tall tower down to the lake. They were running less than 20 mw of power, between 1,000 and 2,000 cfs and the lake level was between 702 and 703 feet. They hadn't had that level very long plus they brought it up to 703.5 feet and 20 mw while I was there.

I thought this water is perfect. Current wasn't that swift, I could see almost every trout in cast distance between wind gusts and they appeared to be eating. I tied on a #18 nickel head Zebra Midge, black, set the palsa indicator at 3 feet deep and commenced to target trout just off the bank. Hooking them wasn't as easy as it appeared.

I moved up lake about 50 yards and worked my way back down to my entry point. I hooked 5 rainbows, all between 13 and 15 inches. The 4th fish almost ran me into my backing twice, a feat his body sized said was impossible. Then he bolted right at the time I was pulling and snapped the line. Honestly, that doesn't happen very often. I'm usually pretty careful and 6x fluorocarbon is pretty tough stuff. But he got the best of me.

Got back down to where I walked in and found the best trout yet. My first drift through, the Zebra Midge was refused by all the nice rainbows sitting in a line but not by the small brown at the end. My next try was rewarded by a very nice 18 inch rainbow and my last was a larger rainbow not more than 6 feet off the bank. I had to almost stand bank in the trees to get him.

Back home by 5:15. Man I'm glad I made the trip and will go again soon.

[Jerry Rapp]

thanks Mr. Lilley. Great photos and report. Makes me want to go trout fishing again.

[Murdoc]

Nice!! I'm almost caught up on my rods now and I'm needing to go!! Thanks for the report!!

[daboone]

Love the pics and the report. Thanks