Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has been pretty good the last few weeks.  About six weeks ago, a big number of rainbow trout were stocked in short order.  My understanding was that our hatcheries were over crowded, and officials had to reduce numbers.  These rainbows were a little on the small side, and most were stocked well below Branson, but they've made their way up lake.  Catching trout has been good lately!

Newly stocked trout are generally easy to catch.  They're not very smart.  They've been hand fed all their lives, so they're going to eat or chase about anything they see for a while.  So spinners and spoons, flies and baits under floats and bait on the bottom -- all are effective for these fish.

Generation has been consistent with no water running at night and in the morning.  Then early to mid-afternoon, operators are running as little as one unit and up to all four units, most of the time until dark or after.

It's September, and our water flowing from Table Rock Lake is low in oxygen.  This is seasonal and not surprising.  When they run water, liquid oxygen is injected into the turbines, and that keeps lake water safe for our fish.  I personally have not seen the trout lethargic, lacking fight.  On the contrary, they have been fighting pretty hard.  But you do need to keep this in mind when you catch and release.  Land them as quickly as you can, keep them in the water while unhooking them and ideally release without taking them out of the water.  If you want pictures, take them quickly!

Article: Seasonal Oxygen Issues & Handling Trout, Lake Taneycomo

As I reported, fish have been chasing spoons, especially when the water is running.  Also jerk baits late in the evening and past dark with the water running have worked fairly well.  Black jigs have been the best after dark for catching bigger trout.  Throwing jigs (without a float) has also been good.  I'm using two-pound line most of the time now except when four units are running  and I'm throwing 1/8th ounce jigs -- then I'm using four-pound line.  Best colors have been brown, sculpin, black, white and sculpin/ginger.

Under a float, we're using jigs, mega worm, beaded scud, zebra midges and pink Powerworm.  Best jig color for me has been the sculpin jig with an indy-orange head.  I'm using two-pound line.  Find the chop on the water for the best fishing.  Wind helps!

Baits - night crawlers are still the best bait, although Powerbaits are catching those stocker rainbows.  Use two- or four-pound line.

When the water is running, drift flies or bait on the bottom.  Again, worms are the best, but drifting scuds is pretty good, too.  Try a #12 gray scud or an egg fly, both in the trophy are and below it.

Fly fishing - the trophy area still is the best place to fly fish, although you can do well below the line fishing flies under an indicator.  In the mornings, fish a zebra midge under a float using 6 or 7x tippet, #16 or #18 black, red or olive midge.  Fish a scud under an indicator close to the bottom.  Try a #14 to #18 gray or olive scud using 6 or 7x tippet.  If you're in choppy water, strip a wooly bugger, crackleback, sculpin or other medium-to-small streamer.