Lake Taneycomo Fishing Report 10/11/09 - Branson, MO

Boy what a week makes.  We were thinking this was going to be an awesome fall fishing season in the respect of fly fishing for browns below the dam followed by great rainbow fishing.  Thought we were done with high water but no... 5-8 inches later and we're right back where we were a year ago.  Well, almost.

Been having discussions on the forum about water temp and DO levels below the dam.  It's 61 degrees at the cable on the south or gates side of the lake and 50 on the north or turbine side.  Most of the readings further downstream are 55 degrees.  DO (dissolved oxygen) levels are over 8 ppm on the gate side which is great- and the temp isn't that bad either for our trout.  On the turbine side the COE is injecting liquid O2 to keep the DO levels up so really this is nothing like last year when we had about the same flow but 70+ coming over the dam and 65 thru the turbines.

Table Rock was thought to crest at 927 but looking at the chart right now it looks like it's crested at 923.  Talked to a COE guy this evening and although isn't an official, he thinks they will leave the gates open till Table Rock is down to 917.  No guesses when that might be but I'd think it will be a better part of a week.  He also said they might release more water thru the gates.

Wade fishing below the dam is extremely limited.  The water is up in the trees for the most part with some standing room at outlets 1 and 2.  I did see guys catching trout in both sites today.

I got out yesterday morning right after they opened the gates.  Lots of trash, leaves and grass in the lake made it tough to fish.  This afternoon, we got out again.  We caught a good number of rainbows in the first mile of the lake below the dam on 1/8th oz white marabou jigs.  It had to be on the bottom and with the wind blowing upstream, that was a hard trick.  But to do that well under the circumstances, we did well meaning the trout were hitting hard enough we could feel the bites.  That's a good thing!

We also drifted red san juans and #10 scuds from Lookout down past the flats on the shallow side and caught a few rainbows.  Again, they are eating- just have to get the fly to the bottom and keep it there.

Below Fall Creek, same thing.  Stay in the middle of the lake and use enough weight to get the bait to the bottom.  Gulp eggs and night crawlers should work great.  If the wind stops, catching will improve.

Sorry I couldn't come up with a rosy report.  Not many people like to fish in this kind of current.  It's scary to some and I don't blame them.  But if you're careful, you shouldn't have any problems.