Things to do

Lake Taneycomo

Lake Taneycomo runs through Branson below Table Rock Dam, past Branson Landing's 1.5 miles of waterfront. Cold water from the depths of Table Rock Lake, about 48°F, flows in when the dam generates power, and trout rules apply: you may keep 4 trout a day, only one of them a brown trout of 20 inches or more, and you need a trout permit to keep trout anywhere on the lake, or to fish at all upstream of the U.S. 65 bridge.

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Trout rules

Checked November 7, 20264 trout a dayTrout permit needed

Lake Taneycomo, Branson, Missouri · Photo: Luke Wisley / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · Credits

Trout rules

Fishing rules on Lake Taneycomo

The strictest rules apply between the closed zone below the dam and the mouth of Fall Creek.

Daily limit: 4 trout in all, with no more than 1 brown trout
Brown trout: 20 inches or longer
No fishing: Within 760 feet below Table Rock Dam
From the closed zone to Fall Creek: Rainbow trout of 12 to 20 inches go back; pole and line only; flies and artificial lures only, no soft plastics or natural or scented baits
Permits: Upstream of the U.S. 65 bridge you need a trout permit to fish for any species, even if you release everything, plus a Missouri fishing permit unless you're exempt. Anywhere on the lake you need a trout permit to keep trout
Permit prices: Trout permit $12 for residents, $24 for nonresidents, $6 for ages 15 and under. Nonresident fishing permit $9 a day or $57 a year; residents pay $14
Waders: No felt or other porous soles
Keeping trout: Leave the head, tail and skin on where length limits apply

Fish hatchery

Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery

The hatchery's grounds and trails are open from early morning to late evening; the education center keeps shorter hours.

Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery: Run by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Education center: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm; closed Sunday and Monday
Grounds: Daily, 4 am to 10 pm
Trails: About 3 miles, some with fishing access to the lake
Trout raised: 350,000 to 400,000 pounds of rainbow and brown trout a year; about 80% go into Lake Taneycomo
Inside: An education center opened in 2024 with a 7,500-gallon aquarium, wildlife exhibits and a video on raising trout
Address: 483 Hatchery Road, off Highway 165 below Table Rock Dam

Boats

Renting a boat on Taneycomo

Lilleys' Landing Resort & Marina at 367 River Lane rents pontoons, bass boats and jon boats. Prices include gas and tax, and life jackets come with the boat. Two-hour rentals are walk-in only, as the schedule allows. If you were born after January 1, 1984, you need a Missouri boater certification card to drive a motorized boat.

Reserve a boat at Lilleys' Landing

Boat rentals on Table Rock Lake

Branson Landing

Lilleys' Landing boat rentals
Boat	2 hours	4 hours	8 hours	Full day
23 ft tritoon or 22 ft pontoon	$175	$350	$450	$490
Bass boat, up to 6	$150	$275	$325	$375
20 ft jon boat, up to 5	$100	$159	$179	$199
18 ft jon boat, up to 3	$90	$149	$169	$189

Fishing spots

Cold water, docks and a float

Lake Taneycomo runs right past downtown Branson, from Table Rock Dam to Branson Landing and beyond.

Check the dam before you wade

When Table Rock Dam starts generating, the water below it rises and speeds up quickly, so wade only when the dam is off and head for the bank as soon as the water climbs. Southwestern Power Administration posts the day's planned generation online and at 866-494-1993, and releases follow power demand, so they shift through the day.

Why there are trout here

Water from the bottom of Table Rock Lake stays about 48°F all year. When the dam generates power it pours into Lake Taneycomo, which ended the old warm-water fishery and made the lake ideal for trout. The hatchery has stocked it since 1958.

North Beach Park

Next to Branson Landing, with two fishing docks, picnic tables and grills. Its paved path joins the Landing boardwalk for about three-quarters of a mile along the water; park in the Belk lot.

Float from the dam

From the hatchery's concrete boat ramp it's 5 miles downstream to MDC's Cooper Creek Access, a popular float when Table Rock Dam is generating.

Fish from the hatchery trails

Some of the hatchery's 3 miles of trails lead down to the water and give fishing access to Lake Taneycomo; stay out of the closed zone 760 feet below the dam.

Stay nearby

Stay by Lake Taneycomo

At Branson Landing, or on East Highway 76 across the lake.

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What people ask

Quick answers

How cold is Lake Taneycomo?

The water released from Table Rock Lake's depths, about 48°F year-round, flows into Lake Taneycomo when the dam generates power.

What are the trout rules on Lake Taneycomo?

Up to 4 trout a day, with only one brown trout, which must be 20 inches or more. From the closed zone below the dam to Fall Creek, rainbows of 12 to 20 inches go back and only flies and artificial lures are allowed, with no soft plastics or natural or scented baits.

Do I need a trout permit if I release everything?

Upstream of the U.S. 65 bridge, yes: there you need a trout permit to fish for any species. Downstream, you need one only to keep trout.

Where can you fish Lake Taneycomo from shore?

From the two fishing docks at North Beach Park next to Branson Landing, and