Lilley's Taneycomo fishing report, February 11

[Ham]

1 hour ago, Phil Lilley said:

Give it a another day or two after that and it'll be 75 and sunny!!

I love wintertime!

somehow, it's always really darn cold when I fish Taneycomo. We always catch em pretty good, but I'm always cold.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I'm headed down Thursday night!!!

Pete

 

[patfish]

I'm missing you by a week SIO3.  That's probably by design.  

[Ham]

15 minutes ago, patfish said:

I'm missing you by a week SIO3.  That's probably by design.  

By design on who's part?

[Bill Babler]

I'm going to do a quick follow up on the upper lake.  Yesterday I fished a full guide trip and when we left Phil's dock, I knew the water looked different.  I immediately called the COE  and as Phil reported they said 704.  On Friday they had said 704 early and then 705.  I think that was correct.   The 704 for Saturday was certainly not.  Capt. Stevie, followed me up and we both headed for the Dam.  I was so apprehensive I stopped prior to Fall Creek to call again.  This time they said 705.  I knew they were off.  The new riprap just below fall creek was high and dry and the center rock formation at the delta of the creek was rippling.

I took a breath and headed up.  Made it, but will not do it again, and very few will if they don't have the proper equipment.  Either a jet or a Hydo Jack plate and still know the upper lake.

Mouth of Fall Creek, stay left, but not on the bank, as there are logs from the last dock on the east to about even with the mouth of the creek on the West.  Good guess is 20' off the shoreline.  Do not attempt to go up the middle.  Phil's river boats might make it, but just below Fall Creek the delta there is Shallow.  Bass Boat or a VBottom will get in trouble.  That is limestone and dolomite along with some major chunk rock and it will not give like gravel.

Stay left 20' off shore and then as you past the creek mouth cut over to the ramp or West side.  The gravel bar on the left has extended down and created a long gravel run of very shallow water, starting about 100 yds. above the creek.  I saw two boats hit it yesterday.

Proceed up the West side to the end of the new Chunk Rock RipRap and then cut sharply back to the East as you near the end of the RR.  Here this channel has really changed.  It has extended and narrowed by 1/2.  Yesterday with the water so low, I got a very good look.  The flat has extended and fingered with a major gravel runnout extending down at least a 100 yrds. further than it ever has been.  It also narrowed the channel to a width of perhaps 25 to 35 foot wide.  If you see a boat drifting that stretch, shut down and wait,  for them to clear it.  No way you can get two boats thru if they are drifting sideways.  There is no room on the West what so ever. 

After you clear the flat proceed up the middle of the lake past Andy Williams home at the bend.  On the East Lookout Island has extended as I mentioned in a previous post.  As you approach the upper end of lookout stay in the middle and watch the water, you will see a seam just as a kayaker or a canoe floater would.  Approach that seam on the right side of the middle and keep the boat on plane.

Stay on plane thru clay banks hole and as you approach the upper narrows, stay to the right side as the channel is now running along the right shoreline, water depth is 16" to 2' at best.  From this point you can see the conservation ramp.  drive directly toward the ramp, never coming off plane. The depth of the water in the middle and on the left is about 8". When you reach the conservation ramp you can shut down and catch your breath a little. 

Proceed up the middle to Big hole and then stay left to avoid the flat below outlet 3 or as we know the left side to be the rebar hole.  It looks to me like the hole has deepened somewhat.  Stay on top here and as soon as you past the tree just below the island cut right and drive up the center of the lake to the cable.  There is fish attractant boulders on both your left and right here, but going right up the middle you will be safe.

I am not recommending anyone do this currently under 3 units.  Both Steve and I once we got up there yesterday thought we might have gotten lucky to make it.  I drifted out of there and had to pick up my trolling motor twice before I got to overlook island to show you how shallow it was yesterday.

My 22' AlWeld is a tunnel hull with a Hydraulic Jack plate and I had that baby cranked up to the 4th. spoke.  Boat still handled flawlessly on plane, but it was still abit shallower than I'm happy with. 

I hope Phil and I can get together and make a new map of the upper end, as soon as we can get some time I'm going to see if we can put something in the works.

Good Luck and stay safe.

