2-12-17 Current Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

Have had the pleasure of guiding Taney 3 days this week, from the upper restricted zone to downtown.  First with the Conservation Federation and then on 2 separate guide trip.  On generation even with no Shad coming thru, small rebel crankbaits and white woolley buggers are taking fish down to the conservation ramp.

On slight generation and no wind, we are going to go back here to the Tuner Jones Micro Jigs.   On overcast days darker olives and blacks in 1/2 micros and on sunny days or times the ginger is really producing.  We had 54 catch and release yesterday from Clay Banks thru Short Creek.

On any breeze the pink Berkley Power worm on a 100 th. oz. jig head in pink is just a fish taker.  We are also dead drifting it at 7' below an indication out of the restricted zone.

I'm pretty sure they may have ramp dumped some very nice quality rainbows off the Short Creek Ramp.  These are not huge fish but perfect eating size in the 12 to 13 inch range.  Today everyone that Austin and Nicole caught were on the pink power worm, from Dave's flat thru Short Creek. 

If you notice the purple coloration on the majority of these trout that is a really good general sign that they have been released but a few days.  Very nice fish. 

 

Good to fair reports are coming from bass fishermen on the lower lake.  99% are catching them on the A-Rig  Good Luck

 

[CHuddleston]

thank you for this report!  headed down tomorrow to try my hand with a fly rod for the first time.  I've had my casting lessons, and have been catching brim from the James River for "practice" (but it was still fun as heck!)

[Ham]

What are the restrictions from the dam down to Fall Creek or whatever the restricted area is? I'm always artificial only and I usually fish barbless but I am curious what is legally required 

[Phil Lilley]

No scented baits.  No soft plastics.

[Ham]

Thanks Phil. No felt wading boots also. At some point, science needs to outweight unnecessary caution. Felt is a better sole material and didymo is everywhere already.

[Lancer09]

3 hours ago, Ham said:

Thanks Phil. No felt wading boots also. At some point, science needs to outweight unnecessary caution. Felt is a better sole material and didymo is everywhere already.

Didymo isn't in taney, and it's not as if taney is a bunch of slippery shelf rock. it's predominately gravel. Felt wouldn't be any better there than anything else. Just wear studded boots if you are that worried about it.  

[Flysmallie]

Lancer is spot on. Not many places to slip and fall on Taney unless it's a mud bank. Then splitting the seams in you waders is the biggest problem. I've actually busted my butt more in felt soles than the vibrams I'm currently using. 

[Ham]

The diatoms are in lots and lots of places, but the mechanism for overgrowth doesn't seem to be clearly understood. Occasionally, it gets a little bad on the White below BSL, but nothing like in some places. 

I have NO experience wading in Taneycomo, but my wading experience other places has been that felt is better.

 

[Phil Lilley]

I talked to a TU guy last fall about Didymo.  He said the same thing Ham said.  It's everywhere, just thrives in certain conditions.  Just like Zebra Muscles.  They're in lower Taney but haven't showed up in the upper lake.  Why - I couldn't answer that.

The TU guy made a good point about wading shoes and felt... why couldn't the spores be transferred just as easy in the fabric of the shoe?  Answer - they are.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I've said this many times over the years while they were debating the felt sole ban.  We would wade below the dam at BS in diddy and drive to Taney on the way home with our waders still on and wet.  It's in Taney, it just doesn't thrive for some unknown reason.