2015 Winter Taneycomo Trout Tournament Schedule

[Phil Lilley]

Lilleys' Landing will again host two winter trout tournaments to launch some friendly competition on Lake Taneycomo in 2015 -- the Master Trout Tournament on January 24 and the Vince Elfrink Memorial on February 28. These are two-anglers/per team tournaments, fishing from boats only (no wading.) Each tournament costs $50 per team to enter.

History: Before the city of Branson built the Landing and eliminated the city boat docks on Lake Taneycomo, the downtown marinas hosted trout tournaments. They were well attended by locals and visitors alike, drawing men and women, father and sons and just "good ole boys" fishing buddies who delighted in fishing a couple of weekends each winter and spring. These tournaments were doomed to die with the new development until the Lilleys decided to host these tournaments and keep their tradition alive.

Each tournament starts at 8 a.m. and weigh in is at 4 p.m. Each team is checked at the dock in the order in which they signed up, boating past the tournament director with live wells and ice chests open for inspection. Each team will then indicate whether it will "fish up or down" -- a designation unique to Lake Taneycomo and these contests. Because of Taneycomo's Trophy Area, and the special rules that apply there, anglers are allowed to fish above Fall Creek (lower boundary of the Trophy Area) but may only weigh in rainbows less than 12-inches or rainbows 20-inches or more since the slot limit prohibits netting fish in that range.

These tournaments are restricted to artificial lures and flies only. The Missouri Department of Conservation defines live bait as any natural or live bait or any artificial bait that is soft (plastic or natural) or scented -- so all Power Bait or Gulp baits are prohibited.

The full rules and regulations, as well as entry forms, can be downloaded by CLICKING HERE.

[sms_alum]

I'm planning on attending the second tournament. These are always a good time and Phil does a great job putting them. If you haven't fished them in the past I suggest giving them a try. There isn't much else going on that time of year.

[Seth]

I am really going to try and make one of these for once! I've watched the launch videos on youtube several times.

[hillbillyflyshack]

What is the big brown up to in Vince's tournament?