Tri-LakesFishing
The Tri-Lakes area is nationally known as one of America’s fishing hotspots! With Bull Shoals, Taneycomo and Table Rock within casting distance of downtown Hollister, anglers have many species and patterns to choose from. And, with the mild winters in the Tri-Lakes region, anglers can fish all year long.
One of the nation’s premier trout fisheries is Lake Taneycomo. Beginning just below Table Rock Dam, Taneycomo enjoys a year round surface temperature that is conducive to its status as a trophy trout fishery. Fly fishermen don waders, and fish with small nymphs such as a sow bug or Hare’s ear nymph in the current just below Table Rock Dam in the Trophy area, and have success throughout the year. In the months of October and November, big brown trout move into those areas, and fish in the 15 pound plus category can be caught.
Downstream from the trophy area, anglers either drift fish from a boat using small jigs or power baits for both rainbows and browns. There are several areas that can be fished from the bank as well, as Taneycomo meanders its way between Hollister and Branson.
The deep clear waters of Table Rock Lake are home to countless species of fish, including bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. Anglers can target three different species of bass, including smallmouth, largemouth, and Kentucky Spotted bass. In early spring, anglers fish with stickbaits and jigs to catch bass, mainly in creek channel swings and bluff ends dotted with submerged cedar trees. As the weather warms up, so does the fishing, with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater baits being the dominant choices of most anglers. Summertime fishing on Table Rock usually finds anglers looking for deep off shore structure such as submerged timber, which anglers target using drop shots and jigging spoons. In the fall, the fish move to the banks again in search of crawfish and shad, and anglers go back to the shallow water patterns. Crappie on Table Rock can be found in the major creek arms such as Long Creek, or the James River arm; target cedar trees and pole timber. In the spring, they are fairly shallow, and anglers catch their fish on small tubes and doll flies as shallow as 3 feet deep. In the summer, crappie fishing slows down, as the fish move to the deeper waters.
On Bull Shoals, anglers will find similar water color to Table Rock, but will find very little timber to fish. The rocky shoreline and clear waters holds plenty of places for fish to hide, though. Another plus to Bull Shoals is the high numbers of Walleye available. Beginning in January, anglers look to the old channel to troll deep diving crankbaits, and crawler rigs to catch trophy walleye. Bull Shoals is also the home to the Missouri state record bass, a 13 pound 8 ounce behemoth caught in the 1970’s in the Theodosia arm.
Whatever your fishing heart desires, it is available in the Tri-Lakes region. Plan on wetting a line while you’re here. And, if you don’t have a boat, there are many local guides on all of the area lakes that will take you out and put you on fish.
Courtesy of Central Pro-Am