Why not create a 2nd "Restricted Trophy Zone" On Taney???

[Fozzy]

Got a question, why does the MDC not create a 2nd area on Taney where live baits are restricted with the same Slot limit as in the first 2 miles of the dam to Fall creek? I am a boat fisherman on the lower lake from fall creek down...

I'm afraid to run my boat up past fall creek due to shoals etc. I'm sure alot of boat anglers feel the same.

I know that a trophy area in branson would be off limits due to anglers wanting to keep everthing they catch; however, How bought one say downstream of Tanglewood resort say to upstream of Rockaway beach? Ir seems that this stretch of water doesn't get the pressure because of being downstream of the resorts in branson/hollister and most anglers Drive their boats towards branson to fish.

Somewhere where there isn't alot of resorts, but maybe you could grow some bigger fish. I myself think there should be a restricted area....say 2-3 miles of lake that you have to fish like you do above fall creek.

You would have to educate the public and post signs all over the lake, but i think the public would support it.

I notice the angling pressure lessens as you head to rockaway (downstream of Tanglewood lodge), why not make a 2-3 mile trophy area??? The same restrictions as upstream of fall creek?

Wouldn't this be good for the trout population? Wouldn't some bigger trouts migrate into the Non-protected area to be caught by "Bait" fisherman?

I just think this would be a great idea for Missouri Dept of Conservation.

[Rusty]

That would be great. I just wish they could,would enforce it in the first restricted zone.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I just wish the "Trophy" area was set up to grow trophies, such as C&R for all fish over 12"'s.

[fishin]

After just fishing the trophy area last week and watching some of the stuff going on I would hazard to say that we are not ready for two because he cannot effectively enforce one at this point. This is not a shot at agents either just a known issue.

The other big issue I see is putting a trophy area in the middle of a lake is almost impossible because you could catch legal fish below Rockaway and want to bring them back to you resort in Branson, how do you get them there?

[motroutbum]

It is set up to grow trophies. Thats why there is a slot limit. The slot is also the reason that we have such a high average fish. I'm pretty sure that it is 15in or better. which is really good. There arent many places in the states or probably world for that matter that can say they average 15 in fish. Out here if you catch a 15 incher then that is considered a hog. Ive had to get used to just settling for the 10-13 inchers and sometimes get a fish over 20. (rare, but ive caught 10 this summer bringing my total for the last 2 years to 193)

It has taken years for the slot to kick in, but it has kicked in and thats why we have such a great fishery.

[Thom]

We definately have a trophy area in place just not in fact. My last trip I saw every imagenable way of catching fish above fall creek including an elderly man who was obviously with grandsons watching him in #1 outlet. He was holding his line in his hand between his legs in the middle of the flow of the outlet about 10 foot from the bank. He was kicking and churning the bottom and when he got a hit he let go of the line and landed the fish.

Interestingly, I fished up stream from him about 20 feet and caught 5 fish to his one just drifting a # 18 zebra thread midge in the seam of the current.

I just don't understand why you would want to cheat when it is so easy to just ty on something until you find what works. Then it is usually downhill the rest of the time.

You can see folks from the condos at Sunterra fishing bait every day at the boat ramp and upstream and many of the folks I see at the marinas go out twice or three times a day catching limits each time for themselves and filling stringers for their children and wives.

Hopefull the increased fees for boat registration will provide additional encorcement as they told us it would, but as long as thing are on an honor system it will take honerable folks to make a trophy area work.

I've most always politely tell individuals that I see fishing with illegal methods or excess fish in the torphy area what the regs are and they usually act as thought they didn't know, but the problem seems to continually worsten in my opinion.

I am looking forward to a weeks trip the 27th of October. I usually spend most of my time above fall creek but last trip (August) the best fishing by far was around short creek on the shallow side sitting at the edge of the swifter water and drifting midges or scuds under an attractor. Lots of nice rainbows there even though it is not a trophy area. The ones I caught (with the exception of about ten 12" stockers over 8 days)are still there unless someone else kept them later.

[Bill Babler]

MCD tells me they have never had a "Trophy Zone" on taney. The area created below the dam is labled a Restricted Area. Maby this explains the lack of Trophys.

However, I am seeing some really nice trophys on this very thread. Great Photo's and some really nice fish coming in.

[jim murphy]

If there was another Restricted Area put in below Branson, then the MDC would have to change the Regulations and make it manditory to have a Trout Permit for the entire lake, which should have been done anyway. The bass fisherman could not handle buying a Trout Permit to fish for bass and is why the cut off is at 65 hwy bridge.

Everyone has to get over the fact that Lake Taneycomo is a put and take trout fishery. It is stocked with approximately 750,000 Rainbow and approximately 25,000 Brown Trout annually. It is a Trout Park, just like some of the MDC Officials call it, with the exception of not having to purchase a daily tag, time restrictions, a closed/catch and release season and the numerous other Regulations set. BUT, if they did regulate it like the Trout Parks, no night fishing, no shuffling, three areas with fly/lure/bait restrictions and a closed/catch and release season. Now there is an idea, a little bit of everything to satisfy everyone.

We will more than likely NEVER see Lake Taneycom be what it was like, prior to the early eighties, before Branson became so popular and the development boom started. Also, no matter what regulations are installed on Taneycomo or sugestted no one is or will be happy.

The one regulation that is in effect for the entire lake is a 20" length limit on brown trout and has become some what of a trophy fishery for browns. Maybe a length limit needs to be set for rainbows? 15"? Fall Creek to 65 Hwy Bridge, you are required to have a Trout Permit if fishing in that area?

No matter what ideas or suggestions are made to the MDC about Lake Taneycomo, they will not change anything at this time, do to the numbers and size of fish in their yearly samplings. The MDC is happy with the current status of Taneycomo, though an increasing number of us are not.

jim

[Phil Lilley]

You mentioned the 60's and 70's and how it was. No it will never be that way again, regardless of rules. There's not enough food in the lake to grow trout (rainbows) like that again (lack of scuds).

But my memory of how it was just 2-3-4 years ago... the number, size, quality of rainbows in the 'zone' was very good, comparible to most fisheries in the country. We're just in a funk... just like the Cardinals were last night. We need rain. We need non-stop generation for 6 months. We need generation like it was 4-5-6 years ago. then you will see rainbows come back and surpass the numbers, quality they were in 2000-2001.

[twosets]

Phil, I love your positive attitude about the lake. I wish Edmonds and Rolen were like they were 2-3-4 years ago. The lake has a better chance of reclaiming its former glory than us mortals who grow older each year. We can always hope for good performances tonight.

What would all you fisherman think of this?

1 Flies only down to the boat ramp,catch and release on everything over 12 inches.

2 Artificials with current slot limit from boat ramp to fall creek.

3 Anything goes(including my stupid brother's falconry) from there down.

George

Should have said "brother's stupid" rather than "stupid brother's"

Either way this sort of insult usually leads to a provacative responce from 2sheds.