Lilley's Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report, March 1

[Phil Lilley]

7 hours ago, fshndoug said:

If the Corp would manage Table Rock as a flood control lake instead of leaving the lake level at 915 feet they might not get caught with their pants down when Table Rock came up to almost historic heights several springs in a row. They are absolutely responsible for the devastation they caused below Table rock Dam with the erosion of the banks. They will never manage the lake as it was designed for as that will rub a lot of powerful people the wrong way. It is purely for recreational  purposes now and in the future and drawing it down 20 feet in the winter time will never happen. I will bet anything you want to match that you will see another year where there will be 100,000 cubic feet of water being released again by the Corp to prevent the topping of the dam by a flood. All one has to do is look at the overflow gates they spent $60 million dollars on because their runoff models were shown to be outdated because of climate change and the development growth with more runoff because water doesn't go through asphalt real well. By the way what are the actual decrease in stocking numbers for the last 4 years.

In 2018, MDC reduced 20% from 700,000 to 560,000.  And I've already said they were 60k short in 2021 because of water quality issues, mostly fish that were to be stocked this winter.

I agree with you on drawing down the lakes in the winter.  Living below a dam, I know firsthand that gut wrenching feeling of being told to evacuate, several times now.  And here we are again heading into spring and the lakes are being held at power pool instead of being drawn down, even a bit.

But there is this - in 2011 (I think that's the event, could have been 2008), Table Rock was at 907 feet.  The whole watershed got 15 inches of rain in less than a week and they released what was a record release at that time... may be 64,000 cfs.?  They've beat it by 10k in the 2015 winter flood.  Call it global warming or climate change.... whatever.  We are seeing more rain systems just sit on the central midwest in the last 15 years and flood the heck out of some areas (North Fork of the White River).

I would like to ask the management at the Corp - why don't you draw down the lakes like you used to in the 80's and 90's.  I've been told it was the long time manager at Table Rock back in those years and I can't remember his name... anyone???  He was there for a long time.

[MoCarp]

Interesting….late /70s early 80s fish ran bigger because less people were fishing….winters over that stretch we had lots of snow and bitter weather….seems I remember gravel being dredged and sold….browns were a new addition…can’t remember when they put the limit on them…..no powerbait back then, cheese, marshmallows, salmon eggs, night crawlers…I liked chunking big spinners…Cleos and when the came out shad raps….never measured trout, weighed them….you could limit out on 3-5 pound bows….Taney will be ether a jet boat tour..Vegas show on the water…or a quality trout fishing hole….right now they are trying to have both….as table rock goes the way of LOZ….you will look back at the good ol days….I’m sure the old floaters opined about how things were before the dams……

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

In 2018, MDC reduced 20% from 700,000 to 560,000.  And I've already said they were 60k short in 2021 because of water quality issues, mostly fish that were to be stocked this winter.

I agree with you on drawing down the lakes in the winter.  Living below a dam, I know firsthand that gut wrenching feeling of being told to evacuate, several times now.  And here we are again heading into spring and the lakes are being held at power pool instead of being drawn down, even a bit.

But there is this - in 2011 (I think that's the event, could have been 2008), Table Rock was at 907 feet.  The whole watershed got 15 inches of rain in less than a week and they released what was a record release at that time... may be 64,000 cfs.?  They've beat it by 10k in the 2015 winter flood.  Call it global warming or climate change.... whatever.  We are seeing more rain systems just sit on the central midwest in the last 15 years and flood the heck out of some areas (North Fork of the White River).

I would like to ask the management at the Corp - why don't you draw down the lakes like you used to in the 80's and 90's.  I've been told it was the long time manager at Table Rock back in those years and I can't remember his name... anyone???  He was there for a long time.

Seems like they could draw them down 5 feet each over winter without upsetting anyone above each dam.   They do it in the SE lakes every year.   Property owners even plan dock and bulkhead maintenance during those draw downs.  

