Threadfin are pouring into Taneycomo

[Phil Lilley]

When I went up lake yesterday about 5 pm, I was met by a wall of shad in the water about a mile below the dam.  After 2 drifts from the dam to Lookout and only catching one rainbow, I fished on down and caught them good against the bluff bank.

This morning I'm getting pics from guides showing big schools of threadfin shad in the water.  Nonstop. 

I haven't gotten confirmation but I think they're coming through the turbines as well as over the 2 spill gates.

 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

Wow, that is great. It's about time! Wish I could be down there.

[Quillback]

Wow, going to be some fat trout.

[JestersHK]

Between the scuds and shad there's gonna be some sea monsters growing for sure!  

[Phil Lilley]

13 hours ago, JestersHK said:

Between the scuds and shad there's gonna be some sea monsters growing for sure!  

Don't forget sculpins.

[trythisonemv]

46 minutes ago, Phil Lilley said:

Don't forget sculpins.

Hey would the over abundance of shad and scuds help increase sculpin population as well? I have had those little critters eat a minnow or wooly bugger .

[Phil Lilley]

5 hours ago, trythisonemv said:

Hey would the over abundance of shad and scuds help increase sculpin population as well? I have had those little critters eat a minnow or wooly bugger .

They're pretty aggressive eaters... but I think the constant flow of water helps their population better than food.  They seem like they always get plenty to eat.

[fshndoug]

sculphins don't have big mouths for nothing

 

[Phil Lilley]

I guess the shad are still pouring in. Huge numbers. I still can’t get anyone to tell me if it’s just over the top or through the turbines. I need to go up and see today. Seems like way too many to be over just 2 gates. 

Tony sent me this last evening. It’s a ball of shad on the surface below the dam. He said even though there’s Tom’s in the water, the white bite is good. 

[Phil Lilley]

26 inch solid 10 pound rainbow this morning. Beautiful fish.