🎅 Santa Brought the Bite This December
December is one of my favorite months to fish Lake Taneycomo. The crowds thin out, the trout settle into predictable feeding lanes, and the lake turns into a true winter tailwater fishery. With deer season pulling a lot of pressure away from the water, the trout have been noticeably more relaxed and willing to feed.
We’ve been seeing steady action throughout the system, with strong numbers of healthy rainbows and some quality fish mixed in. Most trips are producing 30+ trout, and the bite has been especially good during early mornings, cloudy days, and stable weather patterns.
Water Conditions
Water conditions have been excellent for winter fishing. Generation from Table Rock Dam has been steady and moderate, creating ideal feeding lanes for trout to sit and conserve energy while feeding on drifting insects.
Water temperatures are cold, but stable — perfect for consistent midge activity. Trout are holding in clean current seams and feeding heavily when presentations are slow, natural, and precise.
As always, check the generation schedule before heading out. Knowing when the water is steady versus changing makes a big difference in how and where you should fish.
Fly Fishing & Wading — Below Table Rock Dam
The upper lake below Table Rock Dam continues to be the most consistent stretch right now, especially for fly anglers. This is classic winter tailwater fishing, and the trout are keyed in on small food.
Top patterns:
- Ruby, black, brown, and two-tone midges (#18–20)
- Scuds in tan or gray (#16–18)
- Soft hackles on cloudy or low-light days
Indicator depths have been running:
- 6–9 feet in the main current lanes
- 4–5 feet when fish are suspended mid-column
Cold water means trout want small flies and clean drifts. Often, simply changing bead color or wire color will turn a slow drift into a hot one. On good days, anglers are catching 30–50 fish with plenty of solid rainbows and the occasional larger brown mixed in.
Boat Fishing — Fall Creek to Table Rock Dam
Fly Fishing from the Boat:
Drifting the upper section with steady generation has been very productive. Double midge rigs and midge/scud combinations with split shot are producing well. Run longer leaders (9–12 ft) to stay in the strike zone, and keep your drifts slow and controlled.
Spin Fishing from the Boat:
For anglers using spinning gear, indicator rigs have been extremely effective. Micro jigs, worms, midges, or scuds under a float on 2–4 lb fluorocarbon are easy to fish and catch plenty of trout.
Jerkbaits have also been a standout option this month, especially for targeting bigger rainbows. Productive colors include pro blue, French pearl, ghost patterns, and natural shad or rainbow finishes. Use a slow pull with long pauses — 3–6 seconds isn’t too long in cold water.
Lower Lake — Fall Creek to Branson Landing
Below Fall Creek, trout spread out more, but the bite remains steady, especially for anglers looking for relaxed, family-friendly fishing.
Fly Fishing:
Midges and soft hackles continue to produce along current seams and depth changes, especially early in the morning before boat traffic picks up.
Spin & Bait Fishing:
This section has been excellent for bait fishing and simple float rigs.
Best baits this month:
- PowerBait in chartreuse, pink, orange, and white
- Nightcrawlers (a top producer)
- Corn
- Micro jigs in the 1/80–1/64 oz range
Boat drifting nightcrawlers with light weights (just enough to maintain bottom contact without dragging) has been very effective.
Fishing from the Docks
Dock fishing has been solid throughout December, especially during low-light periods. Trout are cruising and feeding consistently when boat traffic is minimal.
Effective setups include:
- Micro jigs under small floats on 2 lb test
- PowerBait in white, chartreuse, or pink
- Nightcrawlers, wax worms, or mealworms suspended under a bobber
Keep an eye out for subtle surface activity early and late — a small spinner or spoon can be fun when trout push bait toward the surface.
Overall Outlook
December fishing on Lake Taneycomo has been outstanding. Steady flows, cold water, strong midge activity, and reduced fishing pressure have combined to create some of the most consistent winter fishing we’ve seen in years.
If you enjoy predictable trout behavior, steady action, and quiet days on the water, winter is hard to beat on Taneycomo.
Let’s Go Fishing!
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.
If I’m booked, call 417-460-5727 and one of my trusted guides will take great care of you.