Lilleys' Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report, June 20

[Phil Lilley]

Visitors are pouring into Branson with summer in full swing. The strip is starting to get a little busy, but the lake isn't really -- not yet. The weather has been great with little humidity but some fog on the lake in the mornings. But it wouldn't be Lake Taneycomo in the summer without a cold mist on the water before the sun rises above our high bluff.

It's been a good week so far for trout anglers here on Lake Taneycomo. Most mornings the water has been off with no generation until later in the morning, which has been great for fly fishing and still fishing. But I've heard some say it's better fishing after the water comes on. I'm sure you'll find varied opinions.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has been stocking every week so far this month, so there seems to be a good population of rainbows in the upper lake. When I was out drifting in our area the other day, fishing a Trout Magnet against the bluff bank, I saw several schools of rainbows every few hundred yards swarming my lure. That's a pretty good sign of freshly stocked rainbows. They tend to stay together for several days after being stocked.

In our tackle store the last couple of days, I've heard anglers say that live bait has been working very well in a few areas of the lake. PowerBait Gulp eggs have been working good after the water starts running down by Monkey Island (very good) and night crawlers are working from Short to Fall Creek. Don't forget to inject them with air and make them float! This makes all the difference in the world, believe me!

Fishing buddy Coy and I were out for about 90 minutes Wednesday before heading to church. Three units were running with the lake at 708 feet, a good amount of water. We drifted from Lookout down past the Narrows using a white 1/8th-ounce jig and caught this nice brown and a couple of rainbows. We didn't set anything on fire!

We headed to the cable below the dam and made two quick drifts just past the boat ramp and caught more rainbows and this brown trout, almost the identical twin to the first one.

Jackson, my black lab, loves to lick rainbow trout, but he does not care for warm water species of fish at all. The other day a smallmouth bass jabbed him in the snout with its fin and that re-enforced his aversion to green-colored fish. I usually let him take one or two licks (kisses) and then back to the water they go.

Early in the mornings, a zebra midge under a float, with either fly or spin equipment, and fishing anywhere from Fall Creek to the dam has been working. Use size #16 in red, black, rusty or P&P (pearl and primrose) using 6x tippet. Depth depends on whether the trout are actively feeding or not. If they are, fish it close to the surface (6 to 18 inches). If they're not, fish it 24 to 48 inches deep.

On the gravel flats below Lookout, try a #14 gray scud and fish it dragging the bottom under a float. Below the dam, fish it in the chutes or flats where the water is moving. You might go to a size #16 or #18 if they get picky.

Ants and beetles are starting to show up and our trout are taking notice. Fish from the Rocking Chair Hole down to the conservation boat ramp early in the morning when the water is not running and watch for surface feeding rainbows to target. Also target rainbows cruising the shallow flats.

I expect this generation pattern to continue. If it changes at all, we may see less generation as Table Rock's lake level continues to drop. What might reverse this is hot weather. If it jumps back in to the upper 90's, look for heavy generation to power our air conditioners.

[flyman]

Excellent report as always. I went down after work on Tues. I took a friends son and we drifted some night crawlers. We only drifted from Fall creek to Cooper before calling it quits. We seemed to have better luck near Fall Creek. We saw a doe standing in the water up to her belly. I have never seen them wade that far in. About 10 minutes later we saw another doing the same! Few boats. We may make tues night a regular night through the summer. Had a good time. He wants to try to fly fish next time.

[Nick Williams]

Seems like there are a lot more pictures of browns recently. Is it my imagination?

[Phil Lilley]

Yes I'm seeing more browns BUT I like using white jigs and you will catch more browns on white jigs, less rainbows. Still catch rainbows but better chance for a brown if you're using white, thus the brown pics. We caught rainbows too but they weren't camera worthy.