What A Day On Upper Taneycomo......

[littlemiamijeff]

I had one rainbow in my hand yesterday, 5/28, just down from Fall Creek. Then Nada, zip.

My son was sunburnt, we had put two kayaks in below the dam, found fish wiling to bite just below the "funnel", the horn at the dam had blown just as we were putting in. So the water was coming up fast, we beached on the island, and kept having to pull the yaks further and further up until the level stabilized.

A nice whirlpool developed, we could see the trout at the bottom. Kyle never got a hit on a jig, but I did get a couple of brief hook ups on a nymph w/scud below it. Encouraging but nothing to the hand.

As we finally floated past Fall Creek, powerbait went on the jig, and fish on! I was trying to get it unhooked, exclaiming what a beautiful fish!, and it unhooked it's self and went back to the water.

That was it for Tuesday.

Kyle didn't want to fish today, the 29th, so I was putting the kayak in at Lilley's dock, a guy Brad helped me carry it down the bank to the water. I have owned and paddled Ocean Kayak Sit On Top kayaks since 2006, and have NEVER tipped one, until today.

I got in kneeling instead of turning and sitting down in it from the side, and my center of gravity was way too high, and over I went, in about 6 foot of 50 degree Taneycomo water. Cold. I was startled, and briefly thought about the $200 fly combo, the spinning combo, my video camera, etc., when the survival instinct kicked in and I just had to get out of the water NOW.

I pushed the kayak, upside down, to the bank, climbed out, Brad was now asking me if I needed help, (he asked if I needed help getting in just a moment before, I should have taken him up on it), I said I was ok, then started saying "my rods, my tackle, my camera" and Brad went into action, fishing my rods out of the water w/a long handled net, joking w/me about extortion, how much to stay quiet and not tell my wife, etc., etc. He really was a big help, THANKS BRAD!

I got all my gear up on the gangway, drying out, reels out of the water, video camera is still in a bag of rice, hopeful but doubtful about it.

It was while I was getting everything out to dry on the gangway I realized my glasses had fallen from my head, $400-$500 glasses. Brad was kind enough to take me to his van (he was doing some staining and painting at Lilley's) show me some of his tackle and jigs and flies he ties, a pic of his 40" trout, GAVE me a eyeglass restraint, and a little bag for my loose tackle.

He then grabbed his polarized glasses, and we went to the dock again, he spotted my glasses, and retrieved them with the net. So, all in all, I lost nothing but a whole bunch of pride, I am duly humbled. and Thankful, Somewhere it says "it is appointed but once for man to die, and then judgement" and it was NOT my appointment w/death today. Thank You Jesus.

So, I dried everything out, got back in the yak, and fished across from Lilley's dock, NOTHING.

After lunch, I took a nap, and got up to find my wife and son were gone w/my sister and Bro-in-Law, so I went up to the south side of the dam, a fellow Mark recommended I check it out, right around 5 or so. As I arrived the horn sounded, and the water came up, I was throwing a Brown/Rust jig, w/strike indicator, w/my 8wt, and they were on. 5 trout in 10-15 minutes, I think one was a Brown, I lost both jigs I had w/me (left my tackle at the cabin) to the rocks, but what a great finale to a difficult, but rewarding day.

I know this is a lengthy note, but what an awesome place. Lilley's is a gift from God, so peaceful, Eric down on the dock has been very helpful, the guys in the office/store are great, and the guests are wonderfully laid back and pleasant as well. I'll be back.

One more full day tomorrow, we'll hit the dam around noon when the schedule shows one turbine coming on.

LMJ