Introduction: This journal contains the results and observations of the Ole Seagull’s day to day fishing experiences on Note: The Ole Seagull’s article “KIS Midge fishing on Branson’s Lake Taneycomo” should be of interest to anyone who wants to fish Sep . 2My neighbor and good friend, Howard Couch, had quite a day yesterday. He was fishing the bank down from Point B on the Ole Seagull’s run using the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four. He was using an indicator set at about four to four and a half feet, Orvis Mirage 6x tippet, and casting as close to the bank as he could. In about 3 hours he caught over 25 fish, a lot of Browns four of which were 17 inches or more. Way to go Howard! I fished with Fished with Duane McCammon earlier in the week between points B andjust D on the Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions. Between us in bout two and a half hours we caught 30 fish with a couple of Rainbows in the 17 inch range. We were using fly rods, the size 18 Ugly Midge, Orvis Mirage 6x tippet and had the best results with the indicators set at about three feet throughout our drift. Kept the boat off the channel side about a cast and a half and had the best results on the deep side.
Aug . 19Fished with Duane McCammon and Bob Walden from about 0630 to 00900 between B and down stream from E on the Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions. Although we thought the fishing was touch we easily caught about 40 Rainbows and one nice Brown and missed as many more so it couldn’t have been too bad. Ok, so Bob Walden did catch the most fish and the biggest fish, a beautiful Brown that was in the 17-19 inch category. We were all using fly rods, the size 18 Ugly Midge, Orvis Mirage 6x tippet and had the indicators set at about four feet throughout. Kept the boat off the channel side about a cast and a half and had the best results on the deep side.
Aug . 12While at Wal-Mart I spotted a new lure and system that looked pretty good. It’s called the Trout Magnet, a unique shaped grub about and inch long that is made out of an unscented rubbery material. It goes on a 1/64 th ounce Jig Head with a size 8 hook. I have used it for two mornings now, basically the pink color and have had real good luck with it. I’m going to play with it a bit more this week but for further information go to http://troutmagnet.com/
Aug . 5Fished with Duane McCammon, Mac, from about 0630 to 0845 between B and just above D on the Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions. We easily caught between 15 and 20 fish apiece with Mac catching a beauty in the 16-18 inch range. I used the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four with the depth set at about four and a half to five feet and Mac used a a size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge set at about two feet. Kept the boat off the channel side about a cast and a half and fished both sides but had the best results on the channel side. It was a neat morning with us easily missing as many hits as we caught. The good news is that it appears they are leaving the water off until at least 10000. Of course that could be changing even as I am writing this. To keep current on the current water situation use the information in the Water Levels Info section of the main fishing report.
Jul . 23The heat of the last week has been stifling, one morning at 0330 it was 78. They have been running water pretty much all day and into the night. The best advice for wading near the dam without the water on is the earlier the better. It seems the older I get the harder it gets to adjust. My fishing has been below average this week but that’s probably just me. I had a lot of luck drifting down the shallow water side with a size 18 Primrose and Pearl Midge set at between 2 feet and 18 inches.
All the guide services shown in our fishing report are excellent guides and all except River Run Outfitters, who are strictly fly fishing catch and release with western style drift boats that are hand rowed, have power boats and fish using multiple methods and baits. Above all, a trip scheduled with them will get you on the water fishing effectively regardless of whether or not they are running water.
Jul . 13 Well all good things come to an end and for those who like water off fishing that happened yesterday. They took it up to 710 and the lowest it got was just under 704 at about 0600 on the 13th. On thing for sure, the water will be going up sometimes between 0600 and 0900 and staying there if the last week is any indication. If wading is your primary interest call 417-336-5083 for up to the moment information on generation and lake levels prior to coming down. River Run Outfitters specializes in drift boat trips designed for fly fishers.I have fished with Brett Rader of Chartered Waters Guide Service and he has many good techniques that work well when the water is running using spinning tackle as well as fly fishing. Bill Babler out of Lilly’s Landing is another guide who provides fly fishing as well as spin fishing. Any of these will provide an enjoyable and dependable fishing experience on Lake Taneycomo regardless of the water being generated.