[Mitch f]

16 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

I'm going to do a quick follow up on the upper lake.  Yesterday I fished a full guide trip and when we left Phil's dock, I knew the water looked different.  I immediately called the COE  and as Phil reported they said 704.  On Friday they had said 704 early and then 705.  I think that was correct.   The 704 for Saturday was certainly not.  Capt. Stevie, followed me up and we both headed for the Dam.  I was so apprehensive I stopped prior to Fall Creek to call again.  This time they said 705.  I knew they were off.  The new riprap just below fall creek was high and dry and the center rock formation at the delta of the creek was rippling.

I took a breath and headed up.  Made it, but will not do it again, and very few will if they don't have the proper equipment.  Either a jet or a Hydo Jack plate and still know the upper lake.

Mouth of Fall Creek, stay left, but not on the bank, as there are logs from the last dock on the east to about even with the mouth of the creek on the West.  Good guess is 20' off the shoreline.  Do not attempt to go up the middle.  Phil's river boats might make it, but just below Fall Creek the delta there is Shallow.  Bass Boat or a VBottom will get in trouble.  That is limestone and dolomite along with some major chunk rock and it will not give like gravel.

Stay left 20' off shore and then as you past the creek mouth cut over to the ramp or West side.  The gravel bar on the left has extended down and created a long gravel run of very shallow water, starting about 100 yds. above the creek.  I saw two boats hit it yesterday.

Proceed up the West side to the end of the new Chunk Rock RipRap and then cut sharply back to the East as you near the end of the RR.  Here this channel has really changed.  It has extended and narrowed by 1/2.  Yesterday with the water so low, I got a very good look.  The flat has extended and fingered with a major gravel runnout extending down at least a 100 yrds. further than it ever has been.  It also narrowed the channel to a width of perhaps 25 to 35 foot wide.  If you see a boat drifting that stretch, shut down and wait,  for them to clear it.  No way you can get two boats thru if they are drifting sideways.  There is no room on the West what so ever. 

After you clear the flat proceed up the middle of the lake past Andy Williams home at the bend.  On the East Lookout Island has extended as I mentioned in a previous post.  As you approach the upper end of lookout stay in the middle and watch the water, you will see a seam just as a kayaker or a canoe floater would.  Approach that seam on the right side of the middle and keep the boat on plane.

Stay on plane thru clay banks hole and as you approach the upper narrows, stay to the right side as the channel is now running along the right shoreline, water depth is 16" to 2' at best.  From this point you can see the conservation ramp.  drive directly toward the ramp, never coming off plane. The depth of the water in the middle and on the left is about 8". When you reach the conservation ramp you can shut down and catch your breath a little. 

Proceed up the middle to Big hole and then stay left to avoid the flat below outlet 3 or as we know the left side to be the rebar hole.  It looks to me like the hole has deepened somewhat.  Stay on top here and as soon as you past the tree just below the island cut right and drive up the center of the lake to the cable.  There is fish attractant boulders on both your left and right here, but going right up the middle you will be safe.

I am not recommending anyone do this currently under 3 units.  Both Steve and I once we got up there yesterday thought we might have gotten lucky to make it.  I drifted out of there and had to pick up my trolling motor twice before I got to overlook island to show you how shallow it was yesterday.

My 22' AlWeld is a tunnel hull with a Hydraulic Jack plate and I had that baby cranked up to the 4th. spoke.  Boat still handled flawlessly on plane, but it was still abit shallower than I'm happy with. 

I hope Phil and I can get together and make a new map of the upper end, as soon as we can get some time I'm going to see if we can put something in the works.

Good Luck and stay safe.

Bill, you need a River Pro Jet, you won't even need to consider which side of the channel is best and you can still do 45-50 mph with Clients on Table Rock. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, patfish said:

I'm missing you by a week SIO3.  That's probably by design.  

Bummer Pat!  It's supposed to be 70, you sure you can't flip weekends??

Pete

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, Ham said:

By design on who's part?

Come on over Ham.  Especially if the water is off.

[patfish]

2 hours ago, Ham said:

By design on who's part?

SIO3s of course!

[patfish]

4 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Bummer Pat!  It's supposed to be 70, you sure you can't flip weekends??

Pete

Nope.  Not a chance.  It's the whole gang annual deal.  More than a dozen in our group. We're there 24th-28th.