Taneycomo (Table Rock tailwater) Fishing Report Updated 04/27/24 Low discharges and stream levels have provided good opportunity the past few days but they will likely come up soon as there is heavy rain in the forecast. Discharges and stream levels have been rather low at times providing some good opportunity for wading just below the dam. Good light green and red or blood midge, little Black Caddis and Blue-winged olives hatches are taking place. Our sculpin streamers are working good. Drift boat anglers should do well.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
(Stocked with holdovers)
Size
Large
Location
South Central Missouri
Nearest Towns
Branson, Missouri
Season
Year-round
Access:
Fair to Good
Non-Resident License
State of Missouri
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Water Data (Dam Discharge Info)
(417) 336-5083.
Current Real time discharges:
http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.
mil/pages/data/tabular/htm/tabrock.htm
USGS data:
Lake Taneycomo Ozark Beach Dam
Seasons:
Fly fishing the Lake Taneycomo tailwater is good year-round.
Winter:
Winter fishing is can be very good. Even though few fish during this time, the fishing can be excellent.
Spring:
Springtime is a great time if the dam
discharges are not heavy.
Summer:
The water being discharged is cold
year-round and the fishing is good during the hot summer.
Fall:
Fall may be the best time to fish the tailwater because of the spawning brown trout.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Lake Taneycomo (Table Rock Tailwater) Missouri
Lake Taneycomo, located in Branson Missouri, is one of the most unusual trout fisheries in the United States. Lake Taneycomo is the oldest lake in Ozark Mountains. It was built in 1913 by the construction of a dam on the White River now called Ozark Beach Dam.
In 1958, the construction of Table Rock Dam changed Lake Taneycomo from a warm water fishery into a cold water lake and tailwater. Cold water is released from Table Rock Dam into Lake Taneycomo. The first three miles or so below Table Rock Dam is now a great fly fishing destination. The water in the entire lake stays cold year-round from the discharges from the much deeper and larger Table Rock Lake.
Although trout reside in the entire twenty-two mile long lake, only the first three miles of the tailwater section below Table Rock Dam provides non-lake fly fishing opportunities. The releases from the dam control how deep the water is.
When water is low and not being released you can wade and fish a lot of water below the dam. When turbines are running wading is out of the question. When the horn sounds, get out of the water.
We have taken a few trout by sight fishing using small Blue-winged Olive nymphs. Of course, that is only possible when the turbines are shut off. There are some huge brown trout in the river below the dam. We have only managed to catch a couple of large ones, but I have seen many that are over 18 or 20 inches. It is also possible to fish in a few places from the bank when the water is high and flowing strongly. You can fish streamers down the banks or use a strike indicator and nymph fish. A double midge (pupa on top and larva on the bottom, also works good for this.
Fly Fishing Guide to Lake Taneycomo
(Table Rock Tailwater)
We will focus on the first three miles of water below the dam. Fishing Lake Taneycomo or the Table Rock Tailwater, whichever you prefer, is all based on the discharges of water through the dam. If no water is being discharge, wading is excellent. If there is one turbine running, wading is difficult in most areas. Caution should be used. If the one turbine is running heavy, then wading can be very difficult. If more than one turbine is running, you better stay out of the water. By the way, you cannot depend on the schedule for safety reasons. It is subject to change. Just always be aware the water can rise drastically within minutes.
If turbines are running, the only way to fish the tailwater is from a boat. This too can be dangerous if you are not familiar with the water. We do suggest going with someone familiar with it at least one or more times before you try it on your own. There are several local fly shops with guide services that will take you if you choose to do so.
The only hatch that occurs on this tailwater is midges. They hatch year-round. You can catch trout on imitations of the larvae, pupae and adults depending on the stage of the hatch. The most all around effective way is on imitations of the midge pupae. Scuds and sow bugs are also plentiful and imitations of them work well for most of the year.
There are other fly fishing methods that work. One is to use a dropper rig with a dry fly on the top as a strike indicator, and a small midge, scud or sowbug imitation dropped down from it. This works great most of the time. This is a good shallow water technique because the dry fly doesn’t spook the trout when it lands on the water if presented properly.
Wet flies and streamers also work well. It is best to imitate leaches, sculpin or baitfish. Flies like the Wooley Bugger work best when they are presented during heavy overcast skies or when the water is slightly off color. They also work when the wind roughs up the surface of the water. Don’t overlook fishing the outlets from the fish hatchery.
Lake Taneycomo (Table Rock Tailwater) Hatches and Trout Flies:
Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing.
Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the Taneycomo tailwater and in all stages of life that is applicable to fishing. If you want to fish better, more realistic trout flies, have a much higher degree of success, give us a call. We not only will help you with selections, you will learn why, after trying Perfect Flies, 92% of the thousands of our custom will use nothing else. 1-800-594-4726.
