Taney Trip - March Madness - Lake Levels

[Jeff Polys]

Our annual trout trip is this upcoming weekend on Taneycomo. I am a little concerned about the lake levels. Watching yesterday's one cast, it seems like the creeks are starting to drop some mud/dingy water into the lake. We were really hoping to go snag some suckers up in the creeks, but they likely will still be dingy. Do the creeks clear up quick? 

Also, table rock is at 916.  The one cast gentlemen mentioned that if TRock gets to 917 they might open up two more spill gates. What will this mean for taneycomo? 

I am stocked up on jigs, but not sure how well they will do when the water is cooking like this. I remember the white jig mania when shad spill over, I guess that might happen again.  

Planning on drifting crawlers and pink power worms. Possibly find some slack water and try jigging. 

Any tips and suggestions would be helpful. I will continue to watch one cast and monitor for updates. 

Thanks everyone and be safe. 

 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

1 hour ago, Jeff Polys said:

Our annual trout trip is this upcoming weekend on Taneycomo. I am a little concerned about the lake levels. Watching yesterday's one cast, it seems like the creeks are starting to drop some mud/dingy water into the lake. We were really hoping to go snag some suckers up in the creeks, but they likely will still be dingy. Do the creeks clear up quick? 

Also, table rock is at 916.  The one cast gentlemen mentioned that if TRock gets to 917 they might open up two more spill gates. What will this mean for taneycomo? 

I am stocked up on jigs, but not sure how well they will do when the water is cooking like this. I remember the white jig mania when shad spill over, I guess that might happen again.  

Planning on drifting crawlers and pink power worms. Possibly find some slack water and try jigging. 

Any tips and suggestions would be helpful. I will continue to watch one cast and monitor for updates. 

Thanks everyone and be safe. 

 

It'll be tough but not terrible. Last time they had five flood gates open I did well dragging a big san juan and big scuds in the seams. Really close to the bank on some areas. You have to be on the bottom. The issue is TR sends over a ton of moss/algae that covers the bottom and water column so you will have to check your flies/lures/bait a lot.

I don't think TR got cold enough this year to have a shad kill. I think as we get toward April and gates are still open we will see shad, since they get up on the dam rocks to spawn. But that's just my opinion. I fished it Thur/Fri of last week and it was tough. 

As for the creeks, my guide buddy said Roark blew out in an hour when they were in there fishing yesterday. Had one line of clear water near the bank where they could still catch em. 

Kind of scary..the spring rains aren't even here yet and the White River chain is still hurting from last year's high water events..

[Seth]

Jigs will work just fine. Focus on eddy pockets on the bluff banks and inside bends. If you have trouble fishing the heavy flow above Lilleys, you can always go down below Scottys. Scottys down to the power lines is always full of fish and the current is a lot slower. If things get too dirty, go up river and find clean water. If you are vait fishing, you can still catch fish at the creek mouths well in dirty water. Fish will stack uo there and gorge on all of the food coming in. Crawlers should shine in that situation.

This is a tourney we took third in while 15k cfs flowing. Should give you an idea on how we fish those conditions. Personally, I love fishing when the gates are open.

 

[Phil Lilley]

I'll be posting a report tomorrow... but it will basically say look for heavy generation for the foreseeable future.  The lakes are just above "normal" but with rain in the forecast every 3-4 days, we'll see this flow for a while.

They are letting water over the gates, yes, but only to the tune of 4 units.  We still have one unit not working so that's why the gates are open.  This is a blessing... we should see some shad.  There doesn't have to be a kill to have them come over.  When we have a shad kill (because of cold water on TR), they usually come through the turbines- and over the gates.  

So I'd rather see some gates open and 3 units than 4 units and no gates.

We're seeing some moss from TR but most of it's coming from the bottom of our lake.  But with the deeper water and heavier flow, this should start to move it out.

We see some of the best spring fishing when the water is running like this...  just have to make those adjustments and find where they're holding.