FYI – Still drawing down the lake level.  Appears they started drawing down yesterday and are continuing today.  Plan was to do the work today.  Not certain what, if any, affect the rain will have on the work.  Hopefully, we will see the lake back to normal soon.  At 9:00 a.m., the tailwater level was 701.2 feet.  Looks mighty low out there!

Looks like we have peaked out in our fall colors.  However, it is still very pretty and sometimes difficult to focus on fishing since everything around is to beautiful right now.  We had a couple warm days last week and some rain.  Today is supposed to be sunny and mid 60s.  Little color through the weekend and a chance of showers starts creeping back in last monday into Tuesdy and Wednesday of next week.  High 50s to lower 60s into the weekend and mostly sunny.

No generation scheduled for today except for a couple hours late in the day and then only the equivalent of less than one unit.  With the draw down scheduled for November 3, we will be surprised if they run much, if any water tomorrow.  Sunday will start the draw down and they want low water Monday for the work to be done on the generator.  Probably, if the work is completed on Monday, Tuesday will see generation to fill Taneycomo. 

Lots of trips over the past week.  Last Thursday and Friday, Stan took Gary and his friend Bob, out for half days each day.  Good day for these guys, when they were fishing and not telling jokes, on the big ruby and lightning bug.  I think their largest was a beautiful 17″ rainbow.   Friday, Dana had Mitch and his father Phil on the water all day.  both are beginners and they had a great time, learned a lot and caught fish on the little ruby, the red midge and the big ruby. 

Sam, from Texas, wanted to get two of his sons introduced to fly fishing, so Stan and Carolyn took them out Saturday and Sunday for a couple half days.  Good couple outings for these guys.  Quick learners and Dad had done some homework with them on casting.  Fish were cooperative too. 

Nick and 18″ rainbow – 10/27/13

Nick hooked a nice 17 incher on the first day and this 18 incher on the second day.  Justin brought in a beautiful 17 incher on the second day.  Big ruby and the lightning bug were probably the best patterns for both days.

Justin and 17″ rainbow – 10/27/13

David, from Oklahoma spent the morning on the water Monday with Stan.  They had a good day, again on the big ruby and the lightning bug.  Jim was on the water with Mark, from Rogersville.  There best patterns were the ruby, the lightning bug, and the hot hare nymph.  Last, but definitely, not Carolyn took Jerry and his wife out all day Monday.  This was part of Jerry’s birthday gift from his wife.  (How about this for a sweet wife?)  Lots of fish day, but nothing of any size.  I think the largestfish we landed was 15 inches.  At least, we kept busy bringing in fish.  It was the big ruby, lightning bug, black size 16 midge in the a.m. and then again late in the day.  The egg pattern dropped from the big ruby worked well on the high bank down from Pointe Lookout.  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jerry!!

Just for everyone’s information, according to representatives from the Corp of Engineers and Empire District Electric, there is a plan to draw down Taneycomo starting November 3.  The plan is to have Taneycomo down 4-1/2 feet by November 4 when they will do some needed generator repairs.  Hopefully, the work can be completed on November 4 and they can start bringing Taneycomoe back up late on November 4 or at least on November 5.

Starting to feel and look a lot more like Fall.  Temperatures today in the mid 50s. Forecast for tomorrow is more of the same.  We were predicted to have a freeze warming by morning, but I think we might escape that one!  Maybe a low in the 30s with mid to upper 50s.  Saturday through mid week temperatures are forecast in the mid 60s with chances of showers creeping in Tuesday and increasing Wednesday and Thursday.  Weekend looks dry with temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s

The generation schedule continues to look spastic.  On pretty high in the mornings, about  707.0 levels, then dropping down, then back up, or today, off!  tomorrow should be about the same as projected today, but it is off right now and they say they will be running it until 10:00 p.m. tomorrow.  We will see!

Had one of the toughest days I have spent on Taneycomo last Thursday.  I took Rich and his son, James out for half a day.  James is eleven and this was his first fly fishing trip.  Fortunately, he had a good time, but certainly did not catch his first trout on this trip.  We boated a few fish, lost a few fish, and had very few hits that were missed.  Generation was, of course, spastic, but not any worse than we can see on any given day.  The water was off colored, and the strangest thing we all noticed was that we did not see fish!  We even had an opportunity to get into the water and move around…..no fish at our feet, no fish in the normal spots where we see them.  Anyway, glad that day is over, happy James had fun and he said he will come back and see me.

