Taneycomo/Ozarks Area Info

[Connor Donovan]

Fellow Fly Rodders,

Has anyone fished Lake Taneycomo in Missouri? I'm driving from DC to Denver the last week of June and this tail water/impoundment is high on my list of places to stop.  I haven't ruled out a getting a guide yet but wanted to see if anyone has fished this area. 

Any suggestions on guides, wading spots, camping spots, or other Ozark-area waters would be greatly appreciated.  I've done a lot of research and have called a few shops but wanted to get any feedback y'all may have to offer.

Also, if you do plan to do some fishing in the AR/MO area, there is a great resource similar to TPFR that is worth checking out - http://flyfishingarkansasandmissouri.yuku.com/

Thanks in advance,

Connor

[Mary Edmondson]

Hi Connor,

Some of the long time TPFR members will remember me, I used to work at the Orvis in Arlington with Dan, and now have the good fortune of being the store manager of the Orvis in the Kansas City area. Obviously I still lurk and read the posts, and finally I can be of some help!

Taneycomo is definitely worth a stop, there are some seriously nice fish to be caught, and it tends to be a lot less crowded than other places in the area. If you are able to get a guide, go with River Run Outfitters (www.riverrunoutfitters.com). They're great guides, and pretty reasonably priced. Also, if you want some less rustic accommodations, they have cabins that they rent out. If you do want to camp, Table Rock State Park is the way to go.

Other places you might want to check out fishing...Roaring River isn't too far from Taneycomo. Obviously you've checked out going down into Arkansas...if you do, the White River would be my suggestion. If you're up for smaller water, Crane Creek near Springfield, MO is also a lot of fun to fish.

Whether or not you go with a guide, give my fishing manager Nathan a call at our store (913-491-6840). He was a guide on Taneycomo for eight years before coming to work for us, and he can give you some more information on wading spots, flies, everything you'll need to know. He'll also never pass up a chance to get out and fish, so if you decide not to go with a guide and he can get away from his newborn twin girls (it's not too difficult...he and his wife have been out fishing and turkey hunting since they've been born), he'd be glad to help out himself.

Hope this helps...a call to Nathan definitely will. Whichever way you decide to go, we'll make sure you have an awesome trip report to post.
-Mary

[Andrew LaVigne]

Former Missourian here....

Couple of resources: 

http://www.flyfishingtheozarks.com/ - Brian Wise is the guy who runs the site, guides on the North Fork of the White (which is down in that area).

http://ozarkchronicles.com/ - not updated as much anymore, but blog/resource site from a guy who fishes that area on the regular. 

http://flyfisharkansas.com/ - website for Jim "Jimmy T" Traylor. Great guide on the White River in Arkansas; if you're down as far off I-70 as Taneycomo, might be worth just heading all the way down to the White/Norfork tailwaters. 

Any of the tailwaters (Norfork, White, Taneycomo) can be wadeable in the right water conditions, but those conditions change based on power generation needs, and can blow out the wading in a heartbeat. Going with a guide in a boat is just a much more reliable way to cover the water at those spots.