If nothing else, this should add some oxygenated

11/19/15

water to Taneycomo.  Coming to work this morning, we observed four gates opened and pouring oxygenated surface water into Taneycomo.   Maybe it will also help in diluting the high nitrogen and sulfur also present in the water.

Folks have been having a tough time catching in most of the upper wade area of Taneycomo.  And, if you just stand in the water and watch the fish, you can see they are having a tough time just breathing.  We know there is a significant problem at the hatchery right now with fish kills in their rearing runs.  In the past two days, several thousand fish have died as well as a large number of the brood stock.   Apparently the problem stems from high nitrogen and sulphur levels.  This is probably the reason for the offensive odor we have experienced over the past several weeks.  This just aggravates the already low dissolved oxygen levels and the higher than normal water temperatures present in the water.   The fix!  Not sure what it will be nor how long it will take.  We understand they are considering relocating some of the fish to other hatcheries.  We will try and keep you posted.

Nice weekend, but we are getting dumped on today.  Heavy rain this morning.  Supposed to clear for a while this afternoon with more coming in the evening.  Rain predicted again tomorrow.  Temperatures are supposed to take a dive toward and into the weekend with lows in the upper to mid 30s.  By the weekend, we will probably see 40s for the highs.

A couple hours of generation almost every morning.  No generation all day, but generation again in the early evening for a few hours.

Fishing is still tough and the fish are still now happy campers with the low oxygen levels and warm water temperatures.  We had a few trips on the water this past week, but have cancelled everything this week due to the conditions.  Stan on the water last Tuesday with Scot and his grandson, Carter.  This was Carter’s first time fly fishing and he did his grandfather proud.

Carter’s first trout on fly rod – 11/10/15

They were catching with a P&P dropped under a peach egg pattern.

Jim’s fish – 11/11/15

Gina had Wednesday Jim out last week.  They just fished for half a day due to some weather moving in for the afternoon.  They caught some fish on the ruby 2 dropped under a peach bead.  They even landed a shad.

Friday, Jim took Chris and Hugh out for an instructional/catch a few trip.  No best pattern.  Jim and Gregg, from Minnesota were on the river with Stan for the day.  Not a bad day, especially for the current conditions.  This was Gregg’s first time with a fly rod and he did well.  Best patterns were the peach egg with the P&P dropper or the holographic green crackleback.

.

Weather has been great!  Beautiful day yesterday with light winds, sunshine and temperature hit the low 60s.  Today we expect upper 60s and lots of sunshine.  Tomorrow, however, may be a different day.  According to the forecasts, we could see 40 mph winds, thunderstorms  with temperatures in the low upper 60s to 70s.  Nasty front coming in from the northwest.  By Thursday, it will be back to sunshine but temperatures more seasonal….in the 50s.

Past two days have seen a couple hours generation in the morning.  Off by 9:00 a.m.   Back on for a few hours in the late part of the day, around 5:00 or so.

Fishing continues to be very tough.  So far, no improvement in the oxygen level, but that is to be expected until Table Rock turns.  Come on cold weather. Jim took Dan, from Texas last Tuesday.  They even went out again on Wednesday.  As Jim stated, “fishing sucked but they had a great time”.   Gina on the water last Wednesday with “Wednesday Jim”  Of course it was a challenging day.  Gina cleared out her fly box and finally got some fish on the little ruby midge under an egg pattern.  Carolyn took Colleen ad Wayne from Hawaii out for a few hours Wednesday.  We had a great boat ride, a lovely shore lunch and came in.

Yesterday, Jim had Derek and Larry out for most of the day.  Don’t know how they did, but doubt that it was great.  Carolyn had Mike and Jan for half a day.  We hit three fish right out of the gate on a size 28 grey scud dropped from the big ruby.  Water had been on for a couple hours, so we had some “kick” water and probably a little oxygen in it.  After it settled down when turned off, so did the trout.  A few more on the holographic green crackleback and it was time to come off.

Beautiful day yesterday.  Sun shinning, temperatures in the low 60s and a light wind.  Today is overcast and a bit nippy!  High is predicted at upper 60s, but it will need some work.  Tomorrow looks like overcast again and temperatures in the low 70s.  Chances of rain Thursday afternoon and most of Friday.  Looks like temperatures are heading to more normal as Friday and Saturday are in the mid 60s and Sunday and Monday look like mid 50s.

Other than yesterday when they turned on the equivalent of one unit at 8:00 a.m. for an hour, we have had no generation in the mornings and something coming on around 2:00 p.m. every day for a few hours.

