Weather is still great.  Sun is shining, not too much wind, and the water is much lower.  Level stayed between 704 and 705 feet most of the yesterday.  Guides out said they saw land they hadn’t seen for a while.  Projection for today is the same for both weather and generation pattern.  Table Rock is at 914.9 and Beaver is still holding at 1124.2.   We are even seeing waders in the water again!  At 704 feet, there are definitely places to wade.  Gina sent Rick, from Concordia to the Rocking Chair area with the #16 red midge and olive wooly bugger.  He caught fish and is really impressed with the Taneycomo fishery.

Jim was out all day Monday and half of yesterday with Sharon and Craig, from Illinois.  Craig is a fly fisher, and Sharon was learning the "ropes" or "line" .  They had a couple of good outtings with some nice quality fish (nice term for fat!).  The red midge, black midge and orange San Juan were used yesterday.  Missed a lot of fish as the takes were very soft.  Tuesday the red midge and the size 18 black midge were the best patterns.   Sharon was getting the casting and line work down and think she might just become a fly fisher!

Stan had Jim, from Virginia, out for half a day Tuesday.  Jim fished many years ago when he was young and while he was stationed in the Air Force up in Alaska.  Decided it was time to get back into fly fishing and came by to see us.  Got some good time in on Taneycomo and caught lots of fish.  Little more practice and he’ll feel like he never laid the fly rod down.  Their best patterns were the big ruby with the size 18 ruby dropper, the holographic green crackleback, and on the float out, they dropped the burgundy midge from the big ruby and caught several on this pattern. 

The couple, Fran and Mark, who took the 2-day school Friday and Saturday forwarded some of their pictures, so I have to include Fran, with her first fish on a fly rod, and Mark with one of his catches of the day.

Fran – 4/10/10	Mark – 4/10/10

Weather continues to be great.  Sunshine, still a little breezy during the day, but no rain!  They are still generating 24/7, but have cut back the flow a little.  Instead of fishing 14000 cubic feet per second (cfs), we are only fishing in 6000-8500 cfs most of the time.  Table Rock is now at 915.2 with Beaver holding as 1124.2. 

Jim had Bob and Mary, from Jefferson City on the water Friday.  They had a great day and Mary caught the largest fish.  Bob said he caught the second largest.  Right Bob!  The red midge is still doing the job.  Even though the water fluctuated a lot during the time they were out, it fished steady.

Carolyn on the water all day with Mark and Frank from Richmond.  This couple took the two day school and I hink they were way ahead of the game or very quick learners.  Already had their knots down and Fran is throwing some nice tight loops with Mark getting a lot of line out.  We worked midges, streamers, soft hackles and a little bit on dries during the day.  This was Fran’s first trout on a fly rod and she caught several.  Although we tried matching the black and olive zebra midges early on, the color they wanted was the holographic red size 18 midge.   Between this and the olive filoplume.  Had a few hits on the golden variant sculpin and just a little action on the holographic green crackleback.  Most of the fish caught were nice and fat!  Good luck to these two fly fishers!  Hope they are a pair on the water for a long time.

Another pretty day, but WINDY.  Table Rock is sitting at 915.6 and no rain in sight for a few days.  Unfortunately, Beaver is still holding 1124.2 feet.  At least it is not rising.  Projection for today is 125 mwh.  This will probably be done with four generators, but is less flow that we have been experiencing.  Earlier in the week, the cfs was at 14000.  At 125 mwh, it should be around 8500 cfs.  Not where we want it, but better.  They are releasing some out of Beaver today. 

Jim had Jim and Charlie, from Springfield, on the water yesterday morning.  Good day on the red midge and San Juan dropper.  Had once nice 18" heavy rainbow that took Charlie to the backing a couple times.  Bad news was the wind.  Blew them off anchor three times.  Tailwater level held pretty steady at 808.4.  Nice fishing two feet shallower water for a change.  Good quality fish, and steady fishing all morning and early afternoon.

It is so gorgeous in the Ozarks right now!  Drifting down the river, you can see the red buds, dogwood, cherry blossom trees in full bloom dotting the hill sides.  Sunny, still windy, but warm days.  All we need is some low water and it would be perfection!  Table Rock is now down to 915.7 and they have cut back the generation flow slightly.  Instead of fishing in 710 feet, we are now in 707 to 708 feet.  Makes a difference! 

