Lilley's Lake Taneycomo fishing report, March 2025

Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has been fairly good this winter.  With the extremely cold spells we have experienced, the water coming from Table Rock has plummeted to 41 degrees. That is pretty cold, even for trout.  Fish tend to not feed as much when water temps drop into the low 40's.  Even warm-water species like crappie and white bass, their bite is soft and slow.  Trout can be the same.  Patience is required.

Our generation pattern has been pretty consistent.  Most mornings, the water is running at a flow of between 5,000 and 8,000 cubic feet per second, or about two units, and lasts until about noon.  Then we're getting some flow late in the evenings for a few hours.  Table Rock's level is slightly below power pool, but we're expecting some rain at least in the first couple of weeks of March.

With the water running, we're drifting and using a variety of flies, lures and baits.  Below Fall Creek, minnows, night crawlers, the Berkley pink worm and Gulp Eggs are working.  Adjust your weight to match the flow of water.  If you're getting snagged a lot, use a smaller weight.  But if you're not feeling the weight tick the bottom, add a small split shot.

Early and late in the day, especially if the water is running, throw a Rapala or other suspending jerk bait.  You might not catch many, but you have a good chance of enticing a trophy rainbow or brown.

There are reports of crappie being caught at the Branson Landing around the fountains.  They are moving around a lot, so a live scope is good to see them.  If you don't have live scope, work from the fountains up lake with jigs and small swimming baits.

When water is generating, drift an egg/scud combination from the dam through Short Creek.  Using four-pound line is fine. 

for the size of scud, I've heard #16 is catching fish but I've also heard a #12 is, too.  Use the colors of grey, olive or brown.  Most of the time, our guides are putting the scud on the bottom, about 18 inches from the scud.  Add the corresponding amount of weight to how much water is running.

You can also drift a small jerk bait if more than two units are running.  Take the front hooks off the bait and you won't get snagged on the bottom as much.  Use a floating jerk bait, shallow running.