Taneycomo Trout Fishing Experience
Most people have heard of Table Rock Lake in the Ozarks. This gem for outdoor lovers offers clear waters and stunning views. It's also a hotspot for fishing, with bass, crappie, and catfish among the catch.
Now, let's delve into the unique allure of Lake Taneycomo, a mere stone's throw from Branson. This hidden gem is renowned for its frigid waters, a haven for trout species like rainbow and brownies. Whether you're casting from the serene shore or a tranquil boat, it's a trout angler's utopia. And the scenery? It's nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Taneycomo is a river but is called a lake because it's at the bottom of Table Rock Dam and has a dam downstream again. Hence, Lake Taneycomo. The name would be an abbreviation of Taney County, MO.
I was fortunate to join my dad, brother, and sister down at Taneycomo on a fishing trip with a fantastic guide. We had a boat and navigated different parts of Taneycomo as the dam released water and before and after the release. We got to experience multiple water levels, and our guide was great in each situation.
We started upstream in a small flat bottom boat until we came to the side of a sandbar. Our guide had rigged us with ultralight spinning gear, a 2lb leader, and a scud tied on the end. Up about 1.5 feet, he placed a bright orange bead to attract the trout. Up another 1.5 feet, there was an indicator. We had at least 5 feet of line out, so we had to perform an over-the-shoulder flop to get the line out by the sandbar. We cast upstream at 45 degrees and let it drift until it was just downriver of us - mending the line often. About 2 minutes after my first cast, I watched the indicator bounce and lifted the rod to hook the fish. I could tell it was a good-sized rainbow when I saw it flash. The fish ran as my drag whined, and I would reel a little. Once the trout saw me, another big run happened, and I got him to the boat after a few minutes. It was a thrill to my senses as I worked in unison with the gear, and it felt almost artistic doing this delicate dance. That was our first trout, one of many trout caught that day. All catch and release as we were in the trophy area, so there were no barbed hooks. We continued this technique in deeper and shallow areas and changed the gear weight for each situation. The deeper the water, the bigger the fish. After the dam released water for about an hour, we could go up further and continue scud fishing. This time, we caught multiple large trout, including rainbows, brownies, and native trout. The biggest we caught was about 20”, and they were all about 10” - 20”, all on ultralight gear.
At one point, we noticed two huge bald eagles watching us from a high tree. They were at least six feet across and keen on our operation. We even watched the two eagles swoop down for a mid-day meal. It was amazing.
Ultimately, it was one of my greatest fishing days, and I got to do it with my family. Scud fishing with an indicator is an excellent technique in any stream or river, and I recommend you try it. I also highly recommend Table Rock and Taneycomo!
