River Run Outfitter's Carolyn Parker with beautiful Lake Taneycomo Rainbow Trout
BRANSON, Mo., September 20– The most comprehensive fishing report available 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. Natural baits, Gulp and soft plastic baits are illegal in Trophy Area. but ok for the other 19 miles of Lake Taneycomo.
Lake Taneycomo Trophy Area – Fly Fishing – by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters
Branson had great weather early last week and finished the weekend out with some nice rain showers. Throughout the week the fishing on Taneycomo was good, very good. We had generation from Table Rock Dam all day Tuesday through Thursday and all day on Sunday; however, it was low each morning and then ramped up to two or a three generators later in the day. The other days followed the recent pattern of off in the early part of the day with generation sometime in the afternoon.
Reports coming in from folks out fishing on their own have been good. It seems like the fish are pretty active right now and definitely taking lots of different patterns. You still want gray scuds mainly in smaller sizes 16-20 and some folks have been doing well with the tan G-bugs and peach eggs. The guys who like to pull streamers have been using olive buggers, including our CQ streamer, mouse gray sculpins, and white bunny leeches. The same midges we have had luck with on our trips had worked for wading fishermen too.
River Run was busy putting multiple boats on the water just about everyday last week. Guides reported clients catching fish on size 18 zebra midges in black and copper, rusty, or primrose and pearl. The primrose and pearl, our sunny day fly, was particularly hot this weekend while it was gloomy and rainy. Go figure. All of these midges and the size 16 tungsten bead head paired up as droppers to a size 12 Big Ruby fished well in the deeper water and with generation. The peach egg has proven to be a good attractor fly and fished well all by itself. On all the trips at some point we are tying on the CQ bugger and fishing it with a sinking leader. It is still getting lots of hook ups. We had just one good crackleback day last week. The holographic green in a size 12 is always work a try, but honestly hasn’t produced many fish lately.
The river is still making us look for sweet spots where the fish are interested in feeding. Last week was just great though, because it seemed like everybody was catching good numbers of fish and very happy about it. Hope you have time to come to Taneycomo and go fly fishing.
Submitted by Carolyn Parker, River Run Outfitters
Lake Taneycomo – by Eric Prey, FocusedFishing.com
Off and on generation has kept the trout fishing consistent from Fall Creek through Branson. Fishing guide trips have been productive throughout the day as long as adjustments are made as the day wears on. Early and late most Branson fishing guides have started the day with either a Zig Jig or small jerkbait. Concentrate efforts around wood cover or boat docks, make casts as close to the cover as possible and work both baits with an erratic retrieve back to the boat. The best jerkbait colors have been rainbow trout, silver minnow and crystal flash, allow the bait to pause about three to four seconds between jerks and pay close attention to your line as most strikes are subtle. Zig Jig triple olive, brown green and ginger have been best.
Jigs tend to work a little later into the day as you can control the depth by counting the jig down before the retrieve. Larger trout tend to move deep as sunlight penetrates the water. Once the jerkbait and jig bite slows a Trout Magnet or marabou micro jig has been the best tactic for most Branson fishing guides. Fish both lures below a small float about six to ten feet deep, once the lure settles below the float very little action is needed to draw strikes. Simply allow the float to move wind or current giving it subtle twitches occasionally to draw strikes from wary trout. Some of the better colors have been pink, pink and white or orange in the Trout Magnet but more natural brown, black and ginger in the micro jig.
Prepared baits and live night crawlers are producing later in the day; Gulp or Power Bait eggs have been working on a drift rig throughout the lake but have been especially in Branson. Fishing guide trips have been producing once the sun comes from the HWY 65 Bridge to below Roark Creek by drifting Gulp and Power Bait eggs tight to the bottom. Live night crawlers injected with a small amount of air have been effective as well; live bait seems to work better on calm days with little or no current. If there is no current slowly move the bait along bottom to draw strikes. If the bite gets really tough tie a six foot two pound fluorocarbon leader to a small swivel on your main line. Use a #12 or #14 hook and bait it with about 2” of live night crawler. Casting the rig is tough with little or no weight, try to get the rig as close to shady areas around wood cover or boat docks to draw strikes from Taneycomo trout hiding in the shade.
Submitted by Eric Prey, FocusedFishing.com
Don’t Miss Eric’s Tournament Fishing Radio on ESPN 1400 AM Springfield
Mondays 5:30pm and Saturdays 5:00 am or on-line at www.espn1400.com
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. The Central Pro Am Association, through such sponsorship and that of Ranger Boats and Mercury Marine,is pleased to participate in furnishing this report to those fishing the Branson Tri-Lakes area.
