Yesterday, around 4:30 p.m. the five flood gates were shut down. Good and bad.  Would like to see the level dropped a little more, but it certainly makes it a lot safer to get on the river.  At 6:00 p.m. today, Beaver is still in the 1129 level, exactly 1129.13.  Bull Shoals is now at 692.91 and Table Rock is 927.67.  Looks like we are in for a warm week.  Tomorrow will be sunny at temperatures in the low 90s.  Monday through Friday at predicted in the 90s and partly sunny.  Friday and Saturday we are seeing chances of showers and Saturday should cool down a little into the upper 80s.

With the five flood gates open Thurday, Stan and Jim took a group out for half a day.  Stan had Dale and Erick, and Jim tookJim and Gary.  These guys were friends, from various areas in the States.  For the most part, they were new to fly fishing.  Although their favorite past time is the golf course, they decided the fly fishing was also a great sport.  In a short half day, (tee time was 1:30 p.m.) they all had a good day.  Jim’s guys did well on a size 6 sculpin bugger and Stan’s guys caught fish on the pink cerise worm, but their best patterns were the silver bullet and holographic green cracklebacks. 

Friday, Carolyn took Rich and his daughter, Janet, from Kansas out for a full day.  With the flood gates and really dirty water, we managed to get several fish to the boat on the size 16 red tungsten beadhead midge, dropped under the size 12 holographic red midge.  Worked the edges and drop offs along all the banks  down past Pointe Royale.   During the time we were on the water, the Corp turned off the five flood gates…Yeah!…and the water dropped more than two feet.  Hope this will help clear up the water.  It has been a coffee with cream brown for several days.

Saturday, Jim had Craig, from Kansas out for a half day of instructional fishing.  They did a lot of casting and line work, then nymphing and streamer techniques for presenting flies to fish.  Caught several fish on the red midge, red San Juan worm, a holographic green crackleback and a size 10 olive sculpin.  Stan and Carolyn were on the water with friends of Buz and Ginnie who were exposing their friends to the wonders of Missouri.  Carolyn had Chrisie and Kathy.  Christie is from St. Louis and Kathy is from Louisiana.  Cristie’s husband, Larry, and Cathy’s husband Mike, were with Stan.  The group had spent the day before at Dogwood Canyon and learned a little on fly fishing.  They  had a good time there catching fish on a fly rod and learning the “ropes” a little.  Whole new world on Taneycomo with the dirty, fast water.  New techniques, and new flies.  Everyone had a fun day catching fish on the size 16 red midge, dropped under the size 12 holographic red midge as well as stripping the silver bullet using the sinking leaders in seams.

Other than Beaver, there has been a noticeable drop in the lakes.  At 7:00 a.m. today, Beaver is still holding at 1129.23, but Bull Shoals is now down to 693.87 and Table Rock is at 929.52.  They are still running five gates plus the four generators on Table Rock.  This is definitely helping to get the lake level down more quickly.  Weather for the balance of the week looks warm!  Today we will be in the upper 80s with a slight chance for showers.  Thursday through Monday look like sunny to partly sunny with temps. in the low 90s.  By Tuesday, we again have a chance of showers and temperatures in the upper 80s.

Stan on the water Monday morning with Mike and his daughter Amanda.  This was Amanda’s second time fly fishing all within a month’s time frame.  They had a great day, and as Mike put it when he came back into the shop, “we caught a boat load of fish”.  Drifting, they caught several on the cerise worm, but the highlight of the day was stripping the silver bullet and holographic green cracklebacks.  These were their best patterns.

The five flood gates were still on at 8:00 a.m. today.  Thought they might have shut them down, but honestly, glad to see them still open.  Let’s get rid of some of this water just in case we have another monsoon!  At 8:00 a.m. Beaver was at 1129.18, Bull Shoals at 695.10 and Table Rock at 930.57. 

We are still expecting to see really warm weather for the balance of the week into the weekend.  Slight, very slight chance of showers tomorrow evening.  Otherwise, pretty sunny every day.

Kristi and Rick, from Town and County, MO., spend a fun afternoon on the water with Stan yesterday.  Kristi says “Stan’s the man”.  Ho! Ha!…he has her fooled.  They did have a very good day on the cerise worm and stripping the silver bullet crackleback.  They said the water is somewhat off colored…kind of a muddy green color.  A young man whose family stayed in one of our cabins Friday and Saturday nights caught some fish up near the outlets on a gray scud Saturday and Sunday.  Other folks are also catching!

By the way, today and tomorrow are the last two days of the Orvis Reel Deal.  Buy a Helios, Hydros, or Access rod and get a free reel.

Yes, they turned off five of the flood gates on Saturday.  Looking at the levels today, we might just see the other five shut down today or tomorrow.  At 8:00 a.m. today, Beaver is sitting at 1129.11 feet, Table Rock is 931.07 and Bull Shoals is 695.86. 

