Is the generation pattern changing?

Trophy Trout Area: Special Regulations apply to the Trophy Trout Area running from Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek. Click here for an overview of these regulations.

Gary’s Comments – December 30– No generators going. Didn’t use anything but the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four, fished under a size 1 ESB slip float (indicator), at a depth of 4 1/2 feet with 6x Orvis tippet. The float was shot with 1.6 grams of shot, 1.2 grams about 4 1/2 feet up from the lure on the main line, and the jig at about .4 grams . Fished from a boat about a cast out from the channel side from Lookout Hole toward Fall Creek. A couple of guys were wasing and fishing size 22 black midges at about three feet and doing well.. December 25 – Fished between 1139 and 1300 on Christmas Day with 4 generators going and the lake level at 708.5. Didn’t use anything but the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four, fished under a size 2 ESB slip float (indicator), at a depth of eight feet with 5x Orvis tippet. The float was shot with 2.4 grams of shot, 1.6 grams about 6 feet up from the lure on the main line, a BB shot (.4 grams) about half way down, and the jig at about .4 grams . It stayed down nicely in about 6-9 feet of water. Fished with the boat in the non channel side and in the shallow water 3-5 feet and cast out to the deeper water.Caught about 15 in 90 minutes with none stop action. What a great way to get ready to go back into the dock and take a Christams nap.

Fly Fishing Only by River Run Outfitters December 28– Of course, since the water was off yesterday and we are now so close to the good fishing area, Stan headed for the water to see what they were hitting on. His findings, olive zebra midge, size 18 and the size 18 dark olive soft hackle. The fish were so happy the water was off, they were popping up everywhere taking midge emergers. He is on the water today with clients and at 10:00 a.m. or so, they had already boated 20 plus fish on the dark olive soft hackle. They are fishing it with a #6 shot about 12 inches or more up from the fly and presenting it with the accelerated downstream presentation. Cast cross current, let a loop form in your line. Strip occasionally, but the fish are picking it up on the drift. You’ll generally see your fly line, where it touches the water, move before you feel the strike. One of our customers came in yesterday morning and he had caught and released two Browns around 22 inches that he had caught on scuds across from the Rocking Chair area.
December 16 – Have not had any boats on the water this past week. Do know that some folks are catching fish from boats with high water. Main thing is to use enough weight to get your fly down to the fish. Not many people fishing the chute area by the hatchery. Think it’s too cold?! Stan has run up there a few days and caught some. Small egg patterns, micro San Juan worm in hot pink, tan scud-size 16 are a few of the patterns he has caught fish with. Lake still has not turned over and think the oxygen level is down. This colder weather should help. (Editor’s note: Was in the shop on Decemeber 18 and Stan said he had discovered that the Big Ugly, a big dry fly was working in the chutes for him.). Also please note that River Run outfitters has moved from its downtown location to a location closer to the dam on State Highway 65. The best “dam fly shop” in Branson will be located at 2626 State Highway 165 conveniently located just north of the Dam and hatchery).Coming from the north on 165 it is just south of the Welk Theatre on the right hand side of the road.

Fly Fishing and Spin Fishing By Chartered Waters Guide Service and Fly Shop – December 30th – …A pretty tough bite for us today. (Editors Note: Yeh sure, only caught 25-30 fish!)… day started slower than it ended. Super quick and subtle bites were the order of the day and everyone had a tough time connecting. #18 XGrey Bit Scuds were the best producers with some decent action on black Crown Zebras, regular black Zebras and black UV Smidges in a #22. It was really calm early … around mid day the wind just got brutal. The best action was the shallow side of channels with the most active fish again in water no deeper than 2 feet. I could see a lot of fish swirling around our top (midge) fly with real quick takes then drops. … We probably only brought 25 – 30 fish to the net. You just had to be really quick with the hookset and even really quick wasn’t quick enough at times.December 21 – All 3 anglers caught a lot of fish today. Nothing really big, though we snapped off 3 -4 really big fish we never got a good look at. We always get a few of those a trip and with a little luck we get a few of them in. This group was pretty fun and had a good time together hooking up all day long. The day started pretty nice but a cold front was moving in and the end of the afternoon got colder and windy. A slight change in flies kept the bite pretty hot as the fish moved off black UV Scuds and really liked a #14 wine and ginger SG-Bug as well as a gray #12 UV BitShell Scud. The purple Nitros stayed pretty good all day long.” Editors Note: Brett was fishing from a boat with four generators going using a fly rod and his flat lineing technique for using heavy weight and “pegged indicators with leaders up to 16 feet.