Now for better days.  Stan, Bob and Jim were scheduled for an instructional wade trip with Jim last Saturday.  Looked like a “go” but, turned out to be a “no go”.  Water was on.  Anyway, they improvised and managed to get into the water (which did go back to zero units a little later) and work on skills and even catching.  Landed fish on the ruby midge and hot hare nymph.  Stan on the water that day with Gary and Dave from Texas for half a day.  Good day for these buys on the big ruby, little ruby and P&P midges.  Ed and Rick from Kansas spent the morning out with Dana.  They caught on the little ruby, a red San Juan worm, and an orange egg pattern.   Gine had a couple of her regulars

Dale – 10/19/13

out all day, Dale and Glenn.  Dale brought in this nice 19-1/2″ rainbow.  They had a good afternoon on the P&P midge, a size 14 crackleback and the CQ streamer.  Didn’t get enough on Saturday, so they went out again Sunday morning.  Another good outting for these guys on the P&P and little ruby midges. 

Gelnn – 10/20/13

Monday, Carolyn took Jim from Rolla, out for half a day.  His wife, Diane, rode along to help coach him and enjoy the beautiful Fall day.  Jim had a good day on the big ruby midge with a size 16 black midge dropper to start the morning.  As we progressed down the river, we switched to an egg dropper along the high bank below Lookout Island. 

Jim’s first rainbow on fly rod – 10/21/13

Steady hits all morning.  Guess who’s coming back to learn how to fly fish!  Diane!!

On the river again Tuesday.  Bryan, from the St. Louis area, floated with Carolyn.  Really good day for Bryan.  He’s only been fly fishing for a few years, but has come a long ways.  Even in the heavy wind we experienced Tuesday, he usually put his line where it had to be.  Best patterns were the lightening bug, big ruby and the CQ streamer. 

Wednesday, Jim took Jerron and his wife, Ty, out for a half-day instructional trip.  This couple from Louisiana wanted to learn everything they could cram into a half day about fly fishing.  Jim did his best and they even landed from fish on the red midge the hot hare nymph and pulling the CQ streamer.   Carolyn had Cheryl and her husband, Gary out for half a day.  Good day for these two, especially Cheryl.  They boated fish on the big ruby, the lightening

Cheryl – 10/23/13

bug, and stripping a CQ streamer with the 2.6 ips sinking leader.  Cheryl is fairly new to this sport, but is already throwing a pretty nice line.

Gary – 10/23/13

Beautiful weather!  Temperatures have been in the 60s.  One morning it actually felt cold for a while as it was overcast with a little wind int he morning.  More of the same expected.  60s to even upper 50s by early next week.  Today and tomorrow there is a possibility of some showers.  Otherwise, clear through next weekend.

Generation schedule changed yesterday!  Instead of our normal no generation in the morning then some in the early afternoon, we had units on at 6:00 a.m. and they ran all day.  This morning, units came on at 7:00 and are scheduled to be on most of the day.  Although they have four units going, right now, it is running at the equivalent of not quite a full two units.  Can’t wait to see what they do tomorrow!

Other than at the outlet, fishing has been tough.  And there are even days when we hear from the folks who fish the outlets, that they have had a tough day.

Jed with first trout on fly rod – 10/13/13

Carolyn and Gina out last Sunday for the morning.  Carolyn had Lyle, his son Jed, and Jim from Kansas out.  Lyle has done some fly fishing, but this was Jed’s and Jim first time with a fly rod.  Although we worked hard, we can report success for all.  Our best pattern was a size 22 very sparse black midge dropped under either a black copperhead midge or copper dun midge.  Holly and Jerry from here in Missouri spent the morning with Gina.  They too worked hard for fish, but again, we can report success.  Holly is just getting started.  This was her second fly fishing outting, and she loves it!  Jerry has been throwing a stick for a while.  Jerry was 

Jerry – 10/13/13

catching on the CQ streamer and Holly was using a b-bug with a size 18 gray scud. 

Monday, Gina took Don, from Kansas out for the day.  Another difficult day, but they caught fish on soft hackles when the water was off and then switched to the CQ streamer after the water came on at 3:00 p.m.  It was somewhat of a fish a fly day, but with enough chancing of the fly, you can catch a few fish!

Don – 10/14/13

Jim on the water Monday with Warren and his daughter, Kim, from Arkansas.  Another worker, but they caught a few fish on the CQ streamer. 

Tuesday, Carolyn had Mary Ann and Virginia from Springfield on the water for the morning.  Little better day than the two to three prior days, but still worked for the ones we caught.   It was a day of really pretty fish.  Both ladies caught a brown along with their nice size rainbows.

Virginia and nice brown – 10/15/13

Dave and Tracey, from Michigan, fished with Jim Wednesday.  It was like old home week with them being from Michigan.  David is an experienced fly fisher and wanted to get his wife more interested in fly fishing.  If we heard correctly, Tracey landed the most fish.  Best patterns were the CQ streamer, red midge and the hot hare’s ear nymph.   Steve, from Ohio was out with Stan.  They had a pretty slow morning, but when the water came on, so did the fish.  Most of them were caught on the big ruby.