Jul . 7 Have fished a number of times since the last entry with the latest being Jul. 7. Although the fishing is tougher than it has been it has been steady and seems to fluctuate from one day to the next. On one day, my neighbor Howard Couch and I fished together for about two and a half hours using the the 100th ounce the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four with the indicator set at four and a half to five and a half feet fishing into the channel. Both of use were using Orvis Mirage 6x tippet. Howard caught over 30 fish and I caught four. The next day, fishing exactly the same way I averaged ten fish per hour. Go figure. Some of the guides are using Egg Jigs with midge droppers and having success.
Jun . 24 Fished with Partridge Soft Hackle over the gravel bars early in the day under water off conditions and had good luck when nothing else was working. I have not done much soft hackle fishing and it was fun. I will be doing it more often. Have fished about four days the last week and have had good luck using everything in Gary’s Big Four with the indicator set at four feet fishing into the channel between points B and E. on The Ole Seagulls Run.
Jun . 17 Have done a lot of fishing since the last entry but just haven’t taken the time to make entries. Have spent a lot of time fishing with different people, D.J., Shannon Roberts and his daughter Stephanie, Duane McCammon, Mac, Bob Walden, and Howard Couch and have tons of fun even when the fishing has been tough and there have been a couple of day when that has been the case.
For me it has been spotty but when its been good its been good its been real good. Have caught a number of bigger fish in the 16 to 19 inch range with one of them a beautiful 18 ¼ inch brown. Not an hour later my neighbor Howard catches a Brown over 18 ½ inches. Both were caught on the on the 100th ounce the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four with the indicator set at four feet fishing into the channel at around Point C on The Ole Seagulls Run. The Peach Furbug has been hard to beat early in the day and the midge of choice appear to be the size 18 Primrose and Peal. The Ugly Midge has kind of let me down lately.
Jun . 4 Fished with Duane McCammon, Mac, on the Jun 3 under water off conditions from point B to just above E on the Ole Seagulls Run. Kept the boat about a cast off the channel (east) and just let the current move us along. From about 0715 to 0945 we caught between 40-50 trout between us with the biggest in the 15-17 inch category and most in the 12-15 inch range. I caught the first 11 that I caught on with the 100th ounce the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four with the indicator set at four feet. Then I switched over the size 18 Ugly Zebra Midge from Gary’s Small Five with the indicator set at three feet for the rest of the day. As I retied it might have gotten down to two and a half feet towards the end. I used 6x Orvis Mirage Tippet.
May . 21 Talked with Howard Couch yesterday and he had great luck with the 100th ounce the River Run Peach Furbug from from Gary’s Big Four during his most recent trip on May 20. He caught over 25 Rainbows with over a dozen of them in the 13-16 inch category and a nice 19 inch plus Brown Trout. Howard was using a fly rod with the indicator set at about three feet and fishing into shore from A-E and down to the Fall Creek dock fishing into the bank.
Prior to leaving Branson on the May 15 I had fished quite a lot, most of it with Howard. One day we both fished together, with one generator going, for an hour and a half and did not boat a fish. Couldn’t figure it out, nothing worked. Don’t know if it was because they had just turned the water on after the long period of no water or what but it was unusual, I honestly can’t recall the last time I went fishing and did not catch a fish within an hour and a half of fishing and for it to happen to both of us.
The next day, under water off conditions, caught about 18 trout and hour. And the fishing has been pretty good since. Guess that’s what makes it fishing and isn’t it a beautiful thing.
Apr. 31 The recent rain has raised Table Rock about two feet so maybe they’ll run a little more water into Taneycomo. I fished twice this week the first time on the 27th with Duane McCammon, Mac, and the second, on the 28th, with my neighbor Howard Couch, who has just returned from wintering in
When Howard and I went out on the 28th we both used the 100th ounce the River Run Peach Furbug from from Gary’s Big Four. In less than an hour, we came in because of lightening in the area, we caught about 30 Rainbows with four to six of them in the 15-17 inch range. I used 6x Orvis Mirage Tippet with the indicator set at about four feet as we drifted down the channel side about a good cast off the bank. We fished both sides of the boat. The fishing was so good I actually thought about ignoring the lightening if just for a moment.
