Lower Trophy Area - Lake Taneycomo

[Phil Lilley]

This area of upper lake Taneycomo can be classified as a river portion of the lake. Water flow and movement or the lack there of, are always an important factor in fishing this river/lake stretch.

Let’s number the entire 1 plus miles of this area, into zones. Due to the curvature of the lake in this area, we will start on the Southwest shore line directly in front of the large white house, in this location known to belong to Andy William’s.

Zone 1 Andy’s house to the tennis courts, on the same southwest side. Directly in front of the William’s house a long ridge or shoal runs parallel to the shore line some 40 ft. from the bank. This reef section in front of the second white house is very wade able during no flow and up to 2 generators. The shoal or ridge runs about 200 yards and is an area that holds fish at all times.

During heavy generation, this is an inside bank with a somewhat slower milder flow that allows the fish to maintain position outside of the direct current. The ridge creates a seam that provides easy access for feeding trout to gather necessary subsistence with little movement. If the flow is right, you can anchor in front of the second white house in this slower water and cast out and down for these trout, stripping streamers, wooly buggers, sculpins and if they are midging, soft hackles and cracklebacks.

Along this gravel flat extending half of the width of the lake from west to east, is a feeding ground and a holding area for large numbers of rainbows. Midge’s scuds, and sow bugs are present in this area and it is easily wade able or boat fished using like patterns. On slow or zero flow small crustation patterns from size 16 to 22 work well as do emergers and midge patterns in similar sizes. Natural color selections in earth tones tend to get more attention than flashy presentations. On power generation, bright hue’s in purple, pink, peach, and larger size browns, grey, olive and tan in 10’s and 12’s will get attention.

Zone 2 is that area just below the tennis courts that has a small un/named creek, or what some call Dry Wash. The small creek has formed a delta that forges almost three quarters of the lakes width, and encompasses an area running to the north and south, of about 200 yards. This area should be navigated very carefully while operating a boat during low, or minimum flow due to this shallow rock delta that has been formed by the creek.

Similar fly patterns work very well in this location and you can also add a san juan worm to the mix if a flow is present, especially after a rain. This is also a good area for dry fly presentation or a tandem rig. Small stimulators, humpys, ants, beatles or caddis are great dry’s, and a small scud or midge can be added to complete the double fly rig. The bluff bank should be targeted there, casting real close to the chunk rocks on the bank and under overhanging trees.

Zone 3 continues on the same side and is a gravel flat that is extremely shallow flowing thru the remaining houses on the Western shore of the lake.

This area can be hard to fish and probably holds the smallest density of fish in the area. The channel isn't as deep as other areas in this strech -- may be this is why there's not as many trout in this area. Light midging does occur at times in this area but the trout seem to run small at times and are extremely sensitive to movement and water disturbance. Emergers, midges and small scud presentations can take these wary fish, and you are always more apt to be successful here if there is current and wind present.

Zone 4 is a large flat that has formed just below the glass front house on the west shore. This area shallow reef area extends to within 30-40 feet of the eastern shore and encompasses a north south area of approximately 400 yards.

This flat has excellent possibilities for wade fishing as well as boat fishing. On zero or moderate flow earth colors, as described above, are very good, as well as a multitude of dry fly presentation. On generation this flat is known to be an excellent producer or egg patterns and bright pink and chrome micro jigs. Some call this the "Scud Bed" because of it's ability to hold loads on freshwater shrimp. Rainbows always seem to be midging here too. Don't be scared to cast and work the very shallow water flat, not just the channel. There are some surprisingly big rainbows that cruise this shallow flat.

Zone 5 starts at the Fall Creek condo’s and extends to Fall Creek on the same shoreline. The bottom structure changes here from gravel to more of a table rock or chunk rock, along with big log jams and rock ledges.

Brown and rainbows both occupy this deeper area as this is the beginning of a channel swing bank.

On water flow or generation, this area is extremely hard to fish, as the fish maintain a bottom attitude and making effective presentations to deeper fish in this location is extremely hard.

Shore line structure can be fished with suspending stick baits and straight line jig presentations. Colors: sculpin, brown, black, olive, white and combinations of sculpin and ginger, orange and peach. Size jigs: 1/4rd to 1/16th oz.

On zero generation, jig and float fishing this stretch is deadly. Natural presentations using, sculpin, olive, and tan micro jigs will account for wonderful catches. Make sure your jig is near the bottom usually about 5 feet under the indicator. Fluorocarbon tippet, 2-pound, will increase your catch.

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