The weather even looks like it is going to be agreeable.  Today is going to be a pretty warm one in the upper 80s and lots of sunshine.  Monday will be partly cloudy and mid to upper 80s, Tuesday shows a chance of showers with temps again in the mid to upper 80s.  Partly cloudy Wednesday and upper 80s, and partly sunny Thursday through Saturday with temperatures in the upper 80s and lwer 90s.  That should help dry things out!

With the part of the flood gates off, we will be putting boats back on the water tomorrow.  Fish should be settled in by then and fishing pretty good.  Hearing from the fishers managing to get to the water up near the hatchery, they are catching fish, especially on the grey sowbugs and scuds.  Also heard of several white bass and a few other species being caught.

Looking at the affect of this last 10 flood gate opening, it looks pretty much as bad as when they opened them last month.  Not quite as much water, but still, you either have 3 feet of water in your home or five….what’s the difference?  We can only be thankful we are not in Joplin.  As least folks here know where their homes are.  Today at 8:00 a.m., Beaver Lake is sitting on 1128.99 feet.  This is about a 3′ drop from its level on 5/24 (1131.8′).  Table Rock is at 933.98 which is a slight drop and holding stable.  Bull Shoals in up about 2′ from the 24th at 696.10 feet. 

Some chances of showers today, tomorrow evening and into Saturday morning.  After that it looks like sunshine for several days.  Temperatures over the weekend are predicted to be in the 80s!  Dry out time!

Following is an excerpt from the Branson Tri-Lake News, May 25th edition:

Some good news – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to make no changes through Saturday in the release of water from Table Rock Dam.  The current release is 53,600 cubic feet per second.

Barring any major rainfall, the Corps can then begin reducing the release from Table Rock sometime Saturday.  The Corps wants Table Rock level to drop to 931 before cutting back on the releases.  At 9 a.m. today (Wednesday), the level at Table Rock was 933.72.

Table Rock is expected to crest at 935 feet above sea level tomorrow (Thursday)

According to Jim Sandberg, operations manager at Table Rock Dam, it will be August before Table Rock returns to normal operations and lake levels.  This is a longer period of time returning to normalcy than after the 2008 flood event.

The Table Rock basin received 1.5 inches of rain overnight.  Not enough to increase the dam release.

At Beaver Lake, which flows into Table Rock, the Corps plans to begin lowering the gates at the dam later today.  Beaver has already crested at 1131.8 and now falling. 

Ten Gates Again! - 5/24/11

Stopped at the dam this morning on my way into work and took this picture of the 10 gates going full tilt again!.  They started opening them up yesterday late morning and by 4:00 p.m. finished opening the remaining gates.  While I was at the dam taking the picture at 8:00 a.m., they blew the horn to indicate opening a little more.  Understand that by 10:00 a.m. today, they plan to be at 53,600 cfe.   At 9:00 a.m. today the various lake levels were:   Beaver was at 1131.47 feet, Bull Shoals at 694.39 and Table Rock at 932.02.  Table Rock is still below the April 27 high of 935.3.

Unfortunately, we are still expecting more rain through Friday.  Today, so far, is a beautiful, sunny day with just a little wind.  The chances for strong rains are predicted for late tonight into Wednesday.  Thursday might squeek by with no rain, but rain chances are again in the forecast for Friday.  Good news!  Saturday, Sunday and Monday look like “NO RAIN”.

It’s almost irrelevant now, but Jim was on the water this past Sunday with Brandon and Rod from Tennessee.  The guys had a very good day even though the water was high and still pretty cloudy from the Friday rains.  They did well on the red midge with the pink San Juan dropper and also pulling a size 6 sculpin bugger.

Got about 2 inches of rain Friday night.  So far, it has brought Table Rock up a little over a foot.  At 9:00 a.m. today, Beaver is sitting at 1129.66; Table Rock at 928.77 and Bull Shoals is 692.88.  Everyone do a “no more rain dance”.  Don’t need any more rain.  Forecasts today and Monday are temperatures in the low 80s, and, of course, chances of scattered thunderstorms.  Tuesday through Thursday look like upper 70s and chances of scattered thunderstorms every day.  By the weekend, we are looking at partly sunny skies and mid 70s. 

Gina had Dina and Kim on the river Thursday.  These ladies from Tennessee had a fun day catching on a cerise San Juan worm and the olive floozie.  Dina is already a fly fishing addict, but it was Kim’s first time.  Looks like she is a natural so we hope she stays with it.

Dina - 5/19/11

Kim - 5/19/11

Gary and Barry, from Lee’s Summit, spent all day Thursdaywith Stan.  Another good day for these guys on the cherise San Juan, the silver bullet crackleback and the size 16 red midge. 

Ben - 5/21/11

Yesterday, Jim and Carolyn had a couple boats full of some crazy guys.  Jim had Mac, from Branson, and Ben, from Kansas.  Ben is an avid fisherman, but had never been fly fishing.  Ben took to fly roding pretty fast and I think he likes it.  Carolyn has Corkie and Bill, both from Kansas out in the other boat.  Corkie had fly fished many years ago with his father and Bill hasn’t picked up a fly rod for a few year….a little rusty Bill.  Didn’t take too long for both of them to get back in the groove.  Jim’s guys were doing well on a size 6 sculping pattern, the red midge and red San Juan worm.  Carolyn’s guys did best on the cerise worm under the big ruby.

