Taneycomo Restrictions

[Trav]

Hey JS

Like all good things come sacrifice. Too increase your odds of a bigger creel size, you have to give them what they want and go where they are. Bigger presentation and deeper water is the only way to go. Of course your sacrificing your smaller "sport" fish and your daily numbers will decrease for sure.

I hate to go without a catch and somedays even I will resort to fishing micro-jigs for goggle-eye and bluegills to say I caught some fish that day....Haha Its all about personal pride and as big as my ego is, a big fat egg is worse than a dozen bluegills. Haha

[Phil Lilley]

Phil - I know you don't want to miff anyone off, but besides the beauty of the area and the wilderness aspect of it - is one of the reasons the Alaska vibe is better because of big fish? That is the only thing that could make Taney a bit better for me would be slightly bigger average size. I could deal with a few less fish if instead of mostly all being 12 to 15 they were all 18 to 22 or so. I like catching little brookies in the mountains too, but there is something nice about bigger fish if you can arrange it. smile.gif

Have to think about this one...

It's hard to put the Alaska experience into words. The vastness, wildness- it's all encompassing. The Naknek is a big river- big open water that's new to me... others I'm sure have fished big water like it here in the states. Other rivers and creeks are alot like ours in Missouri, the only difference is the species of fish and the OTHER animals namely bears, wolverines and moose. You don't have to look over your shoulder when fishing at outlet #2, thankfully.

The big rainbows- all in a class their own. Even the 18 inchers just don't quit fighting.

But part of 'my' issue with coming back from Alaska is I've been on Taney 25 years now. I don't fish as much as I used to here or any other place close. My desire is to get out and fish all the other waters within 100 miles of here- and there's tons- if I can carve out some time. I want to come visit all the guys who fish the 11point, the Current and the Elk- take pics- write stories and build cool sites for each on oa. If the Lord allows, Marsha and I will do just that.

Taney is a great fishery- that's why we picked her back in 1983. Never looked back...

[Trav]

Kind of like fishing the open water of the Pacific and then coming back home huh phil?

At least when you get home you dont have to keep your knees bent in case of a squall wave hitting your boat. Haha

[Project Healing Waters]

How do you compare a fabulous bluegill pond on a family farm to Table Rock Lake, or Crane Creek to the White River? How do you compare the Missouri River in Missouri to the Missouri River headwaters in Montana and North Dakota? How does one compare a coastal estuary during a salmon or steelhead run to the upper Rio Grande in Southern Colorado?

Taneycomo is a stretch of the White River between two dams that destroyed most of the warm water fishery for about a 20 mile stretch of the river. And it runs right through western Taney County...one of America's most developed tourist destinations. Fishing was rehabilitated artificially by MDC and the federal government as mitigation for the losses created by Table Rock Dam, the construction of which changed VAST riparian habitats of the upper White River both upstream and downstream. To me, Taneycomo, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals are models...gems even...of of modern wildlife management and ecological mitigation/rehabilitation in the wake of devastating development. Taney is essentially an URBAN fishery. And it is one of the very best urban fisheries that I am aware of in the world.

I can drive up within 50 yards of the bank and park on asphalt, use a pretty good modern restroom facility, fish all morning, and then drive less than 10 minutes to a variety of about 50 different restaurants for lunch. I head back to the water after lunch, rent a boat, and head dowstream to try and catch some bass or crappie. That evening, I head down to Branson Landing for some live entertainment and a nice dinner. If I want to take a break during the day, I'm never more than 5 minutes drive or so to a store or fast food joint to buy a drink. And my cell phone works everywhere. So my wife can drop me off, take the car and go shopping, and come back and pick me up when she's done. Just call me on the cell and tell me you're coming and I'll tell you where to pick me up.

You can't do this with quality fishing very many places. But you can on Taneycomo. If you want full contact fish catching in a "fish bowl" at outlet #1 or #2, you can have it. But if you want to fish unmolested all day long you can do that most of the time, too (on weekdays).

I don't fish Taney anywhere near all the time anymore. It's not even my favorite trout fishery in the Ozarks. But I have great respect for Taneycomo for WHAT IT IS. And I do enjoy it for that when I'm in the mood or that opportunity is the only one that makes sense. Sometimes, I get a kick out of just catching as many 12-15" rainbows as I can in 3-4 hours. Taney and the trout parks are good for that if you can fish when the crowds are not there. Sometimes...most of the time...I'd rather stalk an undeveloped river all day to catch a few quality fish in a much more typical habitat and fish density environment. Sometimes, I would rather fish all day to catch one wild fish if that's all I can manage. Sometimes, I want bass. Others I want to catch a mess of crappie for a fish fry. But the urban or wilderness experience...an artificially high fish density or a similar density created by an anadromous run of mostly wild fish in an estuary...these things are DIFFERENT. I don't see them as "better" or "worse."

[Trav]

DING DING DING...FOLKS WE HAVE A WINNER!

[Tightline]

Very well stated PHW.

Fishing is fishing,doesn't matter who you are,how you do it,where you are at,or what you are fishing for.

[King Fish]

Excellent PHW.. my thoughts exactly....

PK

[crappiefisherman]

I cant believe no one wanted to use dynamite

[Daddy Carp]

Excellent PHW.. my thoughts exactly....

PK

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WOW !! I am totally surprised and caught off guard that anyone from the area or who has spent much time here would mention the use of that stuff right here just after Christmas and getting ready to start a brand new year!! You should know good and well that all us ole Redneck, backwoods, cowboys down here pride our holidays and the celebration of such! That's our stuff for the 4th of July and we won't waste it in the winter. Besides, on the 4th, Johnny-law just thinks it's a big firecracker and there are more fishes bunched together at the dam to stay cooler in July. If you are up there fishing on the 4th and see a bright sparkler comming off the bluff, Run like the devil!! It might be me or Trav celebratin! LMAO ..LOL..LOL God Bless Crappie, & have a Happy New Year........D.C.

[Trav]

DC

Haha, Speak for yourself with the redneck stuff...I was born in IOWA.

As far as the Fourth of July, I dont even waste my money on the fireworks. Why should I? Rockaway shoots thier display right at my house every year! Haha.

My late Grandfather was from Texas and he used to shoot fireworks and firearms every New Years in the winter time. Of course he was a huge Heston fan. Haha

It does say something about a group when tourist-eating squids gets votes over dynamite. Haha

It also says alot when "artificial only" leads this poll. We can pat ourselves on the back.