On vacation this year, we decided to go to a place that none of us had ever been to in the Midwest. Considering what a tourist area this is, it is hard to believe that none of us had ever been there before. It was Branson, Missouri. Right outside of Branson, is a lake called Table Rock Lake, but on the other side of the dam is Lake Taneycomo. I thought of it as looking more like a river than a lake (but what do I know?) We happened to be looking over this lake as the sun was setting and even though the glare of the sun on the lens was difficult to get the camera focused, I managed to get this shot.Lake Taneycomo was created in 1913 as a warm water lake and in 1958 became a cold-water lake when the Table Rock Dam was completed. The clear cold waters from the deep Tail waters of Table Rock Lake pour out of the dam into Lake Taneycomo. These cold waters of Lake Taneycomo provide for some of the finest trout fishing anywhere in the world. All methods of trout fishing, fly-fishing, artificial bait, and live bait fishing may be used year-round to pursue the elusive Trout that inhabit the waters of Lake Taneycomo. Lake Taneycomo originated when the White River was confined by the completion of the "Power Site" Dam, near Forsyth, Missouri. Empire Electric Company privately owns the Power Site Dam. From 1913 until 1958 it was a warm water lake. The completion of Table Rock Dam in 1958 changed the source of water to Taneycomo from that of the White River's flowing waters to the bottom tail water of Table Rock Lake from the dam spillway. This created a cold water fishery. To take advantage of this change the Missouri Department of Conservation constructed the "Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hatchery".
Today Lake Taneycomo has some of the best trout fishing in the nation. Lake Taneycomo has the characteristics of both a river and a lake for anglers to enjoy. The shallow colder water, located near the Table Rock Dam, averages 48 degrees F, resembles a river and permits wading and bank fishing for trout. The average temperature of the water gets warmer and the depth of the Lake deepens to depths in excess of 50 feet near Lake Taneycomo and the Power Site Dam in Forsyth. When Table Rock Dam is generating power its current is very strong throughout its whole length, its water temperature drops, and for all practical purposes it becomes a very deep, cold, fast running river. Exactly how deep, cold, and fast depends on how many generators are being used to generate electricity at Table Rock Dam.
As for Branson, Missouri, it was very touristy (is that a word?) but we had a nice week there and had a very relaxing week there with our kids and grandkids. The grandkids favorite part is always the pool. I have decided that it doesn't matter where you go or what you do on vaction, but just have a swimming pool for the little kids and it will be a GREAT VACATION FOR EVERYONE!