Stan on the water yesterday afternoon with a couple guys from up north, Ken and Bob.  They had a very good day on the big Ruby with the pink San Juan dropper, but especially on the holographic green crackleback.  Can’t believe it but both of them were complaining about being worn out from catching fish!?!  One of them even called back today to let us know his arm was sore.  Oh well!

This is a recording.  Four generators running 24/7.  Taneycomo tailwater staying slightly above the 710.2 foot level with Table Rock slowly dropping.  It is now at 916.0.  However, Beaver continues to climb and is ow at 1124.2 feet (4.2 feet above their power pool).  This water has to go somewhere, sometime.  Weather, other than the wind, it nice!  Sunny and warm.  Expecting some rain tonight which may continue into early tomorrow and a little cool off.  Weekend is looking good.

Jim out all day yesterday with Carl from Alaska.  They had a good day midging with the red midge and orange San Juan, but the best fly of the day was a size 16 red ass. 

No flood gates, but 24/7 on four generators.  So far, we have not seen an impact from the rain we had Friday night.  Table Rock now sits at 916.6 feet and the four generators are keeping Taneycomo a little above 710.0 feet.  At least the weather is nice.  Friday was overcast, but warm and a bit of a breeze.  Saturday was sunny and fairly calm most of the day.  For Easter Sunday, we have a bright sunny day with just a little wind.  They are forecasting some rain later on today into tomorrow then back to the nice weather. 

Diana – 4/2/10

We have another fly fisher on the loose.  Friday, Carolyn took Diana out for almost a full day float.  We bailed out early due to the rain coming through.  Diana has been reading, watching and listening to everything she can find on fly fishing.  Friday was "baptism by fire".  Not only did she learn to manage her fly line, she learned how to do it in fast, water with some mean wind gust.  We worked on roll casting, regular casting, line management, rigging, mending, and "set" all day.  She landed several fish and really enjoyed the day, plus I saw some pretty nice casts before the day was over.  Best flies were the big ruby with the pink San Juan dropper and, yes, we added her to our "stripper" club.  She caught some strippipng the holographic green crackleback and the olive filoplume.  Next day she said she could hear "set" in her dreams all night.  Bob from Louisiana, took one more full day with us and spent his last day with Jim.  They had another good day on the red midge. 

Saturday, Stan took Kevin from Oklahoma out for a 1/2 day of learning.  Kevin decided it was time to learn how to fly fish.  He spent a good morning on the river catching and learning.  His father, Jim, went along to take pictures.  Jim even decided he might like to learn how to fly fish after spending time on the water watching Kevin.  Although they caught several on the red midge, Kevin really liked fishing and catching on the holographic green crackleback on the sink tip.  Jim had Jim, from Arkansas out in the morning.  Jim has been fishing for a while and they had a very good day on the red midge with either a #18 black midge or orange San Juan dropper. 

Almost forgot to mention that some of our customers have advised that the white bass are running well in the James River near Galena.  What fun on a fly rod!

Yes, they turned off the flood gates on April 1.  They got the fourth generator repaired, up and running, so now they are just running the four generators.  Projection is four all day.  Imagine they will run something constantly until Table Rock gets back to at least power pool, 915.0 feet.  Expecting rain this afternoon into tonight, but the forecasters say it will be out of here by midnight and we will have sunny days until another chance for rain on Wednesday.

Fishing has been good.  Jim was on the water Wednesday with Bob from Louisiana.  Bob is a salt water fly fisher and throws some line.  They caught fish on the red midge with the orange San Juan dropper, and the light olive bug-eyed bugger.  Bob had a little problem when he first start, with the softer takes of a trout compared to the fish he is used to fishing for. 

By Thursday, when Bob went out with Stan for a full day, he recognized the trout take.  They had great day on the holographic green crackleback and a size 18 black midge.  Jim, had his regular, regular, Bud, out for half a day.  They pulled some nice fish on the red midge, size 18 black midge and the bugger.

Four flood gates still going as well as three generators.  Table Rock is now at 917.8 and the tailwater is in the 710. plus range.  Have heard various scenarios on when the flood gates will be shut down.  One is that they will shut down when Table Rock reached 917.0 feet.  Another was the date of April 1 (April Fool’s Day?)  We shall see.

Let’s get caught up.  Friday, Jim was out with Mike and Larry from Arkansas.  Of course they were fishing high water with the 2-fly setup, red ruby midge on top with a pink San Juan dropper.  Boated several fish in their half day outting. 

