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Phil Lilley
Phil Lilley

Lilley's Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report, March 25

I've been hesitant about writing a fishing report for Taneycomo this week because I know as soon as I do the Corps will change the generation pattern and thus completely blow my report of out the water.  So I'm going to write a short one and wait for the change which I think will happen in the next couple of days.

They've been blowing 15,000 cubic feet of water per second since March 15.  That's 14,256,000,000 cubic feet of water or 106,634,000,000 gallons of water in 11 days.  The flow is equal to 4 full tubines running but only 3 are online so they're making up for the extra flow by spilling 5,000 c.f.s. over and through 5 gates.

Water temperature is about 41 coming through the turbines and about 45 over the top.  When mixed, we're seeing 44 degrees down around the resort.  Clarity is pretty clear.

We've seen some shad come over the top of the dam for sure but we might be seeing some come through the turbines.  White jigs are doing ok but dragging white shad flies is producing a lot more fish.  I've been really trying to make my jigs work but I just can't beat the numbers of rainbows mainly being caught between the dam and Trophy Run.

Phil Stone's clients caught some nice rainbows drifting from Lookout through the Narrows dragging small 1/16th ounce jigs on the bottom on Wednesday.  And others are dragging a double scud rig on the same drift, using a #10 or #12 gray scuds with 4-pound line.

Again, I worked the bluff bank using an 1/8th-ounce white jig and only caught a couple on one drift... not the success I'd think I'd have if these fish are seeing shad.

From Fall Creek down, the water is fast and it's hard to get anything to the bottom unless you're drifting from the big log cabin down and staying on the inside of the lake.  Scuds, minnows and night crawlers are doing just ok here.  You really need to stay down below the Riverpointe Estates boat ramp, I think, to get a good drift.  The flat from Short Creek to Trout Hollow has been producing good numbers of rainbows.

Drifting minnows from the bend past our place and staying middle to inside of the lake has been pretty good too.

The creek downtown are the best and easiest place to catch a limit of rainbows.  They're going up into Turkey, Coon and Roark Creek to get out of the current and finding warmer water.  Our guides are still catching them on the Pink worm under a float, fishing it 4-feet deep, 4-pound line.  I've also heard of people catching them throwing spoons and rooster tails.

Table Rock is approaching 916 feet, only 1 foot over power pool.  It should hit it by tomorrow morning, depending on how much rain falls today.  Honestly, I'm surprised they've ran it this hard as long as they have, and I'm really not sure if they will slow it down once the level drops below 916 feet.  But chances are they will back off a bit, at least shutting down the spill gates.  This will slow the water down and make it easier to fish, especially in areas like just below Fall Creek where a lot of big trout are usually caught.

We will see.

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8 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

Reports are the creeks have been pounded and few fish are left.  If MDC stocked down in the Landing area, they might get replenished.  There are some big blue gill being caught above the bridge and around the docks though.

And reports of crappie are coming in, being caught around the docks at Rockaway Beach, upper end of the town.

I’d love to see some of those big bluegills! 

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For me the thrill is doing it and maybe catching.  I don't need to prove anything to anyone.  The thrill has been had when you reel the fish in.  Be gentle and let it go in the water.

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