Corkie - 5/21/11Bill - 5/21/11

Looks like rain in looming in the forecast!  At this point…..looming, glooming….definitely not much difference.  Lake levels at 7:00 a.m. today have Beaver at 1129.18 with Bull Shoals at 692.62, and Table Rock 928.10.  Other than Beaver, the dams have been generating 24/7 for over a week. 

Looks like a partly sunny day today with chances of showers by 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Thursday is partly cloudy, mid 70s, and again chances of showers.  Friday through the weekend will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s and chances of showers.  Broken record….  Really hope the showers don’t amount to much.  As we all know, the lakes are too high and it won’t take much to get all of them up to flood pool, meaning more water release and more flooding!  

Fortunately, the fish really don’t mind the high water.  Had three boats out yesterday and everyone had a good day.  Dana took  Bob and Bobb out for half a day.  Bob is from Texas and his friend, Bobb, is from New Mexico.  Bobb owns 1/2 mile on the Pecos River in New Mexico and said if we ever get his way, let him know and go fish!  What a deal.  Their patterns were the big ruby with the red midge dropper. 

Bobb's nice Rainbow - 5/17/11

Bob's nice Rainbow - 5/17/11

Darrell spent half a day with Carl from Alaska.  This is the second of third time Carl has been out with Darrell and always has a good time.  Their patterns were the cerise San Juan worm and Darrell’s size 16 red midge with the white marabou tail.   No Carl, but a picture of his nice 17 inch rainbow.  Stan and Ken, from Kansas, also caught lots of fish on the cerise San Juan worm.  Ken said Stan worm him out.  Good day even with the high water.  There was little wind for a change, temperature in the 70s and NO RAIN!

Generation a bit weird Sunday.  Not certain what was happening, but levels seemed to go up and down and from some source, it was pretty dirty.  The sunny day turned pretty overcast and definitely windy

Jim finished up a two-day trip with John and his son, Josh, from Texas on Sunday.  They started out Saturday and caught quite a few fish on the red midge, and red San Juan worm.  Sunday, a streamer such as a size 6 sculpin worked best. 

David - 5/15/11

 Stan had David from Kansas out for half a day.  He definitely broke in his new rod when one of his first fish was this nice 18 inch rainbow.  They did well on the size 12 red midge, and P&P and as the water got dirtier, they changed to the cherise worm.  With these conditions, fishing was not as good as it has been.

Nice fish David!

Observation from being on the water Friday was the number of scuds in the water!  Everywhere you kooked along the banks were various size gray scuds. 

Talking to fishers coming into the shop, fishing in the hatchery area has been good.  Catching and seeing some nice fish.  Gray scuds, of course, have been working well.  Fisher yesterday afternoon said he had been doing well on the copper dun as well as a small flashy fly he ties which has an orange head.  Looked a little like a flashback orange scud in at least an 18, possibly a size 20.  Since they have been holding the tailwater for the past few days in the 706 to 707 range during the day, there is a little more room up there to fish.  Unfortunately today looks a bit higher….708.  We do have forecasts of rain starting Thursday afternoon and into the weekend.  Oh no!

So far, all the lakes are holding steady.  At 6:30 a.m. today, Beaver was at 1129.36, Bull Shoals at 693.18 and Table Rock at 928.61.  The past couple days, they have only turned on three generators most of the day, with the tailwater level running 706 to 707 feet plus or minus.  Flow has been as low as 4500 cfs to around 8000 cfs.  Big change from five days ago.  With this low of water, we are all noticing some definite changes to the relocation of the river bottom.  It will be interesting to see the river when the generators finally go off.

Friday and Saturday were down right chilly.  Somewhere in the 50s, overcast and windy!  Today will be in the upper 50s and sunny.  Looks like sunny Monday and Tuesday with temps in the upper 60s, Wednesday and Thursday are predicted to be partly cloudy and in the low to mid 70s.  By the weekend, Friday and Saturday there is a chance of scattered thunder storms and temperatures in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Carolyn out Friday with Wanda and Joanna Friday.  Had a pretty good half day catching on the ruby midge with the red tunghead dropper.  The red San Juan dropper also worked well.  Joanna, aka “no beachballs” (inside joke) also caught a few stripping the silver bullet and holographic green cracklebacks.   Stan had Doc and Terry, from Oklahoma out all day.  They did well on the holographic green crackleback and the ruby and red midge combination.

Amanda's first trout on a fly rod - 5/14/11

Yesterday, Stan introduced Mike’s daughter, Amanda to fly fishing.  Mike, from Oklahoma, has fished with us several times. His daughter has moved to Branson and he came up to take care of flood damage and decided a fly fishing trip would be a good diversion as well as a chance to fish with Amanda.  She is a quick learner and caught several fish.  Pretty much the same patterns as Stan used on Friday.