Apr. 23 They ran about two generators for a couple of hours on the 18th which helped clear out the upper end and helped cool the water a tad. It was better than nothing but the lake needs a good “flush.” If we don’t get minimal water generation as the days get hotter the problems will exasperate. I fished The Ole Seagulls Run, between points C and E, under water off conditions, between about 1130-1245 on Apr. 20. I caught about 14 fish with most caught on the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four and a few, as I ended the day, by switching from one midge to another, the size 18 Ugly and Rusty Zebra Midges from Gary’s Small Five and a size 18 Olive Zebra Midge all caught fish but I could not come up with a “pattern.” I used 6x Orvis Tippet set the depth at about 2 ½ feet for the midges and at about 4 feet for the Peach Furbug. The majority of the fish were in the 11-14 inch range with one over 15 inches. Bob Walden reported that he did real well on Apr. 21 fishing from the bank at point B using a size 18 Olive Soft Hackle.
Apr. 15 The failure to run water is causing problems with algae moss, etc. on top of the water, making it a challenge to be able to cast and get a fly or jig more than once algae free. Not a big problem in the wading area near the dam but down stream it is. Most of my fishing since Mar. 26 has been sporadic and has involved the use of the size 18 Ugly or Rusty Zebra Midges from Gary’s Small Five fished as described in the Ole Seagull’s article “KIS Midge fishing on Branson’s Lake Taneycomo.
Mar. 26 As a general rule, “At 40 and below the Seagull don’t go.” Early morning temperatures have been cold this past week, i.e. 28 this morning at 0645, with it kind of windy and between 40-50 or so in the afternoon so I have elected to wait for things to warm up which looks like should be happening tomorrow. When next I go I will start with the the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four. Looks like Bret of Chartered Waters had a a super “couple of hours” on the 20th.
Mar. 17 With a temperature of about 41 degrees F, slight, a little wind, and overcast I fished between points B and E on The Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions between about 0715-0945. Started out with the the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four with the 6x Orvis Mirage Tippet set at about four feet at point B. In the first hour I actually boated 25 Rainbow Trout as I worked downstream toward point E. The last 15 Rainbows were caught on the size 18 Ugly Midge from Gary’s Small Five and fished as discussed in the Ole Seagull’s article “KIS Midge fishing on Branson’s Lake Taneycomo” with the depth set at about two feet. No big fish may be one 15 inches or so but most between 12-14 inches.
Mar.11 During the week I fished on three or four occasions. Have not caught a Brown but have averaged about 20 Rainbows per 1 ½ hour to 2 hour trip with one going between 18-19 inches and most in the 12-15 inch range. All of my trips this week have been between points B and E on The Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions. I have favored to east bank and the channel. The best luck has either been on the size 18 Ugly or Rusty Zebra Midge from Gary’s Small Five. My standard tippet material is Orvis 6x Mirage set between four and two feet depending on the depth. Generally, when I start out at point B the depth if four feet and by the time I get down to the shallower water near E it is closer to two feet.
Mar 5 During the week I have fished on numerous occasions but basically with the same methodology, flies, and results, lots of smaller fish. Out of the over 80 Rainbows caught this week up until this afternoon, if one was over 14 inches I’d be surprised. Great fishing, lots of action and fun, just small fish. This afternoon I went out about 1530, messed around with the 100th Ounce Green Bassnapper for a few minutes, changed to a Size 18 Rusty Midge and never turned back.
End result, by the time I came in at about 1800, caught and released over 40 Rainbows, not one Brown, picked and rolled an other four or five, and easily missed twice that many hits. Two were in excess of 17 inches and five to eight of the remainder were in the 14-17 inch category. Go figure, fished exactly the same way I have all week. What a great day.
Had the opportunity to fish with Ross Summers this week on his first fly fishing trip. It was a tough windy day and in spite of the fact it was his first experience with a fly rod he limited out. Between us we caught about 10 fish and easily missed that many more.
All of my trips this week have been between points B and E on The Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions. I have favored to east bank and the channel. The best luck has either been on the size 18 Ugly or Rusty Zebra Midge. I try which ever one is tied on first and if it doesn’t work tie on the other. Today, it was the Rusty Midge and I was fishing it at from about 3 ½ feet to about 2 ½ feet by the time I got down to point E. My standard tippet material is Orvis 6x Mirage. I’m beginning to think that shallower is better with the midges. Seems like they are more likely to come up for them in the water column.
