I puttered into Branson, a fast-growing resort town in the south-central part of the state, in time to meet John Wenzlick for a late dinner. John, the chair of the Missouri TU Council, didn’t seem to mind my delayed arrival as he had spent the evening fishing Lake Taneycomo, a trout fishery right in town. Lake Taneycomo is the section of the famous White River system between Table Rock and Powersite dams, two hydro-power production sites. I have to admit, I’m still having trouble comprehending why it is called a “lake” instead of a “river” given that this body of water flows in one direction through a defined channel, but the locals don’t seem to mind the semantics so I won’t either. By his report, John had a productive evening on the lake, and we were anxious to float Taneycomo the following morning.

After a stormy night, we awoke to a break in the rain clouds. A textbook “sucker hole,” as my friends from the Pacific Northwest would call it. John and I met Phil Surrat, our guide for the day, at a diner overlooking Table Rock Reservoir. Phil is a professional guide for River Run Outfitters and the president of the Branson TU chapter. Over classic southern breakfast fare including bottomless cups of syrupy coffee, biscuits, and a pancake the size of a flattened armadillo, John and Phil patiently answered my questions about the fishery, Missouri TU, and the southeast in general (for instance, I didn’t know they had armadillos in MO). These two guys know a lot about the fishery. John is an engineer for the highway department and has seen his share of Ozark country. He talks about working in Branson and fishing this lake in the 70s. Phil has fished the lake at every opportunity for over a decade and now that he is a full time guide, he spends most days down on the water.

According to my hosts, the water coming through the dam stays between 48 and 55 degrees throughout the year and is rich in minerals and nutrients. Scuds, sowbugs, midges, and crayfish thrive in these conditions, supporting large numbers of fast-growing trout.
The first three miles of this tailwater are “blue ribbon” meaning, among other things, that no fish between 12 and 20 inches may be kept and bait is prohibited. Fish are regularly stocked by the state. In fact, a hatchery is located right next the dam.

Unfortunately, water flows are managed for hydropower without much regard for the trout fishery downstream. Highly variable flows impede spawning efforts and displace aquatic insects. While I was there, the water was essentially “turned off.” The only flow entering the massive channel was running through the hatchery or seeping through the substrate. Missouri TU worked hard to guarantee minimum flows a few years ago, but the state and Southwestern Power Administration dragged their feet and no agreement was arranged. The last couple years, the area has been in drought, and negotiations have totally ceased.

Lake Taneycomo is so fertile, it supports many trout, despite the variable flows. The smaller rainbows are mirror-like silver, evidence of their cement basin heritage. However, after a few weeks in the river, the fish have grown considerably and display bright red stripes, vibrant black spots, and even white tipped fins.
(See the photos HERE)

The lake is also home to a few brown trout, but rainbows are far more common. The slot limit has really improved fishing quality for 12+ inch fish and many anglers are drawn to the fishery as a result. I was shocked to see dozens of anglers, many shoulder to shoulder, throwing fly lines and midge pupa. According to my hosts, if the weather had been better, we would have seen even more anglers. This fishery is so popular because of the regulations. These anglers are here because they can catch a lot of decent sized trout, possibly even a trophy. The state record for rainbow trout was broken here last year…twice! The fishing pressure gives newly stocked trout a crash course in angler avoidance. Dead-drifts and realistic imitations are a must for the larger specimens. Phil was pleased to see my western fly boxes because the fish often respond well to patterns they have never seen. Still, it was John’s little brown midge with a tungsten bead that produced the most trout. John ties these flies on a small barbless Tiemco that has about as much curvature as a circle hook. The result is the fish get hooked in the upper lip, allowing for a quick release. Because of the heavy angling pressure, including many novice anglers, some of the fish are mangled from rough handling. Barbless hooks really help speed up the release, protecting the fishery.

Fishing pressure also damages the riparian zone. To save the banks, the Branson chapter of TU installed staircases from the parking areas to the lake. This simple addition appears to have channeled foot traffic quite nicely. In addition, Branson TU has implemented an interesting program to encourage the release of trophy trout. The chapter has made trout pins (see the photo gallery) which they give to anglers who report the release of a 20 inch or larger trout. To get a pin, the angler must also fill out a fishing survey for the state department of conservation, helping biologists gain information about the fishery.

Overall, I found my day in Phil’s drift boat to be a fun fishing experience. The banana-shaped vessel is a novelty in southern Missouri, and drew many inquiries. Fishing from the boat provided easy access and allowed us to avoid chest-deep wading, but anglers on foot caught their share of trout as well. Lake Taneycomo is a great trout fishing oasis in a land of bass fishing. I hope Missouri TU can continue to push for minimum flows and conservation-based regulations for this fishery. The rainbow trout try to spawn each spring, but their efforts are largely foiled by the variable water flows. This fishery would greatly benefit from a springtime flow regime conducive to spawning. To make this happen, Missouri TU needs your support. If you are a Missouri TUer, the state chapters would benefit from your active involvement for this and other causes.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for new postings later this week. As soon as I find another wireless connection, I’ll write about other TU efforts around Missouri and share tales of chasing large browns in Northern Arkansas!