New to Taneycomo, a few questions

[jimithyashford]

I've been to Taneycomo twice now, not very long either time, really more just scouting different areas. First time I waded out a few feet from the bottom of the stairs at the hatchery access right below the dam and tossed a rooster tail for about half an hour, and caught a huge smallie, very dark coloration, not the golden river smallies I'm used to, but that was the only bite. It was in the last 30 min or so before sunset.

Second time I went to Rockaway Beach. I cast small lures in and around some of the dilapidated docks there, caught a few panfish. Then I paddled out to the deep part of the channel and let some power bait on a small hook sit down on the bottom for about 30 min while I drifted, no bites and light was fading so I headed home.

Ok so, here are my questions, if anyone can give insights. Note: my boat is a kayak, so I am on arm power to get up and down stream. That will become relevant.

 

1- I've heard a lot of folks talk about wade fishing the trophy section and fly fishing it. But at least the one time I went out there, it looked way too deep for that. The Dam was off, so I assume what I was looking at was low water, but even so, the current seemed pretty strong and at least from my view from the lot, it looked like it got chest deep or higher not very far out, which with that kind of current you can't really wade. So how do you wade fish the trophy section? Or do you not really and I just misunderstood?

2- Since I am in a kayak, I have to paddle back to where ever I put in. On most lakes that's not an issue, but here, well as many point out, the upper portion is more like a river really. Around what point would you say the flow slows down enough that a person could kayak upstream back to their put in without killing themselves? At least up near the dam, that current looked way too strong for that.

3- I have only ever fished small water for trout. Get pretty close, within I dunno, 30 or 40 feet of the fish and either spincast something like a rooster tail or fly fish smaller lighter things. My understanding is that further down Taneycomo, once you get past the trophy section, you really can't fish like that, you have to fish more like you'd fish for catfish and get your bait way down to the bottom and let it sit. Is my understanding right? The trout like to hang out in the depths of the channels where the cold water is? Or are they up shallow around structure more like a smallmouth?

4- While I am trying to learn trout fishing, I also like to bass fish, I assume the bass fishing is less good up where the water is cold and gets better once you get down below a couple of the major creeks that warm the water up a bit? Like I would have thought below bull creek at rockaway would be good bass water, and maybe it is, I didn't fish it very long, but at least the afternoon I was out there it didn't seem very active.

5- Any other general tips? Just regarding methods and general lay of the lake, not asking for your secret spots or anything.

 

Thanks!

[Ryan Miloshewski]

1 minute ago, jimithyashford said:

1- I've heard a lot of folks talk about wade fishing the trophy section and fly fishing it. But at least the one time I went out there, it looked way too deep for that. The Dam was off, so I assume what I was looking at was low water, but even so, the current seemed pretty strong and at least from my view from the lot, it looked like it got chest deep or higher not very far out, which with that kind of current you can't really wade. So how do you wade fish the trophy section? Or do you not really and I just misunderstood?

2- Since I am in a kayak, I have to paddle back to where ever I put in. On most lakes that's not an issue, but here, well as many point out, the upper portion is more like a river really. Around what point would you say the flow slows down enough that a person could kayak upstream back to their put in without killing themselves? At least up near the dam, that current looked way too strong for that.

3- I have only ever fished small water for trout. Get pretty close, within I dunno, 30 or 40 feet of the fish and either spincast something like a rooster tail or fly fish smaller lighter things. My understanding is that further down Taneycomo, once you get past the trophy section, you really can't fish like that, you have to fish more like you'd fish for catfish and get your bait way down to the bottom and let it sit. Is my understanding right? The trout like to hang out in the depths of the channels where the cold water is? Or are they up shallow around structure more like a smallmouth?

4- While I am trying to learn trout fishing, I also like to bass fish, I assume the bass fishing is less good up where the water is cold and gets better once you get down below a couple of the major creeks that warm the water up a bit? Like I would have thought below bull creek at rockaway would be good bass water, and maybe it is, I didn't fish it very long, but at least the afternoon I was out there it didn't seem very active.

