Upper Lake Seems To Have Changed.

[perchjerker]

May 31st was my 4th trip down since the last Big Flood. It seems that below the Dam doesn't hold the number of fish it once did. With 1 gen. going it was almost a shure time to catch fish. I dont see as many fish as I use to at the outlets either. I mention this to an Angler and he said it was a lot better with no water generating.I found my best shot was trading in the fly rod for an ultra light.Right before dark a trout colored split tale Rapala was good but as soon as it got dark Leonard K's brown PMS jig was bringing a fish with almost every cast down by the Boat Ramp. Went up to the Dam and had the area to myself Thursday but no fish to hand.I also make this observation by not only me but others around during the day were not having much sucess.Just a thought and it won't keep me from coming down because the boat fishing from lookout to Bass Pro has been great. See you on the water.

[laker67]

Your observation about the top end is dead on perchjerker. Lots of fish at rebar, but upstream is the pits with zero generation.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I think it is because it is just featureless in the upper end above of the Big Hole.

The bottom is just small rock... except for the few big rocks MDC put in.

Trout do not feel safe.... they do not feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

The rocks haven't done much of you ask me.... except push me further downstream.

[laker67]

I think it is because it is just featureless in the upper end above of the Big Hole.

The bottom is just small rock... except for the few big rocks MDC put in.

Trout do not feel safe.... they do not feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

The rocks haven't done much of you ask me.... except push me further downstream.

Howdy BRian, we may be looking at our poorest year of night fishing since early 80's. That is from the rebar up. I walked the featureless terrian last week. Started at rebar, and counted 5 fish between there and outlet 2. At oulet 2, I counted exactly 3 fish in the run. The flood gates and the track hoes have taken their toll on the upper water.

[Phil Lilley]

I'm a firm believer in current... where you find current you'll find fish. There's very little current since the flood above rebar where there used to be. It's deeper yes but no current. Less bugs, less food, less fish.

[Dylan Cluver]

So the fishing should be better below rebar? The other night I was out with some buddies, the four of us caught 6 fish 2 of which were a crappie and a sucker, and all our fishing was above the rebar hole. Were there about 3 hours.

[fly2fish]

I fished the middle of May a couple nights, first night half a unit and caught several between outlets 1 & 2, then the next night water had bottomed out and only caught 2 in that area in an hour so I headed down toward Big Hole and caught 24 in an hour and a half from about 25 yards below the root wad to down past the point.

F2F

[laker67]

An update from 2 weeks ago. On my previous trip from rebar to outlet 2, the gravel was as clean as if you had just dumped it out of a truck. Today, it is starting to get some color to it with small patches of moss growing. I caught more fish last night with a nice 5lb rainbow to top the list. After daylight, I walked that same stretch of water and found several fish holding. Still not the numbers that should be there, but a big impovement.

[perchjerker]

Thanks to everyone who had some input. I got a better feel as to where to start fishing on the next trip down. The Forum is a great place to go when your not sure as to whats going on with Taneycomo waters.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I still think it is as not as good as it was.... pre-flood 2011.

The upper end has suffered...a great deal.