Branson, Missouri is well-known for great entertainment with its live shows and theme parks, as well as its many shopping opportunities and an unending selection of great dining. If you love fishing, they have plenty of that too. Add it to your list of New Year’s resolutions for a great fishing trip in 2023.
With three lakes and numerous rivers and streams, there is no shortage of fishing opportunities. Bring your own boat/kayak/canoe, rent one, or just fish from a dock or the shoreline. If you want to be sure you will catch fish and have a good time, hire one of the many fishing guides in the Branson area. You can find information about guides along with other information about Branson’s Great Outdoors at www.explorebranson.com/outdoors.
Here are some fishing opportunities in waters surrounded by the beautiful Ozarks Mountains.
TABLE ROCK LAKE
Table Rock is well-known across America because of its 43,000 acres of water, miles of beautiful, tree-lined shores, and the great variety of fishing. Southern Living Magazine ranked it as one of the South’s Greatest Lakes. It is renowned among anglers for its bass and offers fishing for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. You can also fish for white bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, bluegill, and even the prehistoric paddlefish. The lake holds the state record for spotted bass at 7-pounds 8-ounces and white bass at 5-pounds 6-ounces.
LAKE TANEYCOMO
The smallest of the three lakes is more like a big river than a lake. Lake Taneycomo has just 40 miles of shoreline but is known worldwide as one of the best trout-fishing lakes in America. Three-quarters of a million rainbow and brown trout are put into these waters yearly. The Taneycomo cold water makes for ideal fishing all year long. The Missouri state records for brown trout and rainbow trout came from Taneycomo. Some believe the next world-record brown trout will come from these waters.
In the warmer water of the lower part of the lake, you can also catch all three species of black bass, including largemouth up to 20 inches. Walleye and crappie are also in Taneycomo.
BULL SHOALS LAKE
Bull Shoals is recognized as a great lake to fish for several species in both the Missouri and Arkansas portions. Catch rates for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass are excellent. The 13-pound, 14-ounce state record largemouth came from these waters.
The 65-pound, 14-ounce state-record striped bass came from here. An angler even caught a 58-pound, 48-inch striper from here.
Walleye’s numbers are excellent. A high percentage of legal-size fish are caught, including the 21-pound, 1-ounce Missouri state record. White bass and crappie numbers are also good, as are channel and blue catfish.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
Float fishing in the Branson area’s many streams in canoes, kayaks, and john boats or wade fishing is also a quiet, beautiful way to enjoy the scenery and catch fish. A search on www.explorebranson.com/outdoors will lead you to several float fishing guides and more information that will help you make great memories in 2023 floating and fishing an Ozarks river or stream.
Go to www.explorebranson.com to find out everything there is to do in Branson when you are not out catching fish.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bransonmo/collections/72157634981412239/
Media Contacts: Larry Whiteley Lynn Berry
Outdoor Ambassador Director of Communications
Branson CVB Branson CVB
larrywhiteley2@gmail.com lberry@bransoncvb.com
417-830-9023 417-243-2137
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