[laker67]

1 hour ago, MoCarp said:

Interesting….late /70s early 80s fish ran bigger because less people were fishing….winters over that stretch we had lots of snow and bitter weather….seems I remember gravel being dredged and sold….browns were a new addition…can’t remember when they put the limit on them…..no powerbait back then, cheese, marshmallows, salmon eggs, night crawlers…

You are right about the crowds MoCarp. A busy week day might be 10 and a weekend might be 30. Of those whose fished, majority were local. When Dave Betherum and I started night fishing in 75, the biggest , consistent crowds were at night. They were bait fishermen at the big hole. A guy that everyone called"Doc", was the only one who ever ventured up by us. He would set out a bait rod, and then sit in a lawn chair and fly fish. We mostly caught bigger fish back then because they were there and not so much because we knew anything. But we did learn as we went.

[fshndoug]

Thanks Phil for the info on the stocking. Maybe the 60k they were short went to the urban lakes where they can be poached.As for the high water events I really feel sorry for guys like you that have to put up with flood like releases during heavy rains. The Corps will never draw down Table Rock any significant amount in the winter because people with huge investments won't let it happen that own places on the Rock.Any time you have enough money to buy half of Long Creek then take over boat ramps you know they have some pull. Hey Laker 67 you remember the guy from Kimberling City named Horn that used to keep every big rainbow he ever caught.I believe he worked on boats on Table Rock.

[Phil Lilley]

My first time to Taney was around 75.  I was in high school.  My dad dropped me off at outlet #2.  I knew nothing about trout fishing.  I had a Diawa closed face reel with probably 8 pound line and salmon eggs.  Everyone else was using roe including Doc.  Everyone was lined up from the outlet to rebar, shoulder to shoulder facing out waist deep.  I had chest waders on.  Others were on the other side lined up so I tried to wade across.  I walked up about 50 yards above the outlet and tippy-toed across, the water almost going over my waders.  That's how deep it was.

Two days of fishing and no fish while lots and lots of big rainbows were caught and hauled out.  I begged Doc to sell me some eggs.  He bragged about having a freezer full of what he called, "roe gold" or something like that.  At the last hour before dad came back to get me, I finally hooked a big rainbow and landed him.  It was a sow full of eggs.  Doc begged me to let him cut it open and take the eggs.  I was leaving so I relented.

So my one weekend on Taney I remember lots of anglers lined up on both sides, like the trout parks.  If someone hooked a big fish they hollar, "fire in the hole" and everyone would reel in and let him walk down.  A lot of the time they'd go to rebar and lose the fish. 

[Phil Lilley]

3 hours ago, fshndoug said:

Thanks Phil for the info on the stocking. Maybe the 60k they were short went to the urban lakes where they can be poached.As for the high water events I really feel sorry for guys like you that have to put up with flood like releases during heavy rains. The Corps will never draw down Table Rock any significant amount in the winter because people with huge investments won't let it happen that own places on the Rock.Any time you have enough money to buy half of Long Creek then take over boat ramps you know they have some pull. Hey Laker 67 you remember the guy from Kimberling City named Horn that used to keep every big rainbow he ever caught.I believe he worked on boats on Table Rock.

Marty Horn.

[laker67]

3 hours ago, fshndoug said:

 Hey Laker 67 you remember the guy from Kimberling City named Horn that used to keep every big rainbow he ever caught.I believe he worked on boats on Table Rock.

I remember several of the locals taking home stringers of fish. And also have seen a few return later in the day and fish again. 

[laker67]

I always wondered if using game fish body parts was a legal thing back then . It certainly is not now. Lots of poaching and trout eggs were used back then. Russ and Doc were the two i knew for a fact. 

[MoCarp]

3 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

So my one weekend on Taney I remember lots of anglers lined up on both sides, like the trout parks.  If someone hooked a big fish they hollar, "fire in the hole" and everyone would reel in and let him walk down.  A lot of the time they'd go to rebar and lose the fish. 

I had forgot people said fire in the hole! Code for get out of my way!