Post by golferjeff on Jul 8, 2014 15:44:50 GMT -6
aaThe family and I vacationed in Branson, MO over July 4th weekend. We rented a place just off Lake Taneycomo, which is a dammed but flowing section of the White River. Between all the shows and golfing, I managed to sneak in a few hours of great fishing here and there. I stuck to the 'Trophy' or 'Regulated' water as they did not generate much water all weekend. When they did, it was only one unit which resulted in a real nice flow and a 1 foot rise in water level. I spent most of the time within sight of Table Rock dam and the State fish hatchery. The fishing was awesome, the wildlife was really cool, and the weather was perfect. I could not ask for a better trip.
For those who do not know, Lake Taneycomo is a 22 mile section of the White River dammed up between Table Rock Dam on the upper end and Powersite Dam on the lower end. Attachment Deleted The upper 4 miles is regulated water and always has at least a gentle flow to it. When they generate, it runs about the same or a little faster than the riffles at the bottom of Evening Hole. The lower water is more lake-like in appearance, flow, and temperature. the upper is a constant 46 degrees and clear as glass, even during generation. You can see every fish in the river. Taneycomo is 90% rainbows, 5% browns, and 5% smallmouth, suckers, and others. The rainbows are magnificently colored and the Browns are silver and yellow. They live on huge midges (sz 10-14) and small crustaceans (scuds and crayfish). During releases from the power plant, the fish eat ANYTHING. The moving water stirs up everything from hatchery effluent, pellets, scuds, to midge larvae and caddis nymphs. If you can put it in front of a fish, it will eat, period.
Friday I just walked along the river and got to know it a little. During low water, it is about 50-100 yards wide and no more than 4 feet deep. There are a few riffles, but mostly flat, glassy, and clear. There are 3 hatchery outflows that produce some moving water and most people congregate here. It is impossible NOT to catch fish here. Not very sporting, but definitely fun for a little while. I traveled upstream a little from the hatchery to get some room to fish. I caught a nice Brown on my very first cast Attachment DeletedThis is a typical summer brown - 15", silver and yellow. I hear they get really big browns in the fall that spawn near the dam. I managed a few more rainbows before I had to pick up the family from the 'Titanic' exhibit.
Saturday I fished with a guide, from a boat, with my daughter. We fished the lower 1/2 of the regulated water. Here the water is a little deeper, even clearer, and very slow moving. We had a blast. Isabel caught 35 rainbows and I used the fly rod to catch 38. You could watch your indicator, but you could also watch the fish eat your flies under the surface. No surface action to speak of, but very fun. This is a pretty typical Taneycomo rainbow - 15-18" and fat. There are two strains from two separate hatcheries. One is more silvery and bright, one is more yellowish with brighter pink stripes and gill plates. Attachment Deleted Thread continues below.....
For those who do not know, Lake Taneycomo is a 22 mile section of the White River dammed up between Table Rock Dam on the upper end and Powersite Dam on the lower end. Attachment Deleted The upper 4 miles is regulated water and always has at least a gentle flow to it. When they generate, it runs about the same or a little faster than the riffles at the bottom of Evening Hole. The lower water is more lake-like in appearance, flow, and temperature. the upper is a constant 46 degrees and clear as glass, even during generation. You can see every fish in the river. Taneycomo is 90% rainbows, 5% browns, and 5% smallmouth, suckers, and others. The rainbows are magnificently colored and the Browns are silver and yellow. They live on huge midges (sz 10-14) and small crustaceans (scuds and crayfish). During releases from the power plant, the fish eat ANYTHING. The moving water stirs up everything from hatchery effluent, pellets, scuds, to midge larvae and caddis nymphs. If you can put it in front of a fish, it will eat, period.
Friday I just walked along the river and got to know it a little. During low water, it is about 50-100 yards wide and no more than 4 feet deep. There are a few riffles, but mostly flat, glassy, and clear. There are 3 hatchery outflows that produce some moving water and most people congregate here. It is impossible NOT to catch fish here. Not very sporting, but definitely fun for a little while. I traveled upstream a little from the hatchery to get some room to fish. I caught a nice Brown on my very first cast Attachment DeletedThis is a typical summer brown - 15", silver and yellow. I hear they get really big browns in the fall that spawn near the dam. I managed a few more rainbows before I had to pick up the family from the 'Titanic' exhibit.
Saturday I fished with a guide, from a boat, with my daughter. We fished the lower 1/2 of the regulated water. Here the water is a little deeper, even clearer, and very slow moving. We had a blast. Isabel caught 35 rainbows and I used the fly rod to catch 38. You could watch your indicator, but you could also watch the fish eat your flies under the surface. No surface action to speak of, but very fun. This is a pretty typical Taneycomo rainbow - 15-18" and fat. There are two strains from two separate hatcheries. One is more silvery and bright, one is more yellowish with brighter pink stripes and gill plates. Attachment Deleted Thread continues below.....
Thread continues below......