Theres only one insect that actually hatches on this tailwater and that is the midge. As already mentioned, these tiny insects hatch year-round and trout can be taken on imitations of them year-round. Don’t be mislead into thinking that because the flies are tiny, ranging from a hook size 18 down to a 22, that the large trout won’t take them because they certainly will.
The other plentiful foods for the trout are crustaceans consisting mainly of sowbugs and scuds, called freshwater shrimp by the locals. Imitations of these will work year-round.
During the summer, imitations of terrestrial ants, beetles and grasshoppers also work. This is one of the few times and ways you can catch trout on the surface. Fishing is usually best in the shallow water around the banks when the turbines are either off, or one is slowing generating.
Minnows, baitfish and sculpin are also plentiful. These are usually imitated with streamers. These flies work best under low light conditions, off colored water, or choppy, rough water. They are great for catching larger trout, especially when the brown trout are spawning during the months of October and November. Imitations of leeches also work. A black Wooley Bugger is a good fly for this.
It is possible you can fish a shad kill in January, February or early March. When the water temperature gets into the low forties, the thread-fin shad in Table Rock Lake die. The colder the weather, the larger the fish kill. When the shad get sucked through the turbines, the trout go on a feeding rampage. White streamers will catch a lot of trout in a very short time when this event occurs..
Please give our “Perfect Flies” a try if you haven’t already done so. We have the most realistic and effective imitations of scuds and sowbugs you can purchase. Our “Perfect Fly” streamers are also among the best there are. We also have all the standard streamer flies. Our midge lava, pupa and adult flies have proven to be effective throughout the country, including the famous San Juan River in New Mexico. We have taken some nice trout from Taneycomo on them also.
Fly Fishing Gear and Trout Flies for Lake Taneycomo (Table Rock Tailwater)
There are some huge brown trout in this tailwater. Lake Taneycomo, or the Table Rock Tailwater that some anglers prefer to call it, steadily produces trophy brown trout. You don’t want to hook the fish of your lifetime and lose it because you were using too light of tackle, but by the same token, you need to be able to fish midge imitations at times. Larger tippet sizes won’t pass through the eyes of tiny hooks, so that is one physical restriction you have to pay attention to.
Fly Lines:
We suggest nothing any lighter than a 5 weight, floating fly line to deliver even the midge imitations. Many anglers prefer to use something heavier when fishing dropper fly rigs so you may want to also have a 6 weight fly line rigged up for that. It too should be a floating line. There are some that would want to use a 7 weight fly line to deliver their large streamer flies although you don’t necessarily have to use this line size. You may also consider sinking tip lines for some of your flies. It is possible to use a sinking line but we generally don’t think they are necessary.
Fly Rods:
We recommend a rod for each of the above fly line sizes provided you choose to use all three of them. The 5 weight fly rod should be nine foot long and have a medium to medium fast action. The 6 weight rod would also be best in a nine foot length but it would need to be
a little stiffer at the tip. We suggest a medium fast to fast action rod for it.
Fly Reels:
The main concern with the fly reels used for each of the line sizes above you choose to use, is the drag. It needs to be a very good one. The smoother, the better, especially when you are fishing tiny midges. You cannot apply very much pressure to the trout and you don’t want the drag to abruptly change settings or run out line roughly. You need to use quality reels on this lake (tailwater) because the fish can run very large.
Leaders:
You will need leaders ranging from nine to twelve feet in length. They should range in sizes from 0X for larger streamers up to 6X for small flies.
Tippets:
We recommend you have extra tippet material in sizes from 0X to 6X.
Landing Net:
We recommend a landing net. You don’t want to catch a trophy brown trout and loose it at your feet trying to lip the fish.
Wading Staff:
A wading staff is an optional item to have but it would be a good idea, especially if you get caught in fast rising water. Pay careful attention to the water levels and warning horn and this should never happen.
Trout Flies:
We recommend our “Perfect Fly” Scud and Sow Bug flies. They are the most imitative and effective flies you can purchase. Also, our selection of midge larva, pupa and adults is a very good one. We think our streamers are as good as they get. The Brown Sculpin is a great fly to use on Taneycomo. If you haven’t done so already, please give them a try. You will be glad you did.
Taneycomo Tailwater Fishing Report:
03/06/2020 Discharges and resulting
stream levels have been high much of the
time but when down, trout are being
caught in good numbers. Send us an
email for fly list: sales@perfectflystore.com
03/21/2020 There have been few
opportunities to fish lately due to high
discharge but good numbers and size of
trout are being caught when levels are
okay. Our articulated sculpin are working.