Don’t know if it was that shot of unexpected,  not projected water they ran yesterday morning or what, but fishing yesterday was good.  Stan has a couple, Melissa and Andrew, from Indiana out for the day.  Good day for these new fly fishers, mainly on the P&P with a size 18 gray scud dropper.  I had an opportunity to get in a few hours and had fun stripping the olive filoplume on a 1.5 ips sink tip fly line.  Also caught several fish on the holographic green crackleback.  Fished with some friends for a little while and we did well on the P&P and copper dun midges.

Scuds at upper MDC ramp

A couple weeks ago when putting in my drift boat, I could not help but notice the water moving right next to the ramp.  Look at this layer of scuds!  Yesterday, when taking out at a another ramp about 5-1/2 miles downstream, almost the same layer of scuds.  We have to say our food source for the trout is definitely there and appear to be healthy.

Scuds – 11/2/15

Beautiful day today.  Monday through Wednesday look nice with temperatures in the low 70s.  Thursday and Friday are looking like rain.

Generation continues to be off most of the day.  Of course, except today.  They turned on the equivalent of  one unit using two generators.  Ran it for a couple hours, then off.  Tomorrow looks like it will be off until last in the afternoon and then on for a few hours and back off.

Carolyn had Len and Sally out last Monday for half a day and the generators came on….un expectedly, at 10:30.  We had had a few fish on cracklebacks before this happened, but when the units came on, the water trashed up so we decided to call it a day and try again on Wednesday.

Wednesday, Stan had Bob and his friend Shelby out for half a day, and Carolyn had Len and Sally out again.  Bad day.  Stan’s boat maybe had a few hits and Carolyn’s folks only caught one fish on a red soft hackle.  Thank you Sally for saving my honor.

Thursday was another day.  Carolyn had Know and Gabrille out for half a day.  Morning started off slow, but about mid-morning Gabrille caught a fish and then another.  Knox, decided he needed to catch up and he did and kept on going.  Good day for these two on a #18 gray scvud dropped under the copper dun midge.  Stan had Doc from Oklahoma out for half a day.  They were catching fish on the copper dun midge or P&P midge.  Dick and Kathy from California spent the day on the water with Jim.  Not a great day, but they did catch some fish on the miracle scud and hot hare’s ear nymph.

And then there was another day…..Friday.  Looked like a repeat of Wednesday.  Jim had Dick and Kathy out again, but for only half a day.  They came in early as fishing was bad.  Terry and Yasuto were out with Stan.  They had a full day booked, but after working hard for a few hits, decided to have lunch and call it a day.  Carolyn took Janessa and Brian out for half a day.  We finally found a fish on the miracle scud and maybe missed a few others on the gray scud.

As I mentioned earlier, the dissolved oxygen in Taneycomo is very low.  The fish still look health, but they are definitely just sitting in the water exerting the least amount of energy possible.  Fortunately, there are lots of scuds….tons of scuds in the water, so food is probably just drifting into the fishes mouths so they don’t have to work too hard.

Dissolved oxygen level coming into Taneycomo is very low right now.  This occurs every year, but it certainly seems to be having a more significant affect this year.  Seeing LOTS of dead fish on the bottom and floating down the river.  Rowing up from the boat ramp to just below the rebar hole, saw 2 to 3 dead fish about every 10 feet.  Even though you release a fish after you have play it for a few minutes to bring it in, and he swims off, he may go 30-40 feet and flip over on it’s back.  I have netted several fish over the past few days and kept them in the net facing upstream until I felt they were fine.  I noted that many of these were face up for a while and then started rolling over.  Worked the net to make certain they turned back over and kept them facing upstream in moving water.  Sometimes took several minutes, but I know the fish had a much better survival chance.  Let’s take care of this wonderful resource we have here in Taneycomo!

Cool this morning.  Almost noon and it’s still 56 degrees.  Supposed to be in the mid 60s for a high today.  Monday looks like upper 60s.  Tuesday shows a chance for showers and mid 60s.  Rain out of the forecast after Tuesday and temperatures are running in the upper 60s again.  Clouding up toward the weekend and temperatures in the low 60s and some chances for showers are showing up.

Every day has been a surprise this past week.  Water projected to be on all day, it turns off.  Water not to come on until 2:00 p.m. or later, it comes on in the a.m.  Oh well…..guess that’s life in a tailwater.

Jan and Mike, from Oklahoma fished half a day with Carolyn on Monday.  This was the first surprise day.  We were settled down at Lookout Island fishing the riffles and having a good day.  Jan was catching fish on the big ruby with either a red soft hackle dropper or a ruby 2, and Mike was catching while stripping a nice sculpin pattern.  At some point, we noticed the drift boat was pretty far up on the rocks!  About that time, phone rings and the person on the other end advises that the water had been shut off!!  Moved the boat out further into the water and continued catching.  So the morning consisted of relocating boat then back to fishing until time to come off.

