Another beautiful, warm, sunny day today.  However, think we are in for a change tomorrow.  They are saying showers will move through here tomorrow afternoon along with a drop in temperatures.  Highs for the next three days look like mid to upper 50s.  However, by Monday, we are back into the 60s and Tuesday and Wednesday look like 70s with sunshine.

Still lots of water running due to the spillway gates being open to compensate for the one generator that is under maintenance.  At the rate it is dropping, we should be to the desired 916 feet some time tomorrow late.  At that time the spillway gates should be closed, but we will probably continue to see two or three of the generators continue running until we hit 915.  We’ll just have to see!

Zach – 3/13/16

Since it is Spring Break time, we have seen lots of new, young fly fishers.  Dana was on the water Sunday with Zach from Iowa.  He had been wanting to learn fly fishing so his mother set him up with us.  I think his first fish was a nice 18″ rainbow.  He had a very good start to fly fishing on the big ruby, cerise worm and ruby 2 midge.  He definitely likes it!  Stan had Steve and his son, Clay out for the day.  They did well on the big ruby and cerise worm.

Monday, Carolyn took Matt and his son Luis out for half a day.  Good day for Luis too as one of his first fish was a 16-1/2″ rainbow he caught on the big ruby,

Luis – 3/14/16

He continued catching most of the trip and left Dad just catching a few.  Dad was okay with this as he wanted Luis to had a good time.   Stan had Steve and Clay out again for half a day.  A bit tougher day for these guys.  Boated a few fish but definitely not as good as the day before.

Two brothers, Justin and Jack, from Kansas spent Wednesday afternoon on the water with Stan.  Good day for these young fishers.  Jack’s first fish was 19-1/2″.

Jack – 3/16/16

Justin – 3/16/16

Yesterday around noon, the Corp opened five of the spillway gates. No, we

Five Gates

are not in a flood condition.  If you go to the Real Time website of the Corp of Engineers,  (http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/data/tabular/htm/tabrock.htm) you will see the following explanation.

“ATTENTION: One unit is offline for maintenance. Spillway gates are being used to make up for lost release capacity. The spillway release is approximately 5,000 cfs. [Total Release = Turbine Release + Spillway Release]”

The total release is around 15000 cfs.  According to their information, they plan to continue with spillway gates and generations until Table Rock is at 916 feet.  We are presently at 916.60 feet.  At that time they will shut down the gates and release only through the generators.

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop on this great weather.  Yesterday was in the upper 70s and sunny all day.  We are expecting that again today.  Little cool down moving through so tomorrow and Thursday will only be in the upper 60s.  Friday and Saturday a little cooler….mid to upper 50s, then back into the 60s Sunday and Monday and 70s by Tuesday.  Minimal chances of rain currently forecast through this period.

We continue to see generation.  Yesterday they ran four units for a couple hours early in the morning, then three for the balance of the day.  Today they have scheduled three units all way.

The water is still off colored, but I think it is improving a little.  At least you can see out three to four feet away from the bank in some areas.

Last Thursday, Stan took Don and Steve from Illinois our for half a day.  Very good half day for these guys.  Steve finally caught his first brown and he has been fishing with us for several years.  It was a nasty day last Thursday.  It was 50 degrees with a strong cold wind and drizzle.  But, when you’re catching fish, one can tolerate anything.  Best patterns were the cerise worm and big ruby midge.  Mark and Scott also from Illinois spent the morning on the river with Jim.  Short day for these guys as Scott underestimated how cool it was going to be on the water (despite recommendations from both Jim and Mark), and he was almost frozen in no time so off the water.

Mark – 3/11/16

Carolyn had Mark and Don on the water Friday.   Mark had the front of the boat and he was on fire.  It was another big ruby midge day.  Stan also on the water.  He had Mike who comes to us from Kansas out for half a day.  They too had a good day on the big ruby but also the cerise worm.

It managed to drizzle most of the day.  Cleared up around 2:30 p.m. when everyone came in.  No more rain for tonight, but 60% chance for showers sometime later in the day tomorrow.  Saturday looks like thunderstorms during the evening and maybe scattered showers during the day.  Sunday, more of the same,…thunderstorms developing later in the day.  Of course, Monday…weekend is over…sunny and high in the 70s.  That looks like the trend most of the week.