My neighbor, two doors down, Tom Langley, was doing pretty good jigging 1/32 and 1/16 jigs.They were a combination brown and green.
Mar 1 I fished between points C and E on The Ole Seagulls Run and around the bend to the high lines just above Fall Creek, under water off and windy conditions between 1545-1710. The results were a carbon copy of Feb. 28 except it was more like 20-25 Rainbows and, once I got the size 18 Ugly Midge on, seemingly, if it is possible, more strikes. Easily caught 15-20 Rainbows with twice that many strikes, and at least five to ten pick and rolls.
The terminal end of the line was 4 feet of Orvis Mirage 6x, the indicator was set at 4 feet, and, except for fishing the channel side from Point B to about half way to C, the boat was positioned in about 4 feet of water as I drifted down. I started with the new size 18 Primrose Pearl Midge in the deeper water up in Lookout Hole at Point B and as I drifted down I put on the Rusty Midge. Caught a few on each but not enough where I kept either one on too long. As I got to Point B I tied on a size 18 Ugly Midge and never even thought about taking it off. Non stop action until I just decided to call it a day all thw ay through Point E and around the bend to just above Fall Creek.
Feb 28 I fished between points D and E on The Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions and minimal wind between 1100-1230. Easily caught 15-20 Rainbows, no Browns, most were in the 10 to 13 inch area with, at most, two or three in the 15 inch range but what fun. It seemed that something was striking all the time and that’s what I enjoy. As usual the terminal end of the line was 4 feet of Orvis Mirage 6x, the indicator was set at 4 feet, and the boat was positioned in about 4 feet of water as I drifted down. I caught the first 10 on the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug and finished the day with the size 18 Ugly Midge casting from about towards the channel side all the way down.
Feb 22 Was on vacation for a couple of weeks and had cold weather the first part of this week so I have not been fishing much but all that changed today. I Caught about 15-20 fish with the biggest in the 16 inch range and missed about one half that many more. I fished between points D and E on the Ole Seagulls Run under water off conditions and minimal wind between 1600-1720 using a size 18 Ugly Midge fished at a depth of about 4 feet all the way down.What a fun afternoon.
Feb 1-2 Fished from about 1545 to 1715 on both days and fished midges between points D. and E. on the Seagulls Run. No water running at the time although the horn did blow on the 2nd while I was out. On each trip I averaged about 20 Rainbows per trip, most within the 12-15 inch range with maybe about four at or slightly above 15 inches but no big ones, 17 inches plus and easily missed that many more. All in all lots of fun. On the 1st I stared with the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge also from Gary’s Big Four. When it broke off I switched to the size 18 Ugly Zebra Midge. On the 2nd I just used size 18 Ugly Zebra Midge and did well. I tried to keep the boat a good cast off the east bank, with the indicator on my Orvis Mirage 6x tippet set at between 4 to three feet.
Jan 29Went out about 1600 to 1730 under water off conditions. I fished between Points B and about half way between C and D in the Ole Seagull’s Run under water off conditions with very little wind and light cloud cover. Caught about 15 Rainbows, picked and rolled two, and missed that many more with the biggest about being 15 inches.
I caught fish on the size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge, Size 18 Ugly Midge, and a new imitation of the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug designed for those fly fishing purists that quiver at the thought of using a nasty ole jig on the ends of the their fly lines. It uses the same dubbing that we use on the jig but it is tied on a size 12 fly hook with a salmon colored bead it worked fine and I actually caught most of my fish on it. Most of my fishing was done about a good cast off of the the channel side at a depth of about four feet using an indicator.
Jan 22Yikes its been quite a while since I have written anything but its not because I haven’t been fishing or the conditions haven’t, for the most part been fabulous. I have just been tied up in other things and besides, if you read this journal at all, you know what I am going to say. “I was fishing at a depth of three to four and one half feet, using an indictor and Orvis Mirage 6x tippet and the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four or one of the three primary midges that I use size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge, Size 18 Ugly Midge, or the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge also from Gary’s Big Four.
On Jan. 19, as I have done a number of late afternoons lately, I fished under water off conditions from about 1530 to 1700. Caught about 20 Rainbows with the biggest just about 17″ with half being caught about half on the River Run Peach Furbug and half on the Size 18 Ugly Midge. Probably missed about half that many and picked and rolled at least three more. The weather and running of the water this year has been the best since I have lived here and that has been since 1986. If there has been a winter since them where they have run less water I must have missed it.
