[Editors Note: 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 treated separately because of its unique topography, it’s a trophy management area, and the special regulations and limits in effect within the area.]

With spring comes Spring Showers, and with Spring Showers, comes water running into Table Rock Lake. As we started to see the levels rise in Table Rock, we also saw almost constant water generation into Taneycomo. Wading has been limited to select locations around the Hatchery area. Most of the folks fishing here are catching some fish, and even a few nice ones. Gray scuds, 16-14, egg patterns, and red San Juan worms.

Out of the boats, you’ll find some good fishing. We had lots boats out last week, and the flies that usually work in high water are still working. It’s no real surprise the red tungsten bead midge (16), fished under an indicator with split shot to get it down, was the top fly for the week. The other good rig was a sinking line with the green holographic crackleback (12), the olive filoplume (12), or the olive wooly bugger (14-16).

When the fish were rising, you could fish the crackleback or filoplume without the sinking line. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” they say. These old stand by flies caught fish every time out. These methods did especially well at Lookout Island and on the shallow side of the river below Lookout Island.

Other patterns that worked this past week from the boats were black zebra midges (18), gray scuds (16) and San Juan worms in your fly box too. San Juan worms fished deep or dropped under the red midge are a good set up for the high water. March went out like a lion, so let’s hope spring comes in like a lamb and you get to the water and catch some fish.

Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters

[Editors Note: As used in this report "Upper" refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between Short Creek and Fall Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area. "Trophy Area" refers to the area of Lake Taneycomo between the Table Rock Dam and the mouth of Fall Creek.]

With the water and wind, fishing- or catching- has been a little tough. I’ve seen some anglers in boats anchored in the mouth’s of some of our creeks doing rather well. Fall Creek has been a popular place the last few days. I’d say they’re tight-lining night crawlers behind the boat.

You can tie to or anchor in some of the eddies on the side of the lake or in the mouth of a creek but be extremely careful to think out any possibility that you could come undone and swing into the current. That or your anchor could drag and you could find yourself in heavy current, still with an anchor out. Fast current and anchors lead to serious possibilities. Drifting into downed trees in heavy current is equally as bad. Be very careful!

I have drifted flies on the bottom in the trophy area my last 3 guide trips including 2 full day trips Sunday and Monday and did fairly well. We drifted them two ways… one is straight-line using either a #4 or a 3/0 removable split shot 4-5 feet above the first fly and a second fly tied on in tandem 18 inches from the first. We’re using a #12 scud, gray, brown or olive and a #14 red or black zebra. They hit the scud more than the zebra so sometimes we’re using two scuds. The other method is under a float. We’re fishing the flies 10-12 feet deep. We’re also using a pink micro jig, chrome head.

There’s only one good area we’re finding fish that will bite. This is pretty weird considering I know there are rainbows all over the place in the trophy area. The best drift is over the flat at the Narrows. The Narrows is where the channel swings from the east to the west side of the lake, about a half mile above Fall Creek. There is major bank improvement work being done at this spot- can’t miss it.

Some of the construction guys cheer us every time we drift by and catch a trout. We drift on down to Fall Creek, picking up one or two on the east side of the lake, off the gravel bar. We’re catching a lot of rainbows under 12 inches — so if you’re having trout catching 4 to take home and eat, buy you a few scuds and head up to this area and drift a fly instead of power bait and you’ll do ok. We did land several over 15 inches, but not many.

Other Areas of Lake

Over the weekend, our guests did catch trout below Fall Creek mainly on minnows, night crawlers and gulp power eggs- chartreuse best color. Roark Creek proved to be a great spot to go and get out of the current and catch rainbows too. Jig and float- use a jig head (1/32) and put an orange gulp egg on it and fish it 4 feet deep. You’ll do well!
Submitted by Phil Lilley, Ozark Anglers

http://www.ozarkanglers.com/

[Editors Note: As used in this report "Mid Lake" refers the portion of Lake Taneycomo between the mouth of Bee Creek, in Branson, to a point immediately downstream from Short Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area. ]

A late week cool snap, with some rain and snow Saturday may have slowed down the fishermen, but not the fish. Those who braved the weather were rewarded with nice trout. Water conditions have been more favorable for Gulp and Powerbait in the last several days, Pink/Yellow combination working by far the best. Night Crawlers drifting just below Fall Creek down to Cooper Creek was the best live bait area.

As far as lure, Little Cleo still seems to be the best of the Spoons, with Gold and Red being the favorite. Red Flash in the Thomas buoyant spoons would be next.

MDC was stocking last week improved the catch, and good size too, perfect eating size.

Have a great day on the lake.

Submitted by Lamar Patton to multiple outlets, Scotty’s Trout Dock & Marina

[Editors Note: 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 treated separately because of its unique topography, it’s a trophy management area, and the special regulations and limits in effect within the area.]

It’s here and so are all the fly fishers! With Spring break, the Trophy Area saw lots of fly fishers this past week. It was really great to see lots of fathers, sons, mothers and daughters on the water fishing.

Other than during the morning hours, until probably 9:00-10:00 a.m. there was no generation, so conditions for wade fishing were great. Fishing was good, although spotty. You had to find the areas where the fish were hanging out.