5- Any other general tips? Just regarding methods and general lay of the lake, not asking for your secret spots or anything.

 

Thanks!

1: You can wade far enough out to catch fish and get across from outlet two down fairly easily. I am guessing they were running one unit or so when you were there. Scuds, midges, megaworms all work under an indicator up there. 

2: Way down lake. From TRD to the Landing, with generation, I would not want to have to paddle back. If you can shuttle, put in at the ramp by the dam and take out at Cooper Creek or the Landing ramp. If you can't find someone to shuttle you, one thing you could do is take a chain and lock with you on the kayak. Float down to either of those ramps, lock up your rig, and call an Uber to your put in point. 

3: They feed shallow, deep, on top--everywhere. Browns will relate to structure more than rainbows. With generation, they will be tight to the bank and on the very bottom. You can get them to eat all throughout the water column. Use a marabou jig and adjust the size based on water depth. You will catch fish. Rooster tails, cleos, Lil' Jakes, etc. all work with just a cast and steady retrieve. The biggest thing is using the right size line and reading the water. In deeper water, find a seam or eddy and there will be fish eating in it. In the trophy area, they will be in the same areas, as well as in 1-2 ft of water eating midges, scuds, sculpins and anything they can find.

4: There are no bass in Taneycomo. That's a myth and outright lie

5: Hire a guide for 2-4 hours if you can. First thing I do when fishing a new body of water is hire a guide. It cuts down the learning curve substantially. If not, stop into Anglers Outfitters, River Run, or Lilleys' Landing. Ask questions. The devil is in the details. And most folks are more than willing to help you out. 

[jimithyashford]

12 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

1: You can wade far enough out to catch fish and get across from outlet two down fairly easily. I am guessing they were running one unit or so when you were there. Scuds, midges, megaworms all work under an indicator up there. 

2: Way down lake. From TRD to the Landing, with generation, I would not want to have to paddle back. If you can shuttle, put in at the ramp by the dam and take out at Cooper Creek or the Landing ramp. If you can't find someone to shuttle you, one thing you could do is take a chain and lock with you on the kayak. Float down to either of those ramps, lock up your rig, and call an Uber to your put in point. 

3: They feed shallow, deep, on top--everywhere. Browns will relate to structure more than rainbows. With generation, they will be tight to the bank and on the very bottom. You can get them to eat all throughout the water column. Use a marabou jig and adjust the size based on water depth. You will catch fish. Rooster tails, cleos, Lil' Jakes, etc. all work with just a cast and steady retrieve. The biggest thing is using the right size line and reading the water. In deeper water, find a seam or eddy and there will be fish eating in it. In the trophy area, they will be in the same areas, as well as in 1-2 ft of water eating midges, scuds, sculpins and anything they can find.

4: There are no bass in Taneycomo. That's a myth and outright lie

5: Hire a guide for 2-4 hours if you can. First thing I do when fishing a new body of water is hire a guide. It cuts down the learning curve substantially. If not, stop into Anglers Outfitters, River Run, or Lilleys' Landing. Ask questions. The devil is in the details. And most folks are more than willing to help you out. 

Hey thanks, that's super helpful, if I can prod a bit more.

1- Gotcha, that is helpful thank you!

2- Hey the uber thing is a great idea. Thanks!

3- This is spin casting right? Or are you talking about like a steady slow stripping in off a fly cast?

[Ryan Miloshewski]

13 minutes ago, jimithyashford said:

Hey thanks, that's super helpful, if I can prod a bit more.

1- Gotcha, that is helpful thank you!

2- Hey the uber thing is a great idea. Thanks!

3- This is spin casting right? Or are you talking about like a steady slow stripping in off a fly cast?

You bet! Any time. And you are correct, spin fishing. Fly fishing you'll want to be nymphing right on the bottom. Stripping anything you can vary the depth and location. A jig, though, works best when it's near the bottom. Really, as long as they can see it, you're fine.