04/15/20 As it normally is, discharges are
mostly high due to recent heavy rain.
05/13/20 The river is high and stained.
Fish as soon as the levels drop.
05/29/20 Discharges and stream levels
are still high. Hopefully, it will drop soon.
06/12/20 The discharges and levels
have been high and still are, but
should be droping soon. It should be
excellent when it does.
06/24/20 The discharges and stream
levels have been mostly high for the
past several days. It should be getting
better very soon.
07/07/20 The river has been high most
of the time due to rain and lake levels.
There are some nice trout caught each
time the levels subside.
07/20/20 There hasn’t been much
opportunity lately due to high discharges
and sream levels. Fish when it settles
down.
08/02/20 There have been some low
discharges and good stream levels
and trout are being caught when that
happens. It should be much better this
coming week.
08/22/20 Good numbers of trout,
including some good browns are being
caught by our customers. Water levels
have been high much of the time. Fish
the upper section near the dam when
the levels are near normal.
09/13/20 The stream is turning out
good numbers of trout when the levels
are okay. Our sculpin streamers are
catching some big trout.
10/02/2- There have been a few days
the discharges and steam levels were
good and we received some good
reports. BWOs, Midges, Mahogany
duns, little Sister caddis and other insect
are hatcing.
10/21/20 Same story tenth verse. High
discharges and water levels have been
making it tough. It should be dropping
soon.
11/08/20 We did receive two good
reports from customers the past two
days. Sculpin and leech streamers, our
cream midges are working good.
11/21/20 The discharges are currently
high. Trout are being caught as long as
the releases are suitable for anglers to
fish. Our sculpin and leech streamer
patterna are catching some big ones.
12/12/20 The discharges vary as usual
but trout are being caught in good
numbers and sizes when the levels are
reasonable. Fish the upper river near
the dam.
12/26/20 We received two good reports
from customers. Fish near the dam for
warmer water. BWOs, midges and
winter stoneflies are hatching.
01/12/21 There has been a lot of rain
and high discharge rates but we are
getting good reports when the levels
are down. Make sure you check them.
01/27/21 The discharges are still high
but have been down some and when
they are, good numbers of trout are
being caught. Good hatches.
02/10/21 The stream is currently high
due to recent rain. Trout are still being
caught by our customers in good
numbers when stream levels are okay.
03/07/21 The tailwater has been high
most of the time due to heavy rain but
we think it will be in good shape very
soon. Midges, BWOs, Winter stoneflies
and Little Brown stoneflies.
03/20/21 One good report from the
past week from a customer catching
some big browns.
04/24/21 The discharges and stream levels are currently fine. You should be able to catch trout in good numbers. There are hatches of Blue Quills, BWOs, Little Black Caddis, Little Brown Stoneflies and other insects.
05/04/21 The river is high due to heavy discharges because of recent rain. Wait until it drops and you should be able to catch plenty trout. There are some very good hatches taking place.
05/13/21 The discharges and stream levels are still high, too high to fish well. Fish as soon as they drop again and you should be able to catch plenty trout.
05/21/21 The discharges and resulting stream levels are still high, too high to wade and a little tough to fish from a drift boat. It should fall out soon and it will be good when it does.
05/29/21 The discharge and stream levels are high again. The rain has settled down to where you may have some good wading opportunity soon. For now, larger size boats would be the only option.
06/08/21 The stream levels are still high. We get good reports when the discharges are down. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
06/21/21 The discharges and stream levels have been high most of the time. We think the levels will be settling down some this coming week.
07/04/21 The levels are up again due to recent rain. We had a little opportunity since our last reports. Check the levels and fish as soon as it drops.
07/14/21 The stream levels are still high most often. You just have to check the discharges and go when they are not running a lot water and it is usually very good.
07/20/21 We get tired of writing about high water levels but that is a fact that has continued for the past few weeks. We didn’t receive any reports from this past week.
07/28/21 We received one good report from a drift boat customer. Our sculpin streamers did well for him. Stream levels are currently high but hopefully will fall down soon.
08/04/21 Things went right for one customer this past week. He caught some huge browns. Levels are still most often higher than normal.
08/14/21 We received two good reports from customers fishing the river this past week. Stream levels were low enough for them to score well. Our sculpin streamers worked good for them.
08/22/21 It looks like there were three days the discharges were suitable for good opportunity. We didn’t receive any reports. Let us hear from you.
08/29/21 We didn’t receive any reports this past week. Discharges were high but should settle down later this week.
09/09/21 Discharges and the resulting stream levels are down a little from last week but still above normal most of the time. We did receive one good report from a customer fishing from a drift boat below the dam recently.
09/18/21 We received one good report this past week. There are some good hatches going on below the dam. It is just a matter of catching the discharges reasonable.
