Lilley's Taneycomo Report - March 1

[Phil Lilley]

By Blake Wilson

Winter trout fishing reigns at its finest  in the month of February here on Lake Taneycomo.  February has seen tremendous hangouts of trout bite the net for those select anglers willing to brave the potentially brutal conditions of winter.  However, no bravery was needed for this February as early spring temperatures greeted us.  Most days averaged in the 50's and 60's as a delightful bonus to the healthy, well-oxygenated trout that cooperated.  With oxygen levels well over 10 parts per million and continuous running water for most of the month, most days were filled with more time catching and a lot less just fishing.

 

With the temperature averages, it's a slight mystery as to why the water stayed running day and night.  I suspect that operators at the dam were unable to turn off one of the generators due to some type of mechanical issue since when generation was slowed,  it was always to 40 megawatts, which is about one generator.  I suppose it could have been a power demand or purchase we may never know.  Regardless, the flows were a welcomed bonus for our trout fishing.

 

If fly fishing is your method of choice, these days filled with 40- to 60-megawatt flows have been optimal for scuds and egg patterns under a strike indicator.  Size 14 and 16 scuds paired with each other, accompanied by a UV2 orange egg, have worked great.  A size AB split shot one foot above the first fly seemed to perform well.  The generation also provided the opportunity to suspend midges and smaller style marabou jigs for a great bite.

 

If spin cast is more your style, marabou jigs and jerk baits have been working great.  When the flow was closer to the two- to three-units range, the signature series jerk baits in the 110+1 style pulled some impressive browns out of the depths, such as the brown caught by Brandon Butler with Captain Duane Doty during the Conservation Federation writer's conference in mid February. 

 

 

However, in my personal experience for the month, the marabou jig takes the crown for being the most effective tool for most of each day of fishing.  Don't count out the jig for a big fish every once in a while.  Tyler Swartz,  federation director, caught this tank on one of our jigs fishing with Captain Robbie Dodson during the same event.

 

 

In the 40-megawatt flow, our 1/25th-ounce Lilley's Jig seemed to be the most victorious.  Using two-pound line or three-pound braid with a leader you can successfully work this smaller jig.  Pair it with a light or ultra light action rod in the 6'6" to 7' model for best performance.  Keep the jig as close to the bottom as you can.  Always remember that in these water conditions this size jig will sink about one foot per second, so in 10 feet of water you will wait 9-10 seconds before starting your retrieve.  The jig bite was still great with up to 100 megawatts, but we just had to increase to a 1/16th- or a 3/32nd-ounce jig.

 

To sit back amid the beautiful Ozarks scenery, listen to the screech of our eagles, and let your bait do the work for you -- is a challenging bliss to beat.  So if bait fishing is your niche, from the dock or on the water.  Night crawlers, powerbait and the famous pink power worm have dominated the month of February.  Drifting the pink worm threaded on to a size 8 baitholder hook on one of our drift rigs has been especially useful this last week.  The night crawler is almost impossible to beat whether on the dock or drifting downstream in a boat.  The power eggs and dough style baits in yellow or orange are the working best.

 

February truly is one of our favorite times of year on this fantastic fishery.  Between high oxygen, more water flows and cooler water temperatures, it ranks as one of the best months for trout fishing.  If a few action-packed days of trout fishing is your cup of tea, grab some extra layers of clothes and come join us in March!

[LAjoey]

Thanks for the report, Blake. Phil, good to see you back from Florida and out in the boat with Jack. I look forward to y’all’s show each day.

Joey from Louisiana 

[IkeLightner]

Is there any chance the generation pattern has been due to the rainbow spawn?  I noticed some great looking rainbows on beds near the top end.  Maybe the flow will be exactly what they need to have a successful spawn year?  Maybe they’re actually trying? 

[snagged in outlet 3]

17 hours ago, IkeLightner said:

Is there any chance the generation pattern has been due to the rainbow spawn?

No.

[Phil Lilley]

They shut the water off mid day yesterday.  Shut down the bite too.  Today they should be used to it.  yes it's off again today.

A new pattern starts.

[Phil Lilley]

Couple of pretty rainbows today. 
 

[IkeLightner]

Nice little chunky bows.  looking quite like stream born rainbows…… couldn’t be possible, some outlet fisherman said so 

[snagged in outlet 3]

41 minutes ago, IkeLightner said:

Nice little chunky bows.  looking quite like stream born rainbows…… couldn’t be possible, some outlet fisherman said so 

I was answering this question you posted.  

"Is there any chance the generation pattern has been due to the rainbow spawn?"

My answer is still no.  Flood control and power generation.  I've never seen anything about generating for trout spawn.  Have you heard something different?

[Ryan Miloshewski]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I was answering this question you posted.  

"Is there any chance the generation pattern has been due to the rainbow spawn?"

My answer is still no.  Flood control and power generation.  I've never seen anything about generating for trout spawn.  Have you heard something different?

Not a chance the USACE would do that. Flows are and will never be about the fish, unfortunately. 

However, I've talked to Shane/MDC and they said rainbows can and do spawn in the creeks on Taney. The ones who attempt in the main lake are not usually successful they said, but I wouldn't doubt some produce. Those fish in the pics though are very far along. Nice brown trout food size, too!

[Phil Lilley]

There's definitely been some natural reproduction in the past few years.  I'm sure due to ideal conditions in the spring from the creeks.