Sportshow, lake Taneycomo remain popular attractions for fishermen

Two Iowa anglers, Fred Simms and Jack Harper, Des Moines, have made it a point to fish in Missouri right after the KC Sportshow. This year was no exception.

The Iowa anglers made the trip to Table Rock Sunday, but found their favorite spot near Kimberling City hadn't been producing fish this month so they moved over to Taneycomo and were glad they did.

They left the Sportshow a little early and were able to get some fishing in by late afternoon. Harper said, "We had heard that Taneycomo was a good trout fishing spot in the winter and now we know why. In past years we didn't try it because we were catching fish at Table Rock, but the guides we talked to said the fishing was off so we decided to try Taneycomo."

Simms said, "On our first time out at Taneycomo we had our limit within two hours and had released several small fish. It was some of the best winter fishing we have found. We plan on hitting Stockton and the Lake of the Ozarks on the way home to ad some crappie to our freezer when we get home."

In the past, February has been one of the better months for catching big trout at Taneycomo. Jim Nelson, Branson, recalled that back in 1970 he took 14 rainbow trout over four pounds including a seven-pounder.

"It was great," he said. "You could plan on trout for dinner without thinking about it, but things have changed today. You might get dinner, but then again, you may not."

Bob Dickson, another Branson angler who fishes Taneycomo a lot during the year said, "We have a lot more pressure today than 20 years ago so you don't catch as many big fish. Back when I first fished the lake you could catch crappie, bass, walleye and white bass along with the trout. I know I caught some big walleye and bass at the lower end of the lake, but today a crappie or walleye are hard to come by."

As far back as in the 60s, fishing for the larger trout in February has been good for me. Most of my largest fish taken has been in that month including an eight pounder during a tournement that helped me win. Included in the limit of trout was two fish over four pounds. Since that February, I have always managed to hook some big trout in February usually in the same area of the lake where I found success before.

Be that as it may, the Iowa anglers were happy and will be planning on returning next year after the Sportshow where they work a booth.

Some big trout stories were flying around the trout tank at the 2009 Sportshow last week. Dave Roberts, Independence, had just returned from Taneycomo and reported success on a Little Cleo spoon. "We hit one spot and started hooking trout up to two pounds as we drifted downstream. We floated and fished until the fish quit hitting. It was a lot of fun until other fishermen saw us and moved in and the fish stopped hitting."

Taneycomo has been one of the bright spots this winter although crappie fishing has been good some days and fishing for bass has been good using jerkbaits, but the size has been small. At times, crappie have hit below the dam at Truman and around docks at several of the big impoundments in the state. Carl Watson, a Cameron angler/farmer, has a five acre pond stocked with crappie. Last winter he fished through the ice and caught crappie up to two pounds.

However, so far this winter he hasn't had enough ice to venture out on the pond to try for the crappie. "I was planning on having a mess of fresh caught crappie this month, but it looks like I will have to wait awhile or go to a friend's dock at the lake of the Ozarks to get them," he said.

Walt Davis, Warrensburg, was thinking positive when he said, "It's just a little over a month and a half before the trout parks open and then for the next two months the fishing will be great. I have been sharpening up hooks, cleaning up reels and rearranging my tackle box so I'll be ready."

The catch-and-release fishing at the trout parks is now open through Feb. 9, but the March 1 opener always draws crowds of anglers eager to catch and keep limits of four trout. With the opening day this year falling on a Sunday, larger crowds are expected.