On Jan. 16 I hade the opportunity to fish with my good buddies Mac and Bob on what has been one of the colder mornings we have experienced recently.When they picked me up at the dock the temperature was about 34 degrees. We fished from the Lookout Hole Down with indicators set at about three to four feet. We were all using Orvis Mirage 6x tippet and each of us used a different lure, one the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, one the size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge, and one the Size 18 Ugly Midge. By far the Peach Furbug was the most productive with the Ugly doing better than the Rusty Midge.
On Jan 7 I had the chance to fish with David Cook and his friend Terry from about 0900 to 1010. The fishing was tough but during that hour we managed to catch about 10-13 fish using the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, the 100th ounce Olive Bassnapper Jig, and the size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge. It was a great time fishing with two great guys.
Dec 29 After I got up from my nap and noticed the 54 degree temperature and no wind at 1600 I went out and fished for 55 minutes. Boated 26, had four more up to the boat, picked and rolled three, and missed about that many hits. Wasn’t trying for numbers and the pace for me was a lot less hectic than it was on the 24th but the fish were just there and hitting well. I was fishing at a depth of four feet using an indictor and Orvis Mirage 6x tippet and the 100th ounce Olive Bassnapper Jig from Gary’s Big Four. I Fished the same area as on the 24th except that the boat did not drift anywhere near as far down stream out of Lookout Hole because there was so little wind. I used just one jig, retired at fish number 10 and that was it.
Dec 23-28 What a Christmas present, a tad nippy, with water off, and enough wind to put a nice ripple on the water and then some on Dec. 24. Only had an hour and fifteen minutes from dock to dock but what an hour of fishing it was. Numbers wise, I have never had a better hour of fishing, 32 boated, three picked and rolled, and about 15missed hits with four or five in the 15 inch plus category. Once I realized that my previous 20 fish in an hour record was going to be toast I kind of set the finesse part aside to see just how many I could catch and the “horsing in” cost four ties along with four jigs. Although you had to be there to appreciate the moment, it is not one that I am likely to replicate again.
I was fishing at a depth of three feet using an indictor and Orvis Mirage 6x tippet and the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four. The boat was just drifting down in about four or five feet of water and I was casting back into the shallower water. Had a hit just about every cast and the amazing thing was it wasn’t just in one spot as the wind was moving the boat along pretty well. At 50 minutes into the hour I broke off after boating number 28. The last four fish were caught on a size 16 Rusty Zebra Midge.
Interestingly enough, on the afternoon of Dec. 23 I fished exactly the same area, although with not the same wind, and only caught eight fish in an hour and a half. At about 1130- 1300 on Dec. 27 I fished the shallow side from about half way between Lookout Hole and the bend just above Fall Creek in bright sun under water off conditions. I wanted to try out the new size 18 Primrose Pearl midge that River Run Outfitters is tying. I caught 20 plus fish with two over 15 inches, one break off that was definitely bigger than 15 inches, 30 plus misses, and 2 pick and rolls. I was fishing at a depth of between 18 and 24 inches using an indictor and Orvis Mirage 6x tippet.
Dec 20 The temperature was up to 38 with very little wind. I fished from about 1100-1300 half way between Fall Creek Dock and Short Creek. Kept the boat in about 4 feet of water and fished primarily midges. The new size 18 Primrose Pearl midge got five or six pretty quick but the midge of the day was the size 18 Ugly Midge. River Run Outfitters ties and stocks both these midges. I fished a depth of about two feet using an indictor and Orvis Mirage 6x tippet except for a short period where I used the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four. Set at four feet. It worked well and I caught five or six real quick before switching back to the midges.
I had purposed to use midges but couldn’t resist trying the Peach Furbug for just a tad. I went through the Size 18 Black Zebra Midge and Primrose Pearl as well as the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge, from Gary’s Big Four before finally settling on the size 16 Ugly which was just fantastic. Caught eight fish in about 30 minutes to end the day. Caught fish on everything I used except the Red Midge. All total I caught about 20 Rainbows, no Browns, picked and rolled about four and missed about 15 to 20 hits. Nothing bigger than 15 with most smaller than that but it was a great day of fishing.