Sam – 3/27/10

Saturday, Dana had a repeat from last summer, Ben from here in Missouri.  His wife, Melissa, fished with him last time but is expecting a baby boy in June so she could not join him.  So, he brought his friend, Sam, to give him a first experience at fly fishing.  Tough day with the high water for a new fly fisher, but Sam did it.  Caught his first fish on a fly rod using a pink midge.

Sunday was a wild day on the water.  A whole bunch of guys from various Orvis locations decided they needed to test the Taneycomo floodwater (aka tailwater) fishery.  Jim, Stan and Carolyn loaded them up in the drift boats and off we went.  Lots of catching, missing and badgering back and forth.  We threw everything.  Holographic green crackleback on the sinking leader, big Ruby with the pink San Juan dropper, black zebra midge, are a few or the regulars that come to mind. 

Monday, Gina helped John and Barbara, from Wisconsin, celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.  Not only did he give her a beautiful new ring, he booked a cruise on Taneycomo for the two of them!  What a guy!  This was Barbara’s first time fly fishing.  Quick learner.  Had the roll cast under control in no time and quickly got the hang of casting the sinking leader.  Barbara’s cap read "get er done" and she did just that.  Hooked and landed her first trout on a fly rod.  Fished the pink San Juan and an olive wooly bugger.  Congratulations guys!  Stan was out half a day with Scott and his friend, Fred.  These guys are from Illinois and it was Fred’s first time fly fishing.  They had a wonderful sunny day, along with a good day on the water.  Best flies were the size 18 black midge under the big Ruby. 

 

Brandy – 3/30/10

Carolyn helped Dad, Jerry, introduce his daughter, Brandy, to combat fly fishing (high water and lots of gusty wind).   Quick learner.  Had the roll cast down in nothing flat, as well as mending.  And best of all, hook setting and playing in the fish.   Brandy caught fish on both a size 18 black zebra midge dropped below the big Ruby and the holographic green crackleback on a sinkling leader.  She is off to a great start and even out fished Dad.  Oops!   Jim had Chris, from his home state, Michigan out for 1/2 a day float.  His wife, Marsha, went along to enjoy our river and the nice day.  They had a good day on the red midge, with the orange San Juan worm dropper, and the olive bug-eyed bugger working the long seams.

 

 

 

 

 

Hate to tell you folks, but they turned on three flood gates Wednesday morning around 11:00.  They had been running 2-3 generators most of the time, but with the rain we received last Friday and Saturday, Table Rock Lake rose three feet (918.1), so they want to get it back down to 915 feet as quickly as they can plus one of the generators is down.  They are working on this.  Talked to the Corps Wednesday and they said probably three gates until the 1st of April depending on how much more rain we get. 

Stan out for half a day Wednesday with Robert and Patsy from Arkansas.  Even with the three flood gates, which they had not anticipated, they managed to catch some fish on the big Ruby with a small ruby dropper or black midge.   Jim hit the water with John and Ron from Minnesota.  They had been over to Roaring River Tuesday and it was blown out because of the rain.  We got them on the river here and they caught a few fish before the gates opened and trashed the river.  Jim looked for some clearings, but decided to come off early and not fight the conditions. 

So far we have not come up too much after the rains we had Friday and Saturday.  However, there is still some runnoff, so not certain where Table Rock level will settle.  Presently it is at 916.6 feet at 5:00 p.m. today.   Forecast for tomorrow is sunny with temperatures in the 70s.  Thursday, there is a chance of showers with temps in the upper 50s.  Looks like cloudy Friday and 50s with possibility of showers again Saturday and temps in the upper 50s.  Let’s hope we don’t get too much more rain, but we are coming into the rainy season!  Two to three generators running all day with the tailwater level steady, very unusual, at 707 feet.  Projection for tomorrow is 150 mwh, which will probably keep it in the 708 feet range. 

Had three boats on the water today.  Stan was out with Gary from the Branson area.  Caught his first fish of the day within 30′ after putting in the boat.  This continued throughout the 1/2 day they were on the water.  Started out using the big ruby midge with a black size 20 midge dropper.  Also caught some on the the cerise worm as a dropper, but did best on the holographic green crackleback using an intermediate sinking line and stripping the seams.  Jim had Jerry from Kansas out again.  They had a good 1/2 day on the red midge with an orange San Juan dropper.  Working and catching a lot on the olive bug-eyed bugger in long seams.  Darrell had Houston and Raymond from Florida out part of the day,.  These two guys did well on the big red holographic midge with a white marabou tail and a red midge dropper.