In the month of June, we saw mostly heavy generation because of a good amount of rain falling in our watershed. They were good rains — well needed rain! But heavy flows made fishing tough for most anglers, especially from the bank or dock. With the rains subsided, July looks like we’ll see more periods of no generation, especially in the mornings. We will see.
Trout fishing has improved the last couple of weeks here on Lake Taneycomo. Even with heavy flows in the afternoons and evenings, drifting bait or flies on the bottom has produced good numbers of trout with quite a few trophies showing up.
The Branson Landing area has surprisingly been the hot spot lately. Remember, almost all the trout (rainbows) that are stocked here are stocked down lake, sometimes way below the Landing. They are dispersed by boat several times a week during the summer months. These schools of rainbows hang together for quite a while, sometimes weeks, before venturing out on their own. They will travel uplake for the most part, holding in eddies and places where the current isn’t as fast. Usually they are eager to eat — anything. If you find them, stay on them and have some fun catching lots of fish. Just remember the limits and try to release the extras with care — to grow and be caught again.
Yesterday, I saw a guy throwing a spoon from the pier dock across from Scotty’s Dock and just down from the mouth of Turkey Creek, catching rainbows on almost every cast. They were running four units, but in this spot, the current wasn’t as fast and there must have been a bunch of rainbows holding in the slack water. The rainbows I’m seeing down there are nice sized trout — up to 13 inches. I also tried drew bites in the slower current areas around the Fish House.
I haven’t been out in the mornings yet, with no generation, but I’m sure fishing is good . . . easier for sure. I know fishing off our dock has improved. Guides are reporting fishing with night crawlers between Fall Creek and Cooper Creek Access has been pretty productive with several trophy trout caught and released. Power bait is good, too, mainly on smaller stocker- size rainbows.
Our water is still very clear. Line size is extremely important, especially if the water is off and you’re still fishing. Two-pound line is best but four-pound is okay. But if you’re not getting bit using four pound, you should try to tie on a short section of tippet two-pound line, or 6x.
My must-tries are a pink worm under a float, jig under a float, and a mega worm under a float below Fall Creek. And, of course, a zebra midge, scud, mega worm or jig under a float in the trophy area. Switch colors up to see what trout are hitting. Same with size of flies, although I’d start smallish and go bigger.
I believe this month is going to be a great month for numbers and size of trout for our lake. I also think as Table Rock’s level continues to drop, we’ll see more days with less generation and easier fishing for most anglers.
I will add this — I believe it’s very possible for even the most inexperienced angler to catch a truly “fish of a lifetime” trophy on Lake Taneycomo this summer. In considering your trip, be prepared to have a plan to take care of that trophy assuming you want to release it in the best shape to survive. You must have a live well and keep it running at all times. Keep it in the water (in your net) as much as possible, taking it out briefly for pictures and measurement. Handle the fish with wet hands or, if necessary, a wet cloth. Keep your fingers out of the gills. And please, enjoy every minute of your angling experience!