Dec 18 The temperature was up to 42 and the wind down so I went out and fished from about 1130 to 1300, it’s a nice way to transition into a nap. Went up to the trophy area and fished from Lookout Hole down stream using strictly midges. I was trying a new one, a size 18 Primrose Pearl midge that some of the guys have had real good luck with lately.
Except for a short period where I tried a depth of four feet, I fished between two and three feet depth using an indictor and Orvis Mirage 6x tippet. In about 45 minutes I boated 8 Rainbows, missed twice that many hits, and picked and rolled four more. In the last 45 minutes I switched to the size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge boated another ten Rainbows, biggest about 16 inches, missed again that many hits, and picked and rolled 2 before braking off on my last attempted hook set.
Dec 11 Been horribly cold this last week but I fished a couple of days off of my dock. The water is pretty shallow for quite a ways out with weed beds. I used the spinning gears set up with the Thill Mini Shy Bite floats, 8 BB and 4 BB size. Fished two days for about 35 minutes each day and caught about two fish each day with a few misses. One was a nice Brown. Used Orvis Mirage Tippet, 6x with the depth set at about 21/2 to 3 feet and the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge, from Gary’s Big Four exclusively simply because I didn’t want to go through the aggravation of retying in the cold.
Dec 3 Fishing trips on Nov. 26 and 27 were tough. On each trip got a nice fish over 16 inches but the numbers weren’t there. Averaged about eight to ten fish per two hours of fishing with about half that many misses. Did pick and roll a trophy and broke off another nice one over the 16 inch mark. This week it has been cold and or running water early so I haven’t fished much but if I were to go five minutes from now I would fish exactly the same way that I have described in these reports. Why, simply because, day after day, year after year, these basic techniques jigs and flies work for me. Sure I try different stuff, but it takes a lot to change the basic system or the jigs and flies that I use, case in point, the size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge, which just might make it to Gary’s Big Four or cause it to grow to the “Big Five.”
Nov 20 With being out of town and sickness it has been a while since I went fishing. Just as I made my first cast it started to rain. Had no luck with the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug and the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge, from Gary’s Big Four but the 100th ounce Bassnapper Olive Jig came through with about ten fish in 45 minutes one of which was a nice 17 inch Brown. Finished off the last 45 minutes with a size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge, caught about 8, missed easily that many, picked and rolled one as big as the Brown and finished the day fighting a Rainbow that was pretty close to the size of the Brown before it broke off.. Stayed to the channel side and fished with the indicator set at four feet all the way. For specifics on leader etc. see 2nd paragraph of Oct. 24 report.
Oct 24 Fished with Duane McCammon, Mac, from about 0745 to 1000 between the 20.1 and 20.9 mile markers. We easily had a 50 fish day and just about constant action. They had just shut off two generators that they hadn’t been running very long. The first drift down as the water was falling I used the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four with the depth set at about four feet and Mac used size 14 Scud. Kept the boat on the shallow side in about three feet and fished out. Before making the next drift I tied on a size 18 Rusty Zebra Midge and set the depth at three and a half feet. Mac eventually switched to the Zebra too and the fishing never missed a beat. No big fish, biggest in 15 inch range but a lot of fish and constant action. Mac caught a small Brown the only one I have had caught from my boat in over at least 500 fish. They are catching some nice Browns wading up by the Dam.
With the Peach Furbug I use the 2 inch Thill Mini Shy Bite Bite 1 BB float, (MSB2-2) on the fly rod with one additional Size 6 shot, .01 grams of weight, added about two inches below the float. When I switch over to the size 18 size 18 Zebra Rusty Midge I merely slide the 1 BB float out of its silicone sleeves and slip the Thill Mini Shy Bite Bite ½ BB float, (MSB1-2) into the same sleeves and leave the Size 6 shot exactly where it is. The float and any additional weight, is attached to the 4x portion of my basic leader, which is made up of six feet or Orvis Mirage tippet, 1.5 feet of 4x, 1 foot of 5x, and 3.5 feet of 6x. The float is moved up or down the 1.5 feet of the 4x as necessary for depth control. The float is generally set to four feet for the furbug and 3 to 3 ½ feet for the midge.
