Quick OA Report

[Phil Lilley]

Four units full has kinda put the trout in a funk the last few days.  Early and late are very good though.  Duane has been hammering big browns and rainbows using his jerk bait on guide trips early.  But the schedule says 2 units tomorrow - much welcomed news.

Lots of boats on the lake today, more than we've seen since mid March.  Dragging those small jerk/minnow baits has been the hottest thing going, and the new "hot spot" is Monkey Island down to 65 bridge.  Bill Babler has been dragging these minnow baits for years but it's not till lately that we've seen them catch some nice trout.  May be because of the flood gates and inflow of so many threadfin shad in to the lake.... who knows.  I do believe there are more trophy trout in Taneycomo since the 60-70's hayday.

When the water drops,  it will be much easier to fish and get the bait to where the trout live.  We'll see some good stringers in the coming weeks.

More later.

[Terrierman]

Nice.  By small minnow jerk/crank baits - would that include countdown Rapala in various sizes and patterns?

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, Phil Lilley said:

.  We'll see some good stringers in the coming weeks.

I hope to experience that the first week of June 😁

[JestersHK]

Fingers crossed the water cooperates for me here in 2 weeks!  Thanks for the report. 

[Phil Lilley]

Yes any small minnow jerk bait.

I honestly don't know what to call them.  They're more like a minnow to me and I guess you could jerk them back... I just think of a bigger lure when I say jerk bait.  So I'm including both terms.

A small flickershad should work too. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

On 5/2/2020 at 8:05 AM, JestersHK said:

Fingers crossed the water cooperates for me here in 2 weeks!  Thanks for the report. 

Cooperate?   4 units?  2 units plus spillway gates?  No generation?  1 unit.  3 units,  All spillways open??😁

[JestersHK]

9 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Cooperate?   4 units?  2 units plus spillway gates?  No generation?  1 unit.  3 units,  All spillways open??😁

Buddy I long for an evening in the dark chasing some sea monsters with the water off... a solid night of slinging jerkbaits and crushing fish until the grey starts to peak out and dawn is coming.   

Honestly though I've learned to love fishing no matter what the flows there.  4 can be tough for me personally, I'd take gates over 4. Anything else I have solid plans to get into them. 

I'm not sure when the water was last off, but I do know this is the longest run I've seen. 

Heading down on the 13th through the weekend.  Can't get here fast enough...

 

[MickinMO]

21 hours ago, JestersHK said:

Buddy I long for an evening in the dark chasing some sea monsters with the water off...

 

Memories of my college days strippin' woolies into the wee hours of the morning. There was a fellow SMS student who worked at the fly fishing section at Bass Pro who was from the state of Washington. He got me and another buddy turned onto fishing the dam area at night. We would go into Bass Pro and talk fishing and see him some at Backcountry Outfitters. We were just getting into fly fishing, but had talked about how we were fishing Roaring River, Crane Creek, Jolly Mill, North Fork, and Taneycomo. He was like you don't fish Taney at night after they shut the water off? Ummm, no dude that sounds crazy. Meet me down there tomorrow night and I will show you what I am talking about. Can't remember his name, but whoever you are thank you.

[JestersHK]

A calm night on the water with no generation is about as peaceful and tranquil as I can get.  

It is a spiritual thing for me the times I'm out there solo as I get to an almost zen like place.

I truly prefer it over fishing in the day time. 

Met a few other night owls down there too.

[Jhoff]

You guys should really try taking a kayak out with no flow during the summer.  It is the most peaceful and best fishing I've ever had