Drift Boats and Rainbows in Branson

I fished Lake Taneycomo this week in Branson with James from River Run Outfitters. I really enjoyed fishing with him and would use him again in a heartbeat, he was a good guide.

This was my first time to fish from a drift boat. I've been skeptical of them and I never understood why some folks have such reverence for them. OK, it didn't take long to start understanding. They are very nice to fish from. James has a 2016 Clackacraft and I suspect my first experience was in an above average example, because that was a really nice boat. Drift boat are a lot more stable than I expected.

The day started with a light rain that stopped shortly after we started fishing. The rain cooled off the day and we had wonderful weather the rest of the day. It was an unusually cool day for August. Hey, I'll take luck with the weather anytime.

Most of the fish were taken either on a 2 nymph rig or by stripping streamers. The best nymphs were a size 12 Ruby midge and a size 18 Ruby 2. The streamer was a Tiger Tail fly. This style of streamer fishing was also new to me, but I will definitely do this again. Drift the fly down stream and the strip it back upstream to the boat using 2 quick strips and pause. There is no doubt when the fish hits. They hit hard. The streamer fishing was a lot of fun. Both fly patterns are available on the shop's website.

I finished the day casting a hopper. The trout would rise to it and one took the dropper, but the only thing that took the hopper was a nice sized Bluegill. Not sure what he was doing in there with the trout.

Other than the lone Bluegill, all fish were Rainbows. The best were about 16 inches or so, with most of them in the 14 inch range. The trout were very colorful fish. No trophies, but we both caught fish through the trip and had a fun day.

Best day, I've spent in Branson.

River Run are good folks, real good folks. Carolyn the owner is an excellent instructor and guide. She taught my wife how to cast a fly rod very well. I have fished with her from a drift boat and wading several times, She is fun to fish with and can handle a drift boat as well as any including pushing it upstream against current when they are generating pretty heavy.

Great post! I love being on the water early enough to catch the fog burning off.

It's a great way to cover a lot of water efficiently.

I'm amazed that there are still some skeptical folks out there.

Solid post. Good job.

I agree, one of the friendliest shops I've ever been in.

The boat in the fog may be Carolyn. She was on the water that day too.

Thanks. I agree, I enjoy being on the water with the fog too. It always seems so peaceful.

Meadowlark, when comes to fishing, I'm pretty much always skeptical until I try something myself. To paraphrase Lefty, "There is more BS in fly fishing than a Kansas City feedlot".

There's a lot of myth and "image" associated with fly fishing. I learned a long time ago that just because someone got published, it doesn't mean that whatever they wrote actually works.

So, yep, I was a little skeptical about drift boats. I was surprised, they are a very functional design that was much more stable that expected. I enjoyed fishing from one. However, I don't see myself buying one anytime soon. They do have one major flaw, someone has to man the oars...

[quote=RexW....... They do have one major flaw, someone has to man the oars...


[/quote]

One guys "flaw" is another's blessing, LOL.

For me, when I get a chance to fish a great river, I want to spend my time fishing...trying to make the perfect cast, getting that natural presentation, and working the "take". I'm more than happy to let someone else (pay them) do the work with the oars.

I've fished the Norfork, White, San Juan, Green, Big Hole, Lee's Ferry, Roaring all out of drift boats several times and can't recall ever having a bad trip.

I wasn't aware of anyone offering drift trips on Taney...so glad to learn about that contact.

Thanks for that info. I'll be going this fall, hopefully.

I agree Meadowlark, it was nice to have someone else (that knew what they were doing) man the oars. I am ready to do it again.

Cody and I fished Tanneycomo from his flats boat, and to get the same effect you got in that wonderful drift boat, we pointed the bow towards the dam, hooked a chain on the front to keep us aligned and slow our drift, and fished. However, we still floated too quickly, so we would motor back up and run the river/lake again. I'm glad you had a fun trip. Was this an auction-won trip by any chance?

Man, that's an understatement. I wonder what else out there suffers this same phenomenon. Bowling, maybe? I sure hope so, because that's a heartwarming and ridiculous thought.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, by the way. Love the fog in that first pic.

Julia, it was not an auction trip although RR did donate a trip this year. This trip was more a spur of the moment "let's get out of town" type of trip.

Hey, we need to see some pictures from your Alaska trip. It sounds like you had success with different species.

Thanks Floon, it was fun to be on the water in the fog.

I keep thinking that there was a Tanneycomo fishing trip donated in this year's auction, but maybe not, so that is why I thought this about your trip. I'm glad to know it is fishing well. Cody and I can't decide whether we'll take fly rods on our solar eclipse trip or not. Much will be devoted to Cody's astrophotography, so the decision's up in the air, but it's good to know the river/lake is doing well, just in case we do take our rods. Thanks for the report, Rex.

When we have a chance to go through all our photos, I'll share some Alaska photos; however, I had a great time watching Cody on the last day trying to get the Alaska Grand Slam.

One year I caught a bass in there with those trout. I'm assuming when Table Rock overflows those bass and bluegill get washed in to Taneycomo.

Tanneycomo is not just trout stream. As the water warms the further downstream towards Powersite it becomes a good place to fish for, smallmouth, largemouth bass along with bluegill.

Caught a sandBass and a smallmouth on a scud last year.

Thanks Julia, I love the colors of the first and third fish.


LWS, they had a major flood this spring and the guide said they had been catching bluegill and bass in the trout area ever since. Sadly, there were still severely flood damaged houses along the lake.

The bass I caught(in the trout area) was also after a major flood, back in the late eighties or early nineties.

A few paddle fish were caught after the flood as well! Those are big prehistoric fish right there

Rex I got to fish the Snake at Jackson Hole a couple of days last year in a drift boat. My first time in one and I enjoyed it as well.