Tuesday, Jan and Mike had another half day on the water with Carolyn.  What a difference a day makes.  After beating the water to a froth and a little while, we decided to go in early and try again on Wednesday.  Jim had Mark and Joanne out for what was to have been a full day.  They fished hard and caught a few fish and called it a half day.

Back to the river for Jan and Mike on Wednesday.  Again, what a difference a day makes.  Another good day on the big ruby with P&P or ruby 2 dropper.  Stripping was not a good technique for us that day.  Had an unexpected blip of water in the morning for a short time.  Off, then back on around 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, Jim took Bob from Oklahoma out for 1/2 a day.  Bob is pretty new so Jim worked on skills with him.  They caught a few fish on the ruby, P&P and hot hare’s ear nymph.  Stan had a couple of his regulars out.  Gary and Bob and also from Oklahoma.  They had a good day on mainly on the P&P.  The biggest problem was the 7X tippet.  Gotta watch those hook sets!

Gina on the water with Gary and Bob Friday.  Back to what a difference a day makes!  Another tough day.  The guys caught a few fish.  Water off, then on, then off again.  Something about working on a project at Beaver Dam and they needed to run water (not projected) here for the project.  Stan had Jack and Patti out for half a day.  They were victims of the on, off, on water.  They caught a few fish on the P&P.  Eve, who took a two-day fly fishing school last month came back for more.  Full day trip with Carolyn.  Fortunately, we were out long enough that the up and down water eventually was a benefit for us.  Best pattern was the ruby 2.

Darrell and Stan out yesterday with a group of guys.  Darrell took Randy and John.  They had a slow day but boated a few fish on the copper dun and the ruby 2.  Stan’s guys. Dave and Dave, caught a few more.  They stayed with the

Christina – 10/23/15

copper dun all morning.  Carolyn had Christina and John out for the morning.  This was Christina’s first time and I don’t think it will be her last.  She caught on to casting very quickly….that is, until she landed a fish, then it was hurry back into the water to get another one.  We all know how that goes.  We’re in such a

John – 10/24/15

hurry to get our fly back into the water, we forget about the casting part.  This too shall pass.  Fun day, neat couple.  Our best patterns were the copper dun and ruby 2 midges…..on 7X, of course!

Warmer than normal temperatures this past week…in the 80s.  Looks like today might be our last 80s day and then pretty good chances of rain tomorrow and probably Saturday morning.  More seasonal temperatures in the 60s through the weekend into next week.  60% chance for showers on Tuesday, then partly cloudy Wednesday and back to sunshine Thursday with temperatures till in the low 60s to upper 50s.

Big surprise on Monday when the projection schedule said 40 mwh all day which meant not quite a full generator for the day.  Around 11:00 a.m. the bottom fell out of the river as they had turned off the generators!  No generation on Tuesday until 2:00 and they turned on two units for four hours or so.  Yesterday, no units until 11:00 when them bumped it for less than an hour…then back off.  At 2:00 p.m. they cranked on a unit, then another.  Around 5:00 it ramped down until nothing was running again.  Today, the projection is no generation until 2:00 p.m.

Busy, busy, busy!  Not complaining….just behind!  Gina on the water last Wednesday with Bonnie

Bonnie – 10/14/15

from Arkansas.  She has been trying to use her Christmas present!  Finally, and it was a good day for them.  Bonnie caught stripping and fishing a bug ugly with either a P&P or black copperhead midge dropper.

Ted – 10/16/15

Darrell on the water last Friday with Ted and Wade from Oklahoma.  The guys had a good day on a red soft hackle and the ruby 2.   Stan and Carolyn were out with a group of fishers who were also from Oklahoma.  Stan took Terry and Carolyn had Seth and Kevin.  Good day for this group.  Stan had Terry catching on the P&P midge and a size 16 gray scud.  Seth and Kevin were catching on the big ruby with either a size 16 miracle scud dropper, a P&P or a red soft hackle.

Last Saturday, Jim took Jason (must

One of Jason’s fish – 10/17/15

have been Oklahoma week), from Oklahoma out for the day.  Good day for Jason pulling a bug eye tiger tail or nymhing the miracle scud.  Storm and Sammy from Arkansas fish half a day with Stan.  They did well on the ruby 2 and P&P midges.

Sunday was another day.  The equivalent of one unit running and fishing was tough.  Gina took Rudy from North Carolina out for the morning.  They caught fish on the ruby 2, had hits on the JQ and Tiger Tail and maybe hooked a few on those.  Stan had Ken, who is now a local, out for the day.  They worked hard and caught a few fish on the P&P, but decided it wasn’t worth it and came off after a half a day.

