Taneycomo Restrictions

[Luke]

I like Phil's idea. A 14" to 24" slot sounds like a great idea. It would make it easier to catch fish for the skillet and should also help grow some bigger fish.

[Phil Lilley]

I may have misspoke on the slot... didn't think about it hard enough. Raising the lower end to 14 inches doesn't make alot of sense because rainbows would have to grow 2-4 inches before being "protected" in the trophy area. 13 inches is more realistic. 13-22 would be less extreme.

There is very, very little natural reproduction for trout in Taney- never will be. Can't happen. What is put in is in and that's all there will be.

The trophy area was created because MDC asked anglers what they wanted and they said "less fish, bigger fish". With the slot, that's what they've created and it's worked for the most part.

There was fear that the upper lake would become overcrowded and the trout might literally starve (some said) but it hasn't happened. Slower growth rates? I believe Taney's food base makes pretty big swings depending on flows and temps which fluctuates annually, not necessarily because of trout populations.

I don't think there's that many legal browns caught each year and less than 50% of those are kept. I think the ratio is more like 10% kept. I think more are killed due to hooking mortality.

Bottom line- I don't think much is wrong with Taney. It's a great fishery and MDC should be given much credit for it. Could the rules be tweaked? They could. And I think it could be better for it.

[Daddy Carp]

JSCHEETZ... Didn't say Bennett was same as a natural stream. I well know the differencebut at least you can wade and catch some quality fish with effort. As far as the beer and helmet set, I do not spend any time in that area so I'll take your word as "gospel". I know they're around just as on the docks-of-taney. I have always spent my 90% of my time above the bridge & a lot of it above the falls. You being familiar with the area know of which I speak. Much harder to catch trophy fish there than Taney but I see a lot of various "trout organization" patches & vests representing both local and national organizations present in the same area. Hence, can't be all bad...........Wishing you the best for the holiday season....D.C.

[Greg]

Dont you think it would be nice to have a lake that would sustain its population with natural reproduction instead of just being used as a fishbowl as you stated?I would like to see a lot of more fishing oportunities, but id also like to see peace on earth and a victoria secret fashion model living on my street,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but

I guess in a sense Taneycomo is a fishbowl where trout are concerned because there is so little reproduction. But what a fishbowl! Taneycomo is just a wonderful place to fish. It has a little of almost everything. And there just are not that many places for trout fisherman to fish in MO. While there are at least a hundred times as many warm-water self-sustaining fisheries as opposed to trout fisheries. So why knock it?

Daddy Carp - I'm with jscheetz on the Bennett comparison. I like both areas and fish them both but I find Taneycomo much more challenging. I can honestly say I've never had a day at Bennett that I did not catch multiple fish - at least several times the daily limit (catch and releasing). But even though I have had 40-50 fish days on Taney - I've had other days where the fish just had lockjaw. I think that has to do with Bennett being strictly put and take and Taney being put and grow. Meaning the trout in Taney (especially the upper lake) spend much more time in the lake/river getting acclimated to their habitat. While in Bennett I'll bet close to 90% of the fish are cleaned out in a day or 2.

And yes I do catch more big fish at Taney - but I feel that is because there are simply more of them available there as opposed to Bennett.

Greg

[Trav]

DC...400 to 500 brownies over 20" a year huh? You are counting the 42 I have caught and released since the end of 2006 right? Thats right, 42 over 20" this year alone. And probably twice that much between 16" and 18". And I am primarily a Bass guy. I only fish for brownies about a third of my time on the water.

QUESTION EVERYONE!!!!

Since we know that Trout dont spawn in the lake, what will happen to the fishery if they quit stocking trout? Still a trout lake in 5 years? In 10 years, In 20 years?

Do we talk about what other species go in the lake then? Will the trout still rule peoples hearts and minds?

If Taneycomo was to be managed with only spawning fish, self-populated.

Makes one wonder.

Doesnt It?

Haha...good thing I know where all the Bass are at....

[Phil Lilley]

Great point- never thought about it. Everyone back in the 50's thought TR Dam would end warmwater fishing on Taney but it didn't.

People are so surprised when they see or catch bass, crappie and blue gill up here.