09/28/21 The stream levels are okay every once in a while but there is less rain coming and we expect more opportunity. We get good reports every time the stream levels are okay.
10/12/21 Discharges have been high this past week and we didn’t receive any reports. Hopefully, this coming week will be better.
10/23/21 We have received several good reports lately, mostly from customers using drift boats but two were from wading anglers just below the dam.
11/01/21 There has been a lot of rain lately and stream levels are still high. Give it some time and check the levels. We are getting some very good reports when the levels are okay.
11/08/21 We received one good report this past week. Levels have mostly been high. Keep a close check on the discharges and fish anytime it is normal or below normal.
11/16/21 We received one good report this past week from a customer wading and fishing from the bank just below the dam. Little BWOs and Red or blood midges are hatching good. Our sculpin and leech streamer patterns are catching some nice ones.
11/25/21 We received two more good reports. The discharges and stream levels have been okay a few times lately and we always get good reports when that happens.
12/06/21 The discharges and stream levels were okay enough this past week to allow two customers to catch some nice trout just below the dam.
12/14/21 WE received two more good reports this past week. Levels vary throughout the day, so be sure to check the discharges.
12/22/21 The discharges have been high most of the past week. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing.
12/30/21 Still no reports from anyone. Stream levels will likely be high for a while since there has been some heavy rain.
01/07/22 Discharges have been mostly all high, too high to fish well. We didn’t get any reports from anyone this past week.
01/15/22 Stream levels remain high, too high to fish. Give it a couple of days and then check the water levels.
01/23/22 Stream levels are down some but still a little to strong for good wading. Drift boat anglers should do okay. Let us hear from you.
01/31/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. One from a drift boat and one wading below the dam. Midges and winter stoneflies are hatching.
02/08/22 We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Stream levels were okay some of the time.
02/16/22 We received one good report from a customer fishing yesterday. Hopefully, there will be some good opportunity the next few days.
02/24/22 The stream levels and discharges have been high all week and we didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing. Stream levels are still high as of today.
03/04/22 The discharges and steam levels have continued to be high most all the time. It should be settling down some very soon. We didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing this past week.
03/12/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing near the dam this past week. It is currently running high but should be down soon.
03/20/22 The discharges have been high all the past week. You should be able to catch some good flow rate this coming week. Good hatches are taking place.
03/28/22 Stream levels have been high most of the time but you should be able to catch some lower discharges and levels this coming week. Good hatches are starting to take place.
04/05/22 Stream levels are back up due to heavy discharges but should start falling off soon. You can catch good numbers of trout when the levels are okay. There are good hatches taking place.
05/13/22 The discharges are back up high again due to recent rain. Give it two or three days to drop back down.
04/29/22 The discharges and stream levels are still high most all the time but we did get one good report from a customer this past week.
05/07/22 Discharges and the resulting stream levels remain high, too high to wade and too high to fish from a drift boat most of the time. Check it later on. It will be coming back down.
05/15/22 The discharges and stream levels have remained high most all of the past week. Hopefully, it will drop and provide some better opportunity this coming week.
05/23/22 The discharges and stream levels have been okay very lately. Anglers fishing just below the dam did okay for a day or two. You have to catch the discharges at a reasonable level.
05/30/22 We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Stream levels were too high most of the time.
06/14/22 There have been some good opportunities the past two or three days. We have two good reports from customers fishing just below the dam. There are good Sulphur hatches taking place.
06/28/22 The stream is in good shape with good hatches. We received two good reports from customers fishing. It is finally getting some decent discharge rates.
07/05/22 The stream remained in good shape much of the time last week and should this coming week. You can catch plenty trout as long as the water levels permit you to fish wading or by boat.
07/19/22 The discharges and stream levels remain high about fifty percent of the time. When they are not running a lot of water, we get good reports. You just have to time your trips with the low discharge times.
08/02/22 The discharges and stream levels are currently just fine. It has been high for the past few days. You should be able to catch plenty trout wading or by drift boat currently.
08/17/22 The discharges have been and still are high. Give it some time to settle down. There has been a lot of rain lately.
09/02/22 There have been few chances of stream levels being low enough to fish well this past week. It should settle down soon.
09/16/22 The stream is still well above normal much of the time but when it can be waded, it is very good and we get some good reports. You just have to keep a constant check on the discharges.
10/07/22 We received a couple of good reports from customers this past week. Discharges and stream levels have been okay some of the time. Good hatches continue to take place.
10/21/22 Two good reports came in this past week. Fish just below the dam using Midges, creams or blood reds, or sculpin streamers.
11/05/22 Stream levels will be high due to discharges created by recent heavy rain. Give it two or three days.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.