Considering my options

[Amery]

Well I'm ready to catch some trout and I've decided Taney is the place to do it. I'm sure table rock will be running for the next 4 months probably but my understanding is that it's still fishable. I've never fished here but am an experienced fly fisherman. Ok so here are my options, I like the idea of fishing the outlets at night, would be on a week night to attempt to avoid the crowds. Is that a good option with the current flows? My alternative would be fishing from my inflatable pontoon. I figure I could launch near the dam and was wondering if there was a shuttle service down the lake somewhere. I understand the danger of being on the water in a small craft and I understand the safety precautions I need to take. I figure I could find enough current breaks to stay out of everyone's way. Opinions about that?

[Travis Swift]

Wading yes, rafting no. If you wanna be in a boat get one from lilleys. They are pretty cheap to rent and Phil, Duane and Ryan are great guys and they will put you on fish with great advice.

[Gatorjet]

Travis has it right on the inner tube thingy. Besides boat traffic, there are numerious under water sags to get caught in. I would hate to think about being in an inner tube, pushed by heavy current, and getting my feet tangled in a tree a couple feet below the surface. Not only a bad idea, a VERY bad idea.

If you can't wade, rent a jon boat from Phil.

[brother dave]

Try stripping some cone head sculpen patterns at nite. Be careful wading.

[Fishingmill]

If you are fishing Taney at night and they are running water, I would recommend just not getting in the water and fishing the outlets from the bank. Leeches and sculpin patterns are good at night.

[Amery]

Thanks guys, I'm not talking about a float tube, it's a fishcat pontoon, no feet in the water. I totally understand the concern.

[Terrierman]

Thanks guys, I'm not talking about a float tube, it's a fishcat pontoon, no feet in the water. I totally understand the concern.

Bigger and more stable than a Kayak. I fail to see all the concern. Wouldn't bother me to get on Taney in something like that, not in the least.

[D.T.]

Amery, there was a post recently about services that would pick you up and shuttle you back to your put in spot. It sounds like not many options. A couple of things to consider. Put in and float to a couple of points, leave your device and call a cab to take you back to your vehicle. There are several resorts close to the water where you could pull out. There is a community boat ramp above trout hollow that lets the public use for a very small fee. No one watching here so your float would be on its own while your gone. Trout Hollow, Lilleys Landing and Scotty's trout dock all have places to dock at and may with permission let you leave your float while you go get your vehicle. The other option is when water is running 2 units or more there is an island created just down from the public boat ramp by the dam. There is a lot of slack still water created around this area where you can float in and cast out to the edge of the current. I did this from a boat last week and did well. You would be floating in grass, weeds and small brush in some of the spots but its not bad. You could then row back up to the ramp and take out. We stay at Lilleys every summer and bring a kyak. My kids take it out even with 4 units running and row against the current. They either row up and drift back or drift down and row back. My daughters do this but always upstream and drift back when tired. My son has drifted (several times) to the landing with 4 units and rowed back. That is 3 to 4 miles. Now he is a big 17 year old and has lots of energy but it can be done. He said it's a work out but if he stays close to the bank its easier. Just a couple of thoughts for you.

[Amery]

Yea that sounds good, the island is like a 1/2 mile down from the ramp?

[D.T.]

There are 2 islands created during heavier generation down from the boat ramp. One starts just a couple hundred yards down from the ramp on the same side. It goes quite a ways down. Then at the end and across on the other side is another one. It's below the look out area. I have also set in the slack water from a boat and done well on that side. The only problem is the current is strong between the two and you may drift down pretty far before you get across. The island closest to the ramp has quite a long stretch on the back side when the water comes up. It's good fishing on the back side but there are a lot of trees in the water on the upper end of it and it appears the current is strong as it starts on the back side but slows down by the time it comes out the other end. I had the best luck at the lower end on the back side out of the current casting into the current using midges on the fly rod and jigs on the spin rod. Remember this area has a slot limit and typically catch and release because most of the fish are in that slot 12-20". Still a lot of fun catching 14-16" trout!