Susan – 10/18/15

Steve and Susan were out with Carolyn.  The wind was also a factor that day, so we tucked in behind an island and did managed to bring in a few fish on the miracle scud under the big ruby.  I think Steve owed Susan dinner as she caught the most fish.

Monday was definitely a better day

Steve – 10/18/15

on the water.  Stan had Don from Arkansas out for the afternoon.  He had a very good day on the P&P and Ruby 2 midges.  Jim was working his guys, Curtis and Leonard, mainly on streamers.  They caught a few on the white worm, but it was primarily the bug eye for them.  Jan and Mike, from Oklahoma, have been long-time fishers with Carolyn.  She had them out for the morning and it was a very good day for these two.  Mike was pulling a sculpin pattern and Jan was catching on the ruby 2 midge, red San Juan worm or miracle scud dropped under the Big Ruby.  Great weather and great day!

Beautiful weather.  70s for the most part and lots of sun.  I think there is a threat of 60s for Friday through the weekend.  But, sunny to party sunny so that won’t be so bad.  Back into the low to mid 70s next week.

Water pretty stable all weekend.  Projection for today is more of the same.  Low water most of the day with a ramp up to the equivalent of a low three units at 3:00 p.m. for a couple hours.  Then, back to the equivalent of one unit for the rest of the evening.

Wanda – 10/9/15

Tough day, but a great day for Wanda last Friday.  Not very many fish to the boat, but if you look very closely, you will see she caught this nice rainbow on a size 18 parachute black dry!  Jim  had Paul and Ken from Nebraska out for half a day and they had a good day stripping the size 10 bug eye bugger.

Saturday, Carolyn took Wendy and Melody out for the day.  They just got back from Montana and still

Wendy – 10/10/15

hadn’t had their fill of fishing!  We had a good day on the big ruby with either a ruby 2 or size 16 gray scud dropper.  Also caught fish stripping a sculpin pattern and even caught a few on the big ugly dry!

Stan had Dennis and Eric out for half a day on Sunday.  Eric was new to fly fishing and had a wonderful day.  He caught fish on the black copperhead midge under the bug ruby.  Dennis wanted dry fly fishing only,  so he was fishing and catching on the big ugly.

Barb’s 1st – 10/12/15

Barb from Illinois had catching a trout on a fly rod on her “bucket list”.  So, Sunday, she and Carolyn took off to fill this bucket list.  Barb’s first fish was on a lightning bug dropped below the big ruby.  She thinks she likes it!  Jim had Mike from Texas out for half a day working on streamers.  They had a good day on the bug eye bugger, the miracle scud and the ruby midge.

Looks like partly cloudy days for just about the next week with temperatures in the los 80s tomorrow through Friday.  Weekend looks like low 70s.  Not seeing much in the way of rain.

The generation pattern continues to be low flow in the morning.  Generally, they have been using two units to run the equivalent of one unit.  However, a few of the days, they have cranked it up to the equivalent of a very low two units.  They are still ramping up to a full two units or more in the afternoon around 2:00-3:00 p.m. for a few hours then back down to the one unit level or so.

The Conclave was this weekend in Mountain Home, AR., so I’m a little behind again.  Anyway, it’s “ketchup” time.  Jim on the water last Wednesday with Steve from Kansas.  Steve wanted to bone up on his streamer techniques, so they spent the day pulling streamers on various sinking lines.  Caught some fish on the bug eye tiger tail.

Jim – 9/30/15

Gina had Wednesday Jim out for the day and they started with streamers, but really had the most fun in the afternoon when they threw a dry with the black copperhead midge dropper.   Chris from Texas spent the morning on the river with Darrell.  Tough day, but Chris did catch a few fish on the ruby 2 dropped below the big ruby.   Stan had Frank and his son, Doug out for half a day.  Not a bad day, but certainly not a great day on a big ruby with the ruby 2 dropper for them.  They fished again on Thursday using the same rig.

Friday, Jim had Jim and Harriett from Kansas out for half a day.  New fishers, so they worked on casting and line management.  Caught a few fish on the green midge, and

Buck – 10/2/15

miracle scud.  Buck from Mississippi decided he wanted to try his hand at fly fishing so Darrell took him out for half a day.  He caught on a big P&P with a ruby 2 dropper.

Geoff – 10/3/15

Saturday, Carolyn took Geoff and Tony out for half a day.  We managed to pull off a decent day on the big ruby with the ruby 2 dropper and a few stripping the tiger tail.

Tony wanted to share his cigar with one of the

Tony – 10/3/15

fish he caught.  Needless to say, it was a fun day on the water!