[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.]
Lake Taneycomo Trophy Area – Fly Fishing – by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters
Certainly was nice getting up in the morning last week and heading to work in 50 degree temperatures. It warmed up a bit during the day into the low to mid 90s, but it was absolutely refreshing on the water early in the mornings! We had some higher generation last Monday, all four units, but the rest of the week was a low flow with two or three units. For the wade fishers on Saturday and Sunday, there was no generation until around 3:00 p.m.
The fishing is still mixed for us, with slow times usually earlier in the day and picking up later. We are having a lot of fun, though, mixing up the style of fishing the kinds of flies we are trying. For instance, one day was streamers and dries, and the best flies were the black wooly bugger and a black ant. Overall last week, the best zebra midges were black, primrose and pearl, and olive and the tungsten bead red midge and the little ruby. The best streamers were the olive filoplume, floozie, the holographic green crackleback, and the olive and black wooly buggers. We also caught fish on black zebra soft hackles and peach eggs.
We have heard from the hatchery area that folks are still catch on tan scuds and some chamois worms. A couple of guys have come by excited after working the banks with dry flies like ants, beetles, cracklebacks, and tan or amber looking dries. Sounds like fun!
Over the weekend, several of our guides volunteered to fish with veterans from the Healing Waters organization. The guys were great and everybody caught fish and had a good time. Our compliments go out to the organizers of Healing Waters, and our sincere gratitude to all the veterans who have served in the military of the USA.
Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters
Lake Taneycomo by Eric Prey, FocusedFishing.com
The trout fish has remained strong due to predictable generation over the past week. Jigs are still a mainstay with micro jigs fished below an indicator working well from the trophy area through Fall Creek and larger jigs working from Fall Creek to Branson. Olive, ginger, grey and sculpin colors have been the most effective colors. Live crawlers and Gulp or Power eggs on a drift rig or split shot rig will produce fish throughout the lake right now [Illegal in Trophy Area.]
Submitted by Eric Prey, Focused Fishing
Lake Taneycomo by Phil Lilly, Ozark Anglers
Lake generation patterns have been fairly predictable for the last month. Most mornings there’s no water running; then mid afternoon one to four units have been running until dusk or just after dark. Of course, we have to throw in the days when the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers does its own thing. Just like today and what’s on the schedule tomorrow — one-half unit all morning, then more in the afternoon. The amount of water run in the afternoons and evenings seems to depend on the heat. If it’s in the mid- to upper 90′s, generation is increased. The last few days, just two units were turned on because of this great, cooler weather we’re having. But they’re running it into the night longer. Weekends, you can “kinda” count on even less generation. I say “kinda” because you really can’t count on anything when it comes to generation patterns.
Our water temperature is still a healthy 46 degrees with generation. Our trout are fighting just as hard as they fought in the spring when oxygen levels were at their highest. There are some reports of larger trout having to be worked a bit before being released after a hard fight. I’ve experienced that myself this week, but that’s pretty normal with larger fish.
The reports in the area newspapers regarding low dissolved oxygen (D.O.) in our tailwater, in my opinion, were overstated and misleading. It is true we have low D.O. issues every fall season below Table Rock Dam (and below all other dams in the White River system) but it’s not new news. Some years are worse than others. Water temperature plays a major part in whether a fall season of low D.O. is very hard on our trout or not. Low D.O. combined with high water temperatures causes extreme stress on trout; then add a lengthy fight and often times is causes death, especially if the angler does not make any effort to revive the fish. But fortuneately, this fall season looks to be favorable. Our water temperatures are low and should continue to be in good shape through December.
I’ve gotten out this past week and did some fly fishing, as well as jig fishing. We bought some great looking new fly patterns for the fly shop, and I had to get out and try a few of them. One was a Japanese beetle pattern. The beetles made a major invasion this year, up from Arkansas, and are thick around here during the summer and fall, It stands to reason that our trout should see a lot of these bugs fall in the water close to the banks. So I tried them up in the trophy area this week, casting along the bluff bank, under trees and close to the rocks. Most of the time I spotted the rainbow prior to catching it. They sit close to the surface of the water if they are actively feeding on the surface, and a good, accurate cast will draw aggressive attention. And these rainbows aren’t small. I believe rainbows grow to learn how to feed on natural foods in the lake, so most of the rainbows along the banks will be mature fish looking for bugs from the overhanging trees.
I did increase my chances of success yesterday while fishing by adding a dropper to my #14 japanese beetle. About 18 inches below my foam fly, I tied on a #18 pearl & primrose zebra midge. Later I tried a red, then an olive zebra midge and had some success, so the color might not be really important. I had one rainbow take the dropper but I missed the strike.
As noted in other reports throughout the summer, our freshwater shrimp population is incredible right now, so fishing scuds is very popular and effective. When the water is not running, fish a scud on the bottom. When the water is running, fish it on the bottom. Scuds live in the rocks and do swim up but never very close to the surface. They stay down close to the bottom so that’s where your fly should be. Yesterday they were running two units but not full, about 50-60 percent, I’d say, so that might be a little more than one unit. I was fishing from Lookout down, positioning the boat in very shallow water and casting and drifting by fly still in shallow water but towards the center of the lake. I picked up a couple of trout, moved to deeper water and started picking up more numbers. By deeper I mean darker areas where I couldn’t see the bottom as well. I was fishing about 11-feet deep, using a large float indicator and two small split shot, 6x tippet. The fly I was using was a #14 “peppy” scud which is gray dog (Shitzu) fur with gray antorn mixed in, non weighted.
Night fishing below the dam reportedly is heating up big time. One thing nice about the change in weather is less humidity and less fog on the water at night and in the mornings!! Makes night fishing nicer for sure. Guys have been fishing anywhere from outlet #1 down through to the old KOA Campground wading. The other night, I boated up to Big Hole in my boat and started drifting, fishing a jig, down to Fall Creek. They were running two units at about 70%. Great drift but the trout were NOT hungry. Full moon, great night to be out, very pleasant! But only one rainbow. That’s why they call it fishing and not catching!!
Jig bite is still pretty good. Remember, when throwing a jig straight with no float, the trout will take the jig on the drop, when it’s sinking. Watch the line, feel for the slight tap and really set the hook hard and fast. Colors are the same but white is making a comeback. I’ve heard of some browns and larger rainbows taking white jigs this past week, so add white to sculpin, black, sculpin/ginger, olive and brown with an orange head.
Submitted to multiple sources by Phil Lilley, Ozark Anglers
As part of its continuing commitment to serving the community, Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of vacation planning services, Branson show tickets, attraction tickets and lodging is proud to sponsor this fishing report, the Central Pro-Am Association and K.A.S.T. (Kids Are Special Too). BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or by visiting their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.