Three generators running most of the day at the equivalent of two units.  706 to 707 feet elevation.  Looks like they will do that again tomorrow plus run four early for a couple hours.   We just about picked up a half foot of water in Table Rock, so that wll probably continue for a few more days.

Stan on the water today with Don and Steve from Illinois.  They have fished with us for several years.  Good day for the guys on the cerise worm under the big ruby.  Good news too was that most of the fish were nice.  We have seen and heard of good days with fish 14″ and better and “dink” days with fish 10″ or less.  This was a nice fish day and plenty of them!   The only negative was the cold drizzle all morning.

Looks like the rain is going to move in pretty soon.  It was pretty this morning, with the sun shinning and temperatures in the upper 60S.  Around 11:30 a.m. there was a very light shower.  It went away but left us with overcast skies and it is looking a lot like rain.  We will see rain tonight and tomorrow.  The chances for Thursday are backing off a little.  Last time I looked it was down to 40% chance, but there are 50-60% chances into the weekend.  Now it is a wait and see just how much we get.

They do have the water off today!  Yesterday’s projection was for the water to go off at 10:00 a.m.  NOT!!  It did not happen.  However, using two units they ran the equivalent of a low one unit and it was nice.  Tomorrow’s projection is already up and they are supposed to run two units tomorrow

Everyone who came out to fish yesterday thinking they would see the bottom had a good day.  Lots of good reports on catching lots of fish.  However, today the water was off and the fishing was even better.  I was hearing numbers of 50 plus from lots of fishers.   Unfortunately, the number of fishers out today was down probably because no one believed the projection!  Well, if you came, you were rewarded.  I fished a little this morning and it was great!  They were hitting almost everything.  Black midges, big ruby, little ruby, buggers, mini slider sculpin, scuds…..

Recognize this place?

Tuesday morning – 3/8/16

Went out this morning to see what the river looked like.  It definitely has changed.  This is up by the root wad below the rebar hole.  As you can see, quite a bit of fill in up there.  Not sure, but it looks like the gravel bar along the south back down at the rockin’ chair hole is gone.  Maybe it had not dropped out enough yet, but I could see no gravel bar.  It’s just a log wider than it once was.  There is a gravel bar going further across the narrows above Trophy Run.  Created what may be a great run for fishing, but it will be a fast trip in the boats through that narrow chute and probably no rowing back up.  Might make it if you get out and pull your boat back up.  Also looks like a lot of gravel and silt have filled in between Lookout Island and the long island on the Point Royale site.

Yep!  Another great weekend.  Even had the front door opened during most of the day yesterday…it was that warm!  Today will probably hit the 70s.  Only negative, if the forecast is correct, will be the wind.  They expect a front to start being blown in today, so we should see some pretty good wind gusts.  We can handle that.  Tomorrow looks like another nice day, but showers might be moving in by tomorrow evening and definitely are in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.  Even with that, the temperatures will still remain very nice.

IF the generation projection is correct to tomorrow, we will be what Taneycomo looks like again!  They are scheduled to shut down the generations tomorrow morning around 10:00.  They are supposed to be off for fire back up around 5:00 p.m.  Everyone is anxiously awaiting to see what Taneycomo looks like after the December flood we had.  I certainly am!

Another good fly tying clinic this weekend.  We tied the JQ and Tiger Tail streamers.  Great local patterns that work with or without sinking line or leaders.  And, the nice thing about tying them is that you can customize them to meet your preferred method of fishing.  As nice as the weather was, I think some of the tiers were ready to go out and fish them.  Last session for this season next week when we will tie terrestrials.

Sunny skies through Saturday and temperatures in the 60s.  By Sunday, looks like showers are coming into the picture and hanging around for a few days.  However, temperatures continue in te 60s and possibly 70s by the coming weekend.

