Table Rock Dam

MDC Lake Taneycomo fishing report · Nov 5, 2026

Lake Taneycomo is primarily a trout fishery. Approximately 90 percent of the fish that anglers catch are rainbow trout, with brown trout comprising another 6 to 7 percent of the catch. A limited fishery for other species is present within the lower part of the lake, primarily below Rockaway Beach. Rainbow and brown trout populations in Lake Taneycomo are maintained through releases of hatchery-reared trout. Approximately 560,000 rainbow trout and 15,000 brown trout are stocked annually into Lake Taneycomo. The first 1.5 miles of Lake Taneycomo is heavily influenced by hydropower releases. During heavy generation periods, this reach contains deep, swift-moving water. Safe fishing is restricted to shoreline areas and drifting in boats at these times. During non-generation periods, the entire area becomes a series of shallow, slow-moving pools interspersed with a few short, shallow riffles. Boating is difficult and hazardous under these conditions and nearly all anglers either wade or fish from the bank. Deeper water limits further downstream wade fishing and boat fishing becomes progressively more popular downstream. Cooper Creek Access, Rockaway Beach Access, and Empire Electric Park each have covered public fishing docks that are accessible to disabled users. Several fishing docks are also available to the public in the Branson Lakeside RV Park and along the lakefront at the Branson Landing. Numerous privately-owned docks and resorts offer additional fishing access. Table Rock Dam to Fall Creek: Due to bait restrictions and a 12”-20” protected slot limit, this area consistently maintains a higher fish density than the portions of the lake below Fall Creek. Here, anglers are required to immediately release all rainbow trout between 12” and 20". Quality sized rainbow trout are abundant in this area as a result of the slot limit and have increased even more in recent years.