Taney Flow Rate and Fishing Options

[John Smoot]

After looking at the flows, I see quite a range...like from less than 2000 cfs to way past 10000 cfs. My question is: At what point is wading, being able to fish the rebar, guantlet, etc., a real viable option, and, at what point is it reasonably a 'fish from boat only' option?

I'm bringing my 16 year old son down in a week or so, and I'd really like to get some wading time in. This trip is really an intro to fly fishing, and wading is the norm. I have a bass boat, and rather than not being able to fish at all, I'll likely drag it down and use it, but, I've seen Taney at all levels and I do not want to bang it up. And I can show him how fly fishing from the boat is good (I like it)...just not the norm.

So, at what flows would the decent wade fishing be?

And, at what flows are the good (safe) boat fishing?

Thanks, guys!

[Phil Lilley]

This time of year typically you're in a boat. If you get to wade, it's a bonus, if that's what you like to do.

With the lake levels and spring approaching, I'd say we're going to see generation for several weeks, if not most of this spring, depending on rain of course.

I'd say 20,000 cfs-you're boating. If there any generation at all, you can't wade and fish rebar or any waters on that wide of the lake unless you wade from the south side and then it's not feasible... tough at best.

Sorry for the negative report... but fishing is really good out of a boat.

[timsfly]

If the water is unwadable at Taney, then you can go to Roaring River or Bennett springs and wade fish, and there is Crane creek.

[John Smoot]

Phil,

I do not want to have to worry about my son wading...and, I think you can fly fish out of a bass boat great. Just don't hook your partner in the ear with a fly!

At what minimum flow do you need to be able to take a bass boat all the way to the cable? And, have you tried zonkers or white woolys on the fly rod...or is all the action with the spin outfit and 1/8th oz jigs? I want him to catch fish, but, I want him to give the fly rod a workout. Man, if you could get them to take zonkers near the surface slowly stripping...wow!!! That would be so cool to a first timer! And an old timer!

I was looking to plan my trip about 3/5 - 3/8 (he's got spring break that week), but I wanted to look at the weather. I was on your website and it looks as if you've got alot of openings so far. I really wanted to stay at Lilley's...should I make reservations now, or wait until I can get a warm fuzzy from the weather forecast?

[Phil Lilley]

Cousin Bill was using a closed face rig this afternoon and wore construction gloves to keep his hands warm... do I have to say more? In saying that, we kept the boat moving slower than the current and I tied a two-jig rig for him, the last jig smaller than the first. He casted behind the boat and the current held the jig off the bottom- most of the time the jig was no more than 3 feet below the surface. He caught 12 and missed a ton of bites. John and I chuckled several times cause his rod would be bending with a fish and he never felt it.

You can fish a fly rig the same way. Slow the boat and cast downstream, either swing or dead drift a bunny shad or another shad pattern, keeping a tight line. Strip slowly.

Generation... one unit at least at 704 feet. Can get to rebar at this level but be careful to get higher.