[Trav]

I really wasnt trying to make a point....well...maybe I was, and I wasnt trying to reintroduce the subject of adding new species(I want channel cats!!),

I was just making an inquiry that if it dont spawn here why have it here. I know that answer too, government boasting rights and the hoards of disillusioned trout fisherman who think that Taneycomo is soooo perfect when it really isnt but a government-run pay lake. "Stock them and they will come."

DC kicked the mule in the mouth when he said that fishing the upper part of Taney was like fishing out of an aquarium. I will step it up one and say its like scooping minnows at a bait shop. If anyone can catch them on bare hooks then why bother?

I never fish above roark and as any local can tell you it takes a little more talent than luck to catch Big Brownies in the Lower Taney. I am willing to bet that there isnt many if any fisherman who can locate and catch as many brownies as I do in a year. I wont get into the subject of the 200+ Bass over 3 pounds I picked up either. Of course not many can say they spent approximatley 3000 hours on the water either.

But I stray from the Topic. I read a few comments on the idea of having enough government restrictions when everyone forgets they are catching government fish. Might as well call them cheese trout for they are nothing but welfare for the inept fisherman. Weekenders and tourists. That goes for every trout stream in Missouri.

Step down below mile 7 and see if you can catch them one right after the other. Not gonna happen. And if you bring your fly rod down here expecting a fish over 20" you would be better off fishing the bird bath in your back yard. Takes heavy tackle and some big lures to catch the Brownies I catch.

Going back to the topic of restrictions.

A slot limit is to protect the brood stock. Whats the point when they dont spawn?

If the government wants more big fish in the lake all they would have to do is stock them.

If they want them to grow big in the lake then they have to stop people from taking any fish until they are 20",24" or even 26".

The issue of bait should be a no brainer. Bait kills released fish. Mainly because dumb*ss inept wanna-bes dont know how to set a hook nor can they buy a cutting tool to cut the line instead of saving thier precious hook.

Anyway you look at it. Like the government or not. We got to have restrictions. Rigid restrictions. Not just a guidelines either. I mean seriously enforced rules. I know the upper part of Taney gets some (not much) oversight by law officials but Lower Taney gets next to zero attention from the MDC. I have seen plenty of times where people had undersized brownies or 8 fish stringers.

We got to have enforcement of even the silliest restrictions or we have angler anarchy.

[Greg]

But I stray from the Topic. I read a few comments on the idea of having enough government restrictions when everyone forgets they are catching government fish. Might as well call them cheese trout for they are nothing but welfare for the inept fisherman. Weekenders and tourists. That goes for every trout stream in Missouri.

Step down below mile 7 and see if you can catch them one right after the other. Not gonna happen. And if you bring your fly rod down here expecting a fish over 20" you would be better off fishing the bird bath in your back yard. Takes heavy tackle and some big lures to catch the Brownies I catch.

I'm really just flabbergasted by these statements. I'm just not quite sure what to say. But I will say this: I don't denigrate the way or how you fish so please extend the same courtesy to others. Most of my adult life I fished for everything including bass, crappie and catfish. And I can honestly say that fly fishing for trout is the most challenging type of fishing I have done. Tying your own flies, fly casting, presentation of a nymph, dry fly or streamer - it doesn't get any better (or more challenging)than that in my opinion. Even if the trout in MO are "cheese trout". Just because our trout are stocked doesn't mean they are always easy fare. Take a walk up through the trophy area sometime. You'll see a LOT more "fishing" than "catching" going on. And that also even extends to the trout parks. 10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish - just like any other type of fishing. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to be in that 10% - sometimes not.

And it's just common sense that a wading fly fisherman (like most of us that fish the upper lake are)is not going to do as well on the lower part of the lake where the water is much deeper and the river/lake is wider. That doesn't mean anything.

Greg

[Amish Bill]

Apparently, since I don't live there or don't meet your expectations as a fisherman extraordinaire... I'm just a tourist who doesn't know how to fish and doesn't have the right to try and learn... sorry about that Trav.

Since I am still learning about trout fishing... if they don't spawn at Taneycomo, why have a slot or any restrictions on bait? MDC is going to restock using money spent by inept tourists that "invade your lake."

[crappiefisherman]

Lots of good and not so good comments and suggestions .I guess we should put this one to bed.The only thing I know for sure is the victoria secret fashion model told me she loved fat bald guys