May 11 fishing report

[Phil Lilley]

We have seen 15,000 cubic feet per second water release since last Friday evening after a more-than-expected rain event last week.  The Beaver Lake area received the most rain, up to 6 inches, while our area averaged 2.5 inches.  The forecast called for about an inch of rain.  Beaver Lake's level was already high so this rain put it up close to their flood pool which is 1130 feet.  A combination of spill gates and turbine release kept the level in check while at Table Rock Dam, water released increased to move water through the system.

Now that we've had a full week of release, lake levels have slowly dropped to moderate levels, just not low enough to see a reduction in release.  Turbines at both Beaver and Table Rock facilities are not being used, one at both places.  Spill gates are open to make up for turbine release, 5 gates opened one foot at Table Rock.  Beaver gates are now closed and they are only running one unit 5 or 6 hour a day.  Beaver's level is now at 1128.38 feet.  Table Rock is at 916.53 feet and dropping almost 6 inches a day.

My flow forecast for Taneycomo is - I think they'll shut the gates down within the next 24 hours and run 3 units full for a while.

Our trout in Taneycomo have seen a lot of shad and other forage fish come over the spill gates the last 7 days.  We're catching trout that have big bellies, as well as seeing bass, crappie and walleye below the dam.

White jigs, spoons, crank baits and shad flies are all working very good... but we're seeing spells when the fishing is slow.  In the past when we've seen a "shad hatch", fish fill up on shad so we throw dark jigs at them and they seem to like it.  So brown, sculpin, olive and black all have worked well when the fish aren't hitting white or white and gray.

The white bite has been good all the way down to Short Creek, it's been reported.  They're also doing well drifting #10 and #12 gray scuds on the bottom too.  In year's past, we've seen our scud population explode during these high water events so this may be occurring.

It's hard writing a fishing report when you know in a few hours water conditions will change, thus changing how this report should be written...  but I believe drifting bait on the bottom from Fall Creek down will become a lot easier and successful once the water slows down.  I think minnows will be the hot bait too, along with night crawlers.  There's a lot of rainbows in the lake right now.  The Missouri Department of Conservation haven't slowed stocking down because of the high water and catch and keep rates have been low.

I think I'll wait and add to this report in a couple of days because of the change that's coming.  I'll have a much better idea what the fish are doing and the best way to catch them.

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[Phil Lilley]

I knew as soon as I posted this, things would change.

Duane just texted me and said they just closed the flood gates at Table Rock Dam.

[mikeak]

Thanks for the report.

 

[vonreed]

Thanks

[Bill Babler]

Wouldn't you know it.  I think in 25 yrs. if I try and get a jump and have every rod rigged I have been right twice.  That goes for today.  Back to the shed to rerig for generators.  Put all the 3/8th. weights in mothballs.

Nice report anyway.

[Phil Lilley]

2 units tonight... real slow water.  May be you need to readjust again before you go to bed   

 

[Jhoff]

1 hour ago, Phil Lilley said:

2 units tonight... real slow water.  May be you need to readjust again before you go to bed   

 

Im GLAD to hear that I'm heading down in about 15 minutes!

[duckydoty]

Fishing was incredible last night with the dropping water.  Sculpin and peach jigs were getting hit 3 and 4 times per cast with over stuffed pigs from a week of flood gates.

 

[Ham]

That’s what I drove up for a couple of months ago, but they weren’t biting when I was there. The nerve of those fish. 

 

[Phil Lilley]

1 hour ago, Ham said:

That’s what I drove up for a couple of months ago, but they weren’t biting when I was there. The nerve of those fish. 

 

The early morning bite hasn't been that good.  Most of the guides have been saying it starts after 8 am, after the sun gets up a bit... which doesn't make any sense.

Come by and say hi if you get a chance!