Trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo has really improved the last month. There are good numbers of rainbows all through the upper lake, especially compared to our summer months. I don’t have a good answer why, but at least it’s a change in a positive direction — as well as the beautiful weather!
Our big trout are still showing up in good numbers. In addition to our trophy rainbows, the brown trout are making their appearance in the upper lake for the fall spawning run. From what I’ve seen and heard, our brown population is doing very well.
I can’t report in person how the bite is below the dam with the water off because I have not been up there. But from what I’ve been told and what I see on social media, there are good numbers of trophy brown trout in that first mile of wadeable water. Anglers are catching them on various sizes and colors of scuds, small streamers and some midges. Night fishing is very popular for catching big trout. Medium-size streamers and small jerk baits are working well.
Two things to remember about night fishing here. Shine a light over the water and you’ll kill the bite for a time. And remember the oxygen levels are low in this area, especially at night. Keep your fish in the water especially after a hard fight and release it as soon as possible. And, of course, limit handling, especially with dry hands or a dry rag. All those things go for at night or daytime.
I’ll throw this in, too. . . if you foul hook a fish (this happens a lot if you’re fishing in the outlets), break the fish off. Don’t fight it to death just to get your fly back.
Trophy area by boat is fishing pretty good. We have had a lot of very calm days, which I think is going to end shortly. Wind and chop on the water really improves all fishing, especially in the upper end of the lake in places where it’s pretty shallow (five feet and less.)
Flies and jigs under a float have been the best way to catch good numbers of trout lately. Jigs – marabou in black, sculpin and olive have been good. Also try the sculpin with an Indy orange head, which is my favorite. Mega worm (yarn on a jig head) in white, chartreuse and peach has also landed fish. Zebra midges size #14-#20 in red and black, have again been good for feeding trout. I personally have not found dry flies good yet this fall but I’m going to keep trying them. Use two-pound line for jigs, 6x tippet for flies. Our water is slightly off color right now so 6x is plenty small enough.
Below Fall Creek, the jig-and -float method with the mentioned flies and jigs has been successful. Search for a chop on the water for the best bite! Night crawlers on the bottom catch bigger trout. And PowerBait paste in salmon flavor has been the best artificial bait. Use four-pound line for bait. Remember, if releasing trout caught on bait, if the fish swallows the hook, cut the line. Don’t try to dig it out. It has a better chance of survival if you cut the line. Also, same rule as mentioned — if you’re releasing, get the trout back in the water as quickly as possible AND don’t handle the fish with dry hands or a dry rag!
