The tailwater trout fisheries provide open water action every February. Arguably no tailwater in the Midwest is more productive this time of year than Lake Taneycomo, home of the Missouri state record for brown trout.
The behemoth 40-pound, 6-ounce fish missed the world record by less than two pounds. Along with the big browns, Taneycomo is home to more rainbow trout than most people think.
Located in Branson, Lake Taneycomo receives a lot of interest from tourists. People travel to the heart of the Ozarks in search of entertainment. The popular destination is famous for its exciting attractions and music shows but, by far, trout fishing is one of the city’s biggest draws.
With many waterfront resorts, like Lilleys’ Landing Resort and Marina, guides like Duane Doty and Blake Harris, and shops like Anglers Outfitters and Bass Pro Shops, Taneycomo has everything one could need for an epic trout trip.
Lake Taneycomo is unique. The 22-mile-long lake is actually a section of the White River that lies between Table Rock Dam and Powersite Dam. It flows and fishes like a river. There’s power generation to contend with, meaning anglers have to pay attention to the rise and fall of the tide. The Army Corps of Engineers releases flow data every day. Anglers should check this website before planning to fish.
There are impressive numbers of both brown trout and rainbow trout in Taneycomo. The daily limit per angler is four trout. Of your four, only one can be brown and it must be at least 20 inches long.
In the “trophy zone,” which runs from below Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek, there is a slot limit on rainbows. You should release any fish between 12 and 20 inches. Also in the trophy zone, you can only use flies and artificial lures. To fish anywhere between Table Rock Dam and the Highway 65 bridge, you must have a trout permit, as well as a fishing license. Regulations like these can be confusing to newcomers. A guide will keep you straight on the rules.
Duane Doty guides out of Lilleys’ Landing Resort and Marina. There are many good guides in Taneycomo. Doty stood out, even in a crowd.
For one, he’s been there for a while. He and local fishing legend Phil Lilley have probably sent more stocker trout to the pans than any other living duo. Doty also makes his own jerkbaits. These highly effective baits are called the Duane Doty Signature Series. He became perfect in using them.
Nathan “Shags” McLeod, co-host of the Driftwood Outdoors Podcast and avid Taneycomo trout angler, had this to say about Doty:
“Duane Doty led a trout fishing revolution in Taneycomo with his jerkbaits. He founded the Dark Army (a dedicated group of night trout anglers who throw jerkbaits) and shared his knowledge with countless other guides. He’s Taneycomo Yoda teaching young Jedis, like Captain Blake Harris who put me on a 31-inch, 15-lb brown trout in a lifetime after midnight throwing jerkbaits.
There are many different tactics used to catch trout in Taneycomo. If you’re chasing numbers, and trying to put rainbows in the box, jigs are hard to beat. The weight depends on how much water is flowing and how deep you are fishing. White and brown are popular colors. White, especially this time of year.
As water was released from the dam, shad poured into Lake Taneycomo. Trout swim in the shade. White is like a shade. So, whether you’re throwing jigs, jerkbaits, or spinners, a white in February when the water is running is a solid bet.
If you want to focus on catching one of the monster browns that make Taneycomo famous, then throwing jerkbaits is the way to go. Besides Duane Doty custom lures, one of the local favorites is the Rebel Tracdown Minnow. They sink slowly and are easy to control in moving water. Overcast days with enough wind to put some chop in the water should be your most productive for throwing jerkbaits.
Taneycomo attracts many different types of anglers. You have newbies who are excited to catch fish. Many first fish trips to Taney.
There are also many experienced anglers who enjoy coming to Taneycomo and bringing home a cooler full of trout filets for the dinner table.
Then there are the expert trout hunters who only go after the giants. Those that focus on targeting truly world-class brown trout. The network of local guides caters to all types of Taneycomo fishing and will help you reach your goal, whatever it may be.
“There are a lot of good guides in Taneycomo who know the most productive places to fish, and how to fish them,” Doty said. “Since most of the trout fishing is done in the upper end of the lake, we usually do ‘I have to go a long way before we start fishing, so any experienced guide knows the lake very well. Good guides respond whatever type of trout fishing you’re interested in. When you’re talking to a guide about booking a trip, be sure to communicate what you want to accomplish on your trip.”
There is a large group of fly fishermen who visit Lake Taneycomo who love to wade for fish. Because the water fluctuates so much due to the hydropower generation of the Table Rock Dam, fishermen should pay attention to the water level before crossing. At times, there is no safe wade fishing near the dam, where many prefer to fly fish.
When there is safe wade fishing water, it can be dynamite. Just be careful. The water rises quickly when it’s open, so if you’re fishing and hear a whistle, move to shore immediately.
See you down the trail.
For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast atwww.driftwoodoutdoors.comor wherever podcasts are streamed.