Oct 22 Wow it’s been a while since my last report. Oh, I’ve fished a lot, but with using hyper links to get to the other Taneycomo Fishing Reports I don’t have to up date this one unless something changes. T simple fact of the matter is that not much changes on a day to day basis as to the techniques I use on the water I fish.. Oh sure, there are changes but they are generally subtle changes that take place over a period of time not on a minute to minute basis. Besides, if things change that quick what good will the information be by the time you actually start fishing.
The Ole Seagull fished from about 0755 to 1000 from Lookout Hole down stream. He caught in excess of 30 fish of which at least four were in excess of 15 inches and two measured in at between 17.5 and 18 inches. All were Rainbows and caught on either the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four or the size 18 Zebra Rusty Midge. I started the day typically, with the Peach Furbug and caught fish on it until it got a little brighter and then went to my new favorite midge, the size 18 Zebra Rusty Midge. It’s beginning to look like
Because I personally don’t like the sensitivity, difficulty in changing and adjusting depth, or the method of attaching to the tippet of the floats, the purists call them strike indicators, currently being used with fly rods I have been using the smaller sizes of the Thill Mini Shy Bite floats with great, no phenomenal success. It’s one of those changes that I talked about up above and I will keep you posted as it develops.
With the Peach Furbug I use the 2 inch Thill Mini Shy Bite Bite 1 BB float, (MSB2-2) on the fly rod with one additional Size 6 shot, .01 grams of weight, added about two inches below the float. When I switch over to the size 18 size 18 Zebra Rusty Midge I merely slide the 1 BB float out of its silicone sleeves and slip the Thill Mini Shy Bite Bite ½ BB float, (MSB1-2) into the same sleeves and leave the Size 6 shot exactly where it is. The float and any additional weight, is attached to the 4x portion of my basic leader, which is made up of six feet or Orvis Mirage tippet, 1.5 feet of 4x, 1 foot of 5x, and 3.5 feet of 6x. The float is moved up or down the 1.5 feet of the 4x as necessary for depth control. The float is generally set to four feet for the furbug and 3 to 3 ½ feet for the midge.
On Oct. 20 I had the pleasure of fishing with Shannon Roberts of River Fun Fly Shop from the Look Out Hole down stream from about 0800-1030. We caught about 30-40 fish between us with a few over 15 inches. I fished exactly the same way as described above and
Oct 1 Fished with Duane McCammon, Mac, from about 0715 to 0900 between the 20.0 and 20.4 mile makrers. Mac used a size 16 Miracle Scud, for most of his fish and I used the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four. Between us we caught about 30-35 fish with none over 17 inches and the majority between 12-15 inches.
The 2 1/2 inch Thill Mini Shy Bite Bite 2 BB float, (MSB1-2) was used on the fly rod with one additional BB weight added to the weight of the Peach Furbug. The float and any additional weight, is attached to the 4x portion of my basic leader, which is made up of six feet or Orvis Mirage tippet, 2 feet of 4x, 1/2 foot of 5x, and 31/2 feet of 6x. The float is moved up or down the two feet of the 4x as necessary for depth control. The float was set at a depth of between three and one half and four feet.
Sep 28 Fished with my neighbor Howard Couch from about 0715 to 0900. Caught about 25-30 fish between us with most of them caught using, you guessed it, the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge, from Gary’s Big Four. The exact same technique and depth for the 27th below was used except I stuck with the fly rod.
Sep 27. When I got back to the house at 1030 the water was still off and it was overcast so I went fishing funtil about 1300 from the 20.9 mile mark down to the 20.6. What a special day it was, non stop action with over 40 fish to the boat and at least that many hits and misses. All were Rainbows in in the 13-15 inch area with none over 16 inches but what fun and you never know.
The fly rod with the size 16 Tungsten Bead Head Red Midge, from Gary’s Big Four, was used most of the day. Just for variety I switched to the spinning rod with the 100th ounce River Run Peach Furbug, from Gary’s Big Four and caught 14 in short order before switching back to the fly rod and the Red Midge to finish out the day.
The 1 1/2 inch Thill Mini Shy Bite Bite 1/2 BB float, (MSB1-2) was used on the fly rod with the Midge with no additional weight. The three and an eighth inch