The other trick again this week was figuring out which color of midge they wanted. On the brighter days, the Primrose & Pearl, size 18 midge; darker days the size 18 or smaller black or olive midges were generally the ticket. Small, 18-20 dark olive or black soft hackles, and a Griffith’s Gnat (#20) did well in some areas.

They are still hitting the olive filoplume (#12). Varying the stripping method on this pattern was a key. One day it would be the slow, 5-6 inch strip; next time stripping as fast as you could, and other days, just let it go with the flow. Our best areas were the Rocking Chair area and the shallow edge of the river channel below Lookout Point. The Pointe area did not fish well consistently this past week. Lots of nice fish, good color and a good fight with almost every fish!

Over the weekend, most of the fishermen around the outlet areas were doing best on very small, size 18 and smaller, gray scuds. Right now, the only bad fishing is not fishing!

Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters

[Editors Note: As used in this report "Upper" refers the portion of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo between Short Creek and Fall Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area. "Trophy Area" refers to the area of Lake Taneycomo between the Table Rock Dam and the mouth of Fall Creek.]

I had a trip Saturday morning. Rain and not a breath of wind. Water was slick. We boated up above Fall Creek, past the narrows where a bunch of boats were congregated. I wanted to start with a jig and float- olive micro jig, 2-pound line fishing it 4 feet deep. Father and daughter from Dallas- they knew how to fish and were eager to hook a few.

It was slow but not impossible. They missed a few strikes before nailing their first rainbow. The fish didn’t really want it moving alot… strange seeing there was no movement from the surface. And they were just touching the jig, twitching the float ever so slightly. There was just a little chop down closer to the narrows so we moved. Sure enough, more bites and more hookups. After an hour of fishing in drizzle, we headed in to get dry and warm.

Back out, we boated to just below Fall Creek and dropped anchor. Lots of boats were crowding the line- we joined right in. I rigged the rods up- tied a #6 short shank hook on and a 3/0 split shot 18 inches above the hook. Ran the hook through the night crawler at the collar and let the worm hang off the hook on both sides- punched off the tail and left it about the same length on both sides. We used to give out needles for injecting air into worms. I had a couple of my box so I shot some air in and made sure the night crawler would float.

I instructed the guys how to wait when the bite came… let the trout take the bait a little bit before setting the hook. They got the hang of it real fast and had trout in the boat within a few minutes. Finished their limits, threw back a few small ones and released a nice 16 inch brown.

As mentioned, night crawlers are catching more fish than any other bait. While we were fishing, there were a few other fish caught but not half as many as we caught on night crawlers. Chartreuse Berkley Gulp power eggs were the number one power bait type bait for the weekend for sure. Use it with a white egg and you’ll do good. Guys are still catching trout throwing spoons and spinners too. Lots of limited came in over the weekend- most people were real happy.

Fly fishing below the dam has been nothing short of excellent. A member on our forum caught five rainbows OVER 20 inches the other day below the dam. That’s pretty impressive! Most are fishing scuds… it seems our freshwater shrimp population is doing very, very well these days. #16 or #18 gray or tan scuds are doing the best.

I did get out Saturday evening and boated above the Narrows in the trophy area and fly fished for 90 minutes or so. Did fish a scud under a palsa indicator and fished a #18 tan scud on the bottom. I could see rainbows feeding on the bottom and they did like my imitation. They also like my #18 black zebra when they started midging closer to dark. I stopped at Fall Creek and fished it over the gravel bar there for 10 minutes… they were really midging hard and loved my zebra! You don’t have to be above Fall Creek to fly fish, especially fishing a zebra!

Submitted by Phil Lilley, Ozark Anglers

[Editors Note: As used in this report "Mid Lake" refers the portion of Lake Taneycomo between the mouth of Bee Creek, in Branson, to a point immediately downstream from Short Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area. ]

Family Fishing is what we love on Lake Taneycomo. Last week, the beginning of the Spring Break weeks, we saw mostly families on the lake enjoying the trout fishing. The bait of choice for the last week has been Berkley Gulp, Orange and Yellow, Pink and White or Chartreuse have been the combinations that are working the best. Berkley Powerbait eggs in the Lemon Lime color have also been doing good.

In lures, Buoyant Spoons in Copper or Red Flash, and Thomas Spinners in the Red/Gold or Brown Trout pattern are the most popular.

Grab your family and take advantage of the Spring weather, you’ll be glad you did.

Submitted by Lamar Patton to multiple outlets, Scotty’s Trout Dock & Marina

[Editors Note: As used in this report "Mid Lake" refers the portion of Lake Taneycomo between the mouth of Bee Creek, in Branson, to a point immediately downstream from Short Creek. The difference between "Mid" and "Upper" is subjective and is based primarily on the average water depth throughout the defined area. ]

Spring fever has Lake Taneycomo a buzz with activity. This past weekend we had several big groups, and we’ve seen everything possible thrown at the trout. To say only one thing was working, would be a stretch. The best advice I have for anyone fishing the mid-lake area, is get out early while the water is running, and make sure you take your favorite lure, some night crawlers, and pink/white Gulp. Patience will be the best thing to take with you, and it will pay off.

Don’t be afraid to try some of the creeks, we’ve seen some success with several species besides trout. Seems like Minnows is working best there.

Have a great week on the lake…

Submitted by Lamar Patton to multiple outlets, Scotty’s Trout Dock