Main species present: rainbow trout, brown trout, suckers and bass
Lake Taneycomo in southwestern Missouri might well be considered the best trout fishery in the world. Its popularity is based primarily on the approximately 700,000 rainbow trout stocked per year, making this twenty-two-mile riparian lake positively loaded with mute populations at all times. They are stocked once a month, and even towards the end of each stocking period, the lake is home to many trout. Because of these easy-to-catch fish, few people come here empty-handed.
However, there are many fisheries that are home to many easy-to-catch rainbow trout. What sets Taneycomo apart is the huge brown trout it produces. Twenty-inch browns are routine, ten-pound trout are not entirely out of place, and several twenty-plus pound trout are pulled from its icy waters each year. This all culminated when a Missouri Department of Conservation agent who was sampling the lake found a thirty-six pound brown trout. There is no doubt that one day this lake will produce the world record brown trout for some lucky fisherman.
The lake can be effectively divided into three sections. The first would be the section of the lake from Table Rock Dam downstream to Fall Creek. Legal fishing begins a few hundred meters downstream from the dam. This section has special trophy regulations for both rainbows and browns, and this is where most of the lake’s larger trout live. Only flies and lures are allowed in this section. This part of the “lake” is for all intents and purposes a river, and can be forded if Table Rock Dam is not generating.
The next section of the lake worth mentioning is from Fall Creek to the Highway 65 bridge. The top of this section looks like a river, but the further down you go, the more it becomes a lake. This entire part of the lake has plenty of trout, both rainbow and brown, and can be effectively fished from shore with bait, as it is legal below the mouth of Fall Creek. Another popular method is to get a boat and troll spinners and spoons. Trophy regulations remain in place for brown trout, but not for rainbows.
The final section of the lake is from Highway 65 to Powersite Dam, which is the lower boundary of the lake. So far downstream, Taneycomo is in fact a lake, although it is quite shallow. Effective bank fishing can be done with worms and Powerbait, but it is more of a boat fish. Both rainbow and brown trout respond to the same trolling methods as Highway 65, and that’s probably the best way to fish. You will not need downriggers or other special equipment due to the shallowness of the lake. This section also has some very good fishing for largemouth bass in the creek arms, and non-game fish concerts are quite popular in this part of the lake.
An element of caution is in order regarding Taneycomo. Water levels can rise rapidly in some places. Anglers are advised to do their homework on this matter ahead of time. Better yet, consider hiring a Tanycomo guide to help you catch more fish and help keep you safe.