We are starting to see a little more color on the hillsides.  Every once in a while, you will spot one lone, gorgeous tree in full Fall color!  Other than a chance of rain tomorrow, looks like more cool days in the mid to upper 60s all the way through the coming weekend.

Pretty much the same generation pattern we have seen for several weeks now.  No units on in the morning then one to three or four units (but only running it at the equivalent of two) coming on from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and staying on until 9:00-10:00 p.m.  No reason to think this will chance soon.

Busy week.  Stan on the water last Tuesday with John and Tom, aka Mutt and Jeff.  Good morning for these guys on the P&P and red midge. 

Thursday, Jim had Jim, from Illinois, out for the morning.   Best pattern for Jim was the CQ streamer.  They tried several other patterns, but this was the producer.  Don and Phil, from Oklahoma spent the day on the water with Stan.  They had a great day on the P&P, ruby midge and the red San Juan worm (when the water came on). 

Mike with 18″ rainbow – 10/11/13

Friday was a flotilla.  We had a group of seven guys, which was to have been eight, but one of them got stuck in Seattle, on the river all morning.  Dana had Shan and Jade.  They were catching on the clown egg pattern and a red bead San Juan worm (again, on the rise).  Carolyn had the newbie, Mike.  Not for long.  Mike caught on quickly and did well, including a nice 18 inch rainbow, on the hot hare nymph.  When the water came on, we fished the rise and caught fish on the big ruby and a red San Juan worm dropper.   Mitch and Walt fished with Jim.  They worked the CQ streamer, P&P and blood worm dropper.  Last, but not least, Stan had Mike and Pat.  They did well on the P&P and red San Juan worm.  Everyone worked hard for their fish, but they all had a great time!

Walt and Jan, and their son, Bart, and his son, Jacob fished with Carolyn and Stan Saturday.  Carolyn put Walt and Jan into fish mainly on the CQ streamer.  We pull a few on the hot hare, but when we finally zoned in on a spot with the CQ, Jan was on a roll….a new “stripper” was born.  Stan’s guys did best on the copper dun midge.

Not much color in the trees yet, but I think we will have a beautiful Fall.  We are looking at day time temperatures in the mid to upper 70s and nights in the low 40s to low 50s through the coming weekend.  Slight chances of rain over the coming weekend (30% at this time).

What can I say about the generation schedule.  All last week, we had no generation in the mornings and then two to three units on for 5-6 hours in the afternoong.  Saturday, was pretty much the same, but less flow in the afternoon.  Yesterday, they turned on not quite one unit at 10:00 a.m. and kept it on all day.  The projection for today was to be low one unit until 4:00 a.m. then off for 8-9 hours and back on to a low one or two units.  NOT!  Turned on three units this morning at 7:00 and it is still on.  Hopefully, we will go back to our off in the a.m. and then something in the afternoon pattern tomorrow.   To be continuted…..

Stan finished up the second day with Terry and Jim from Oklahoma last Thursday.  After the blow out on the generators on their first day, everyone decided to just make it a half day just in cast they fired up all three units at once again.  Worked out great.  Another good morning for these guys on the P&P, ruby and copper dun midges.  And, good decision.  At 1:00 p.m. on came three units, fast and furious.  Jim had David and David out for a full day.  They did good in the a.m. with the CQ streamer, copper dun, B-bug, blood worm dropper and gray scud.  Not too much to say about the afternoon.  They opted for 1/2 day on Friday and that also worked out better for them.  Dana also out on Friday with Andy from South Dakota.  Good day on the red San Juan worm and a tan B-bug. 

Yesterday, Stan took Bob and Linda out for most of the day.  Great day for these guys with the low flow they had when they hit the river.  Big ruby with a size 18 ruby dropper almost all day.

Marge and Price, from Kansas spent the morning on the river with Jim.  Good day for these two, especially Marge, on the CQ streamer and red midge. 

Still wonderful weather.  Overcast and foggy in the mornings and temperatures in the low 80s or upper 70s.  Chance of rain by Saturday and a definite cool down too.  Temperatures in the mid to upper 60s Saturday through Monday.  Next week back into the mid 70s.

More of the same with the generation schedule.  If you want to wade, get here in the a.m.  They are supposed to turn on the generators today at noon.  A little earlier than we have been seeing.

JP and brown – 9/30/13

Carolyn on the water Monday with JP and his father, George, from Kansas.  We had a great morning especially with the size 18 ruby midge.  We also caught some on the P&P and copper dun, but ruby was our best pattern.  JP caught his first brown.    Unfortunately, at 1:00 p.m.