Darn!  Wish I could have said the generation schedule is lower today.  Beaver hit their magic number of 1121.4 feet yesterday and at that point planned to shut back on the two generators they have been running for several days.  Hoped Table Rock would follow suite.  However, as of this a.m. Beaver did back off running two generators for the entire day, but instead are running them for four hours this morning, then down to one unit for most of the day.  They will run two generators again this evening for four hours then shut her down.  Table Rock is continuing with its two units almost all day today.  Shall we hope for a change tomorrow?!…..to be continued

Ken, formerly from Kansas, who now lives in Branson took a 1/2 day float with Stan Monday.  Lots of fish, but lots of smaller fish.  Lots of wind and water too.  They were fishing the big ruby with the cerise San Juan worm dropper.  Tried stripping a little, but not much success with this.

We still have a couple spots left in the “Spey/Switch-Rod Clinic” coming up this month – March 26!!  Give us a call if you’re interested – 417-332-0460

Checked on Stan yesterday while he was out on a guide trip and he said his guest had been blown out of the boat and was floating down the river.  It was blowing yesterday!  I tried to go out the back door of the shop and had a hard time getting it open as the wind was holding it.  Glad that’s over.  Beautiful day today.  Not quite 10:00 a.m. and the temperatures is already 51 degrees and full sunshine AND no wind!  Let’s get through the next few days and we’ll be back to sunshine.  Good chance of rain starting late tonight and staying around until late morning or early afternoon on Tuesday.  Wednesday looks like partly cloudy with very late showers carrying through to Thursday.  After Thursday it’s back into sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s, and even 70s by Sunday and into next week.  Oops!  What is the saying?  “March in like a lamb…out like a lion”.

We still have the equivalent of a good two units running every day, all day.  However, I believe this will change in 2-3 more days.  At that time, Beaver will reach their goal of 1121.43.  At this point, they say they will cut back on releases to about one-fourth of a foot a day until it reaches the top of its conservation pool .  Their projection is that they will reach conservation pool by March 5.  In the meantime, when they cut back on the current flow rate Table Rock will probably follow suite and cut back on what they have been flowing, unless, of courses, there are power needs or we get a lot of rain.

Billy’s brown – 2/27/16

Billy, from Illinois, spent yesterday on the river with Stan.  Quite a ride with all the wind.  Good day for Billy on the big ruby and the cerise San Juan worm.  And he is still talking about the one that got away.  It took off up stream and snapped hit 4X in a heartbeat.  He did get a good look at it as it was going by and I bet he didn’t sleep well last night!  He has fished with us several time and this was his first brown.

Like I said in the last report, a little reality check for a few days.  However!  We are looking at upper 60s and even low 70s again for this weekend into Monday.  Tuesday is still warm, in the upper 60s, but there is a pretty good chance for scattered thunderstorms both Tuesday and Wednesday next week.  Temperatures will still remain in te mid 50s or 60s for the balance of next week.

Dumping Beaver at a rate of about 1/2 a day.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, at this rate it will take another 7–8 days before Beaver gets back to power pool.  Not sure what this means for Table Rock, but I expect to see some type of generation continue until that time.

Jim – 2/24/16

Good news is that Taneycomo is fishing good.  Wednesday Jim out with Gina yesterday.  They had a windy day of catching on an egg with a midge dropper and a small bugger.  As you can see from the picture, it was a little blustery out there but it did not affect the catching!

Reality had to set in on this wonderful weather we have been having.  However looks like it won’t last long.  Today through Thursday, temperatures are predicted to be in the upper 40s…..more normal.  Some chance for rain, but that sounds like a long shot.  The worse thing I am seeing in the weather forecasts is the wind.  20-30 mph tomorrow and 15-25 mph on Thursday.  Throw a line in that!

Generation was bumped up today to a low two units.  They are using three units to run the equivalent of two.  Beaver is running both their generators, and I imagine Table Rock will keep pace with this input to keep us at or below power pool.

Orin – 2/21/16

A couple more good days on the water.  Sunday, Stan took Dennis and his son Orin out for the afternoon.  Looked line rain Sunday morning so they thought an afternoon trip would be drier.  Good move.  Maybe a few sprinkles in the a.m. but it was definitely warmer and the sun even came out for the afternoon.  Orin had a new fly rod that he needed to christen.  Mission accomplished.  Among the several fish he landed, was a nice 18-1/2″ rainbow.  All in all, a very good day.

Monday, David, from Oklahoma had a late

David – 2/22/16

morning trip with Stan.  Good day for them on the cerise or white San Juan worms.  A little cool in the morning, but it warmed up pretty good.