Lilleys' Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report, June 13

[Phil Lilley]

Generation again has been fairly heavy this  last week, but today we are seeing a change in the pattern. With Table Rock and Beaver Lakes dropping to "safe" levels, the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers is dialing back the flow to a more desirable rate, at least for most anglers. Today operators ran less than a unit for most of the day and fishing has improved.

Taneycomo's water temperature continues to play a part in the trout's activity level. At 45 degrees, rainbows tend to be less aggressive at feeding, it seems. That and the heavy flows of water have made it difficult to get and keep lures and bait in front of trout. But with less rain and slower water this should change everything.

The Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery has been busy this week stocking rainbows in the upper lake. One of our guides, Bill Babler, reported the other day that his clients found 15- to 17-inch rainbows between Short and Fall Creek while drifting night crawlers. Babler said Shepherd must have just stocked them because they weren't there in the days before. Normally, rainbows only average 11.5 inches, but every once in a while, they stock larger rainbows.

I ventured out several times last week with my kids from out of town (except Greg who lives in Branson). We drifted night crawlers in different areas and caught fish every time we went out -- nothing big, just averaged-sized rainbows, but it was a lot of fun.

Hot spots were out in front of the resort, in front of Trout Hollow and from the Riverpointe Ramp to the mouth of Short Creek. We stayed on the shallow/middle of the lake in all three stretches.



Above Fall Creek, our guides have been catching a lot of rainbows, drifting a variety of flies on the bottom using either split shots or using a drift rig. Weight differs with the amount of current. Miracle fly in Oregon cheese color, #16 gray scuds, red San Juan worms and a white #10 wooly are catching fish. Jigs have picked up considerably today as the water is much slower. White from the cable to the first island continues to be hot. Brown/orange head and sculpin/ginger has been good worked off the bottom down the middle of the lake to Lookout, then the bluff on down to Fall Creek.

Dry fly action should start up pretty soon. There's been rumors of ants and beetles enticing fish up below the dam when the water has been off, but then that's been a few weeks ago. I believe we'll start to see some down water, and then wading below the dam should be very good.

[Wornica]

Thanks Phil!

A question, when the lake level is over 704 say up to 708, is there any way to fish just below the dam where the chutes are? I understand that you really can't wade but I haven't been fishing for so long and hope that something changes.

[laker67]

You can wade anything up to 722. Just depends "where" in the parking lot you wish to stand. 704 leaves several options on both banks. 708, not so much.

[Phil Lilley]

704 is just a couple of feet above what it would be if the water is off. That's not much water or current. Below #3 outlet on the big bar- I've seen guys waded out and fishing the lower end where it drops off. There's backwater there. I've gone down to the boat ramp and walked in above it and fished there. 704 isn't a bad level at all. I like it.