An article published in the spring of this year, at www.BransonCourier.com entitled “Are Branson’s Tri-Lakes ‘the fresh water fishing capital of the world?,’” pointed out that the Missouri state record Brown Trout of 27 pounds 10 ounces had been caught out of Branson’s Lake Taneycomo. Well, as of November 20, that changed when Scott Sandusky of Arnold, MO caught a new Missouri state record Brown weighing 28.8 pound while fishing on Lake Taneycomo.

According to published reports the behemoth was 37 inches long, had a girth of 24.75 inches and was caught just below Cooper Creek from a boat using a the simple “drift” technique very commonly used on Lake Taneycomo, by novices and experts alike, when water is being run through the generators.

The technique involves using Berkley Power Bait or Gulp and drifting from a boat with the bait bumping along the bottom upstream of the boat as the boat drifts downstream pulling the bait. It’s a relaxing sort of fishing and is commonly done with “drift rigs” sold at the docks and bait shops along the lake.

Reports of Sandusky’s catch indicated he was drifting bumping rainbow colored Berkley Paste Power Bait along the bottom when the record Brown hit. He indicated it took about ten minutes to get the fish in and that he had some help netting the fish from his fishing partners. The record Brown was measured, weighed and verified by officials of the Missouri Department of Conservation at the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery.

Paul Miller, General Manager for the Branson Tourism Center (BTC) one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging is a avid fisherman. He said, “This is but an example of the high quality of fishing that is available in the Branson area. With its two warm water lakes, Table Rock and Bull Shoals and the cold waters of Lake Taneycomo and everything else that Branson