Hot August action with trout biting all day!
If you’re looking to hook into some hard‑fighting trout this week, Lake Taneycomo is fishing strong from top to bottom. With steady water releases from Table Rock Dam, the current is keeping oxygen levels high and trout on the move, which means I’m seeing good feeding activity throughout the day.
Mornings have been especially productive with cooler temps and clear skies. When I drift the upper lake trophy area near the dam, I’m putting clients on solid numbers of rainbow trout in the 13‑ to 16‑inch range, with the occasional bruiser pushing 18 inches or more.
My go‑to setups have been orange, white, or pink egg patterns with a gray or tan scud fly trailing, micro jigs under floats, and #14 Zebra Midges in black or red. In the slower flows, light tippet (6x) and subtle presentations have been the key to consistent hookups.
By afternoon, the bite shifts toward the mid‑lake stretches.
Here, I’m seeing both bait and fly anglers do well with chartreuse or garlic PowerBait, nightcrawlers drifted near the bottom, and 1/16‑ounce white or ginger marabou jigs along the bluff walls—especially in shaded spots.
Fish are cruising just off the ledges, using the current seams to ambush an easy meal.
The brown trout bite has been tougher, but I’ve still seen a few landed on larger streamers and jerkbaits early in the morning or when cloud cover rolls in. If you’re chasing browns, focus your efforts near the outlets and structure‑rich areas.
Water clarity is excellent right now, and the generation schedule has been keeping the lake cool and moving. I always recommend checking the SWPA forecast before you head out, because flows can change quickly and completely shift how I approach the water.
If you’d like to get out on the water, book a trip with me. I’ve been guiding on Lake Taneycomo for over 27 years, and I’d love to put you on fish while sharing the techniques that consistently produce in any condition.