George – 9/30/13

they turned on three units and it blew us off the river.  Not too much action after that.  Oh well, we had a great morning.  Stan out with Jim and Terry from Oklahoma.  They too have a very good morning on the P&P and stripping a holographic green crackleback.  They are scheduled to go out again tomorrow.  We’re hoping for a repeat day!  Fishing wise, not blow out on generation!!

Great weather last week with temperatures in the 80s and lots of sunshine. We did get some much needed rain on Saturday and it left us with temperatures in the 70s through the weekend and into Monday. Next week, they are predicting low 80s with little chance of rain until possible Friday.. In the meantime, sunny to partly sunny every day.

Generation schedule continues to be wader friendly. One unit on last yesterday for an hour and the same plan again today. We will get more water tomorrow afternoon. The schedule is pretty typical of what we have experienced the past two weeks. No units in the morning and then one around 1:00-:00 p.m., ramping up to two or three within the hour. Generally, they have been staying on 5-6 hours and then back off for the night.

Wednesday, Stan took Jerry and his son-in-law, Dennis out for half a day. Jerry is brand new, so Stan worked with him a little on casting and then catching. It was not a fast and furious day, but they certianly caught a respectible number of fish on the P&P midge and the holographic green crackleback.

We haven’t seen Jack and Carol from Oklahoma for about five years. But, they decided they needed to fish Taneycomo, so they took a half day float with Stan last Thursday. Slow start in the a.m., but picked up a bit and they caught fish on the P&P and ruby midges.

Peggy’s pretty rainbow – 9/26/13

Peggy (aka Pyro), one of the gals in the RRWFF Club is moving to Texas next month, so a small group of us had a fishing party on Thursday to see her off.  Fun day for all of us.  She is going to miss fishing Taneycomo but will soon break in some of the salt water fishing available on the Texas coasts.  We wish her well and hope she comes back to fish with us when she get the need for a trout fishing fix.  All us gals, Lou (aka Let’s Go), Sharon (aka Joker), Gina (aka Trout Mum, and Carolyn (aka Happy Hooker), had a good day on the P&P midge, ruby midge, hot hare nymph, various streamer patterns, and the San Juan worms on the rise.   How about this beautiful brown caught on a ruby midge? 

Beautiful brown – 9/27/13

Friday, Jeff and Ara, from Tennessee spent all day on the water with Stan.  Another slow start in the a.m, but once they got fired up, it was a good day for these guys on the P&P and ruby midges.    Carolyn also on the water with Sonya, from Texas and Tom, from the Kansas City area.  This was Sonya’s first time in the water with a fly rod.  She is going to be a good fly fishers.  Great roll cast and her regular cast is coming right along.  It was not fast and furious for us, but we did catch fish on the ruby midge, P&P midge, a size 20 gray scud and had several hits stripping the CQ streamer.  

Chuck – 9/29/13

Today was a good day for Chuck from Colorado.  He spent the morning on the water with Stan.  Lots of misses, plus lots of hits and hook-ups.  He caught this nice 18 inch rainbow on an egg pattern.  Several other fish on the P&P midge.

Wow!  What beautiful fishing weather.  Temperatures in the upper 70s or low 80s, sunny and a light (well maybe a little more in the afternoons) winds.  Looks like more of the same into the weekend.  By the weekend, we do have a chance of moisture, but at this time, it doesn’t look to be a big chance.  Next week looks like more nice weather.

Generation pattern continues to give the waders lots of wading time.  The only limited wading day we have seen for a while was Sunday when they ran a lot one unit.  Even this, however, didn’t hurt the fishing for those fisher who found access and fished. 

Pete with 17-1/2″ brown – 9/21/13

Saturday, Stan and Carolyn two out two couples from northeast Missouri.  Stan took the guys, Pete and Doug, and Carolyn took the ladies, Susan and Terri.  For the most part, all were new to fly fishing as it had years since Pete had picked up a fly rod.  Terri and Doug had never fly fished, and Susan had thrown a rod in her back yard.  What a fun, day for everyone.  Susan and Terri think they are in love with fly fishing!  Didn’t take long for Doug to get the hang of it and he was throwing a great line and pulling the holographic green crackleback and catching fish. Pete hooked this nice brown on a P&P (we think) midge.   The ladies were fishing the P&P midge and hooking, catching and, of course, missing fish all morning.  I think we also threw in the copper dun midge for a little while when the P&P slowed down. 

Terri – 9/21/13

Suaan – 9/21/13

Monday, Joanna and Wanda spent the morning with Carolyn.  Very good day for this two ladies from Lockwood, MO.  They both have fly fished for many years and love it.  They both caught a lot of fish on the copper dun and P&P midges.