HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Editors Note: The most comprehensive fishing report available for Branson’s Lake Taneycomo submitted by people who fish the lake on just about a daily basis. As used in this report “Trophy Area” refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between the mouth of Fall Creek and the base of Table Rock Dam. It is the primary wade fishing area, a trophy management area and has special regulations and limits in effect within the area. “Upper Lake” refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between Cooper Creek and Fall Creek and “Mid Lake” the area from Bee Creek to Cooper Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area.]

Lake Taneycomo Trophy Area – Fly Fishing – by River Run Outfitters
Not much has changed from last week here at Taneycomo.  We had temperatures in the 20’s and wind chills in the teens and several inches of snow in the area if you lived north and west of Branson.   Generation was constant with two units running on most days, probably to keep up with the heating demands.  A few determined fishermen were out over the holidays.

In the area of the hatchery especially between outlets one and two, olive wooly buggers were working consistently.  If you are headed there, pack your streamer patterns as well as the tan and grey scuds and San Juan worms.   We kept the boats parked last week but think it would be safe to predict that red midges and San Juan droppers in hot pink and red are still good downstream.

Bundle up if you plan to start the New Year on the river and come by and see us for a hot cup of coffee.    Who knows . . . the fish aren’t getting much pressure with this frigid weather; it could be good fishing and a great way to start 2010

Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters

Lake Taneycomo - By Buster Loving

The upper end [Trophy Area] is hot.  Drifting egg flies as well as a pink micro jig under a float will catch large numbers of rainbows.

Nightcrawlers are working well between Lillies and Scotties [Mid-Upper Lake]. There is a decent bite in the Rockaway Beach area on chartreuse and orange Berkley Power Bait Eggs.
Submitted by Buster Loving.

Lake Taneycomo - By Steve Dickey, Anglers Advantage

Despite the cold weather, the fishing has been very good. Water generation continues to be steady with one to two generators running pretty much all day.  In the trophy area a # 10 to #16 brown scud or gray scud behind a peach, apricot or pink egg continues to be our best fly.  A white Chamois worm or a red Chamois worm in front of a scud has also been working well
Below Fall Creek they are still biting good on night crawlers and yellow power bait.
Submitted by Steve Dickey, Anglers Advantage

As part of its commitment to Branson, Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets, lodging, and travel services, is proud to sponsor this fishing report and the Central Pro-Am Association. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or by visiting their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Editors Note: The most comprehensive fishing report available for Branson’s Lake Taneycomo submitted by people who fish the lake on just about a daily basis. As used in this report “Trophy Area” refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between the mouth of Fall Creek and the base of Table Rock Dam. It is the primary wade fishing area, a trophy management area and has special regulations and limits in effect within the area. “Upper Lake” refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between Cooper Creek and Fall Creek and “Mid Lake” the area from Bee Creek to Cooper Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area.]

Lake Taneycomo Trophy Area – Fly Fishing – by River Run Outfitters

More Christmas shopping than fly fishing was going on here last week.  We still have generators going 24/7, but we are seeing cutbacks to a low one so that wading opportunity is a little better at times.  The level of Table Rock is approaching 912, and the lake has turned over so the dissolved oxygen levels have improved for the fish.   The sun is shining at the moment and that is all it takes for us to see some fisherman traffic here in the shop.

When the tail water levels fluctuate as they have in the last few weeks, the fish move in and out with the rise and fall.  In the outlet area with the water falling, good flies have been streamers, black and olive wooly buggers and bunny sculpins.  This past weekend a couple of guys landed two twenty inch plus fish there on woolies.  They said the trout wanted black in the morning and olive in the afternoon.  Fishing with an indicator, good flies are tan and grey scuds in sizes 16 -20, hot pink and red San Juan worms, chamois leeches, and the ruby and red tungsten bead head midges.

Christmas wishes and a happy New Year to all of you fly fisherman who follow the reports.  Hope you start 2010 on the water and land the big one!
Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters

Lake Taneycomo - By Buster Loving

There is a really good night crawler bite drifting from Fall creek to Short creek.  They have been running 2 turbines which is perfect for the upper end.  Pink micro-jigs under a strike indicator or a straight line white jig will catch a lot of really nice rainbows in the restricted area.

Submitted by Buster Loving

Lake Taneycomo Upper Lake & Trophy Area by Ozark Anglers

Winter on Lake Taneycomo means less anglers and good fishing. This winter so far means less anglers, good fishing and one unit of generation. You can count on it. For the past 3 weeks, it’s been pretty consistent. The Corp is running one unit 24/7, with the exception of a few periods of heavier generation, to draw Table Rock Lake down to hold water from Beaver Lake, which they will start drawing down after the first of the year, according to my sources. How long will this continue?

I wouldn’t think much longer. May be we’ll get a break over the Christmas holiday. One unit equates to about 3-4 feet of water depth below Table Rock Dam. It’s enough to get a boat to the cable if you know the channel, especially above the MDC boat ramp. It’s low enough at times to get out and wade below the dam, especially the gravel bar from outlet #3 downstream, but you have to be careful. One unit isn’t a lot of current from Lookout downstream but plenty to make a good drift using flies or jigs. A pink micro jig under an indicator 6 to 8 feet deep drifting down the middle of the lake has been one hot ticket to catch some nice rainbows, reported Bill Babler, one of our guides fishing this week.

I’ve fished a few times in the stretch below Lookout and done fair. They haven’t been taking a jig thrown straight, no float, as well as they did a few weeks ago. They’ve been biting light, taking just the tail of the jig mostly. Not real hungry? Who knows.

I’ve been fishing quite a bit below Fall Creek. Seems like the trout down here have been “hungrier”. Of course using night crawlers instead of jigs is almost cheating for me… it’s really been easy to get bit but I found out I’m out of practice making the hookup using live bait.
The other day I made one drift from Fall to Short Creek and used a dozen crawlers, cutting them all in half and only boating 3 rainbows. That’s 3-21 if you’re a sports fan. Of course using Gulp Eggs, you’re hooking to miss ratio is much better, I just didn’t use eggs.

Some guys reported they did real well this past week throwing small crank baits like Rapalas against the bluff banks as well as trolling. I did see boats trolling but I didn’t see them do any good while I was out. I wanted to tell them to try troll heading downstream instead of upstream. I know a guy who does real well catch browns and he trolls downstream. When trolling for King Salmon in Alaska, we troll mainly downstream.

Size and number of rainbows in the lake is very good, but it usually is this time of year. Curtis says he’s been fishing off the dock and catching rainbow after rainbows, mainly in the evenings on Gulp Eggs.

Submitted to multiple sources by Phil Lilley, Ozark Anglers

As part of its commitment to Branson, Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets, lodging, and travel services is proud to sponsor this fishing report and the Central Pro-Am Association. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or by visiting their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

[Editors Note: The most comprehensive fishing report available for Branson’s Lake Taneycomo submitted by people who fish the lake on just about a daily basis. As used in this report “Trophy Area” refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between the mouth of Fall Creek and the base of Table Rock Dam. It is the primary wade fishing area, a trophy management area and has special regulations and limits in effect within the area. “Upper Lake” refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between Cooper Creek and Fall Creek and “Mid Lake” the area from Bee Creek to Cooper Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area.]

Lake Taneycomo Trophy Area – Fly Fishing – by River Run Outfitters

Only the heartiest souls ventured out on Taneycomo to fish last week.  The freezing cold and bitter winds caused temperatures to dip into the single digits.  Generation was fairly stable with two units running most of the time and the tail waters in the 705 to 707 levels.

Over the weekend we did have one trip brave the temperatures and a nasty rain on Saturday.  Thanks to some hot soup and hand warmers they were able to stay out a few hours and catch some fish on San Juan worms and an olive brown scud.

Sunday was a much more tolerable day with temps approaching 50 and a glimpse of sun later in the day.  Best flies were the San Juan series in hot pink, fluorescent orange, and red, and the chamois leech.  We are still dropping the worm below the big ruby or a red tungsten bead head midge.  Black wooly buggers and the holographic green crackle backs turned on a few fish.  At the outlets you still need gray or tan scuds along with the San Juan worms in your fly box.

We hear from folks coming in the shop that the outlet fishing was a little slow over the weekend. Fishing tended to be spotty downstream.  We’d catch a few fish in one spot and then have to move or change flies, but still managed to land some respectable numbers.   We hooked into several male rainbows and fish with great color and good size.

Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters

Lake Taneycomo - By Buster Loving

The bait fishing on Taneycomo was slow this week but the upper end [Trophy Area] was really hot.  Drifting scuds and sow bugs behind an egg-fly will catch a lot of really nice rainbows.  There are a few Browns being caught on Rapalas when the current is flowing.

Submitted by Buster Loving

Lake Taneycomo - By Steve Dickey, Angler’s Advantage

The trout fishing continues to be very good.  With constant water generation of two to three units, the trout have been predictable in location and fly selection.  A red or white shammy worm, apricot or peach egg, followed by a #16 brown or gray scud has been our best fly for deep water.

In the early morning and when it’s been cloudy, we have upsized to a #12 scud as a tail fly.  From the hatchery down to Fall Creek the bigger trout have come right in the channel. From Fall Creek down to Lilley’s Landing just on top of the channel in six to eight feet of water.[Upper Lake]

Submitted by Steve Dickey, Anglers Advantage

As part of its commitment to Branson, Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets, lodging, and travel services, is proud to sponsor this fishing report and the Central Pro-Am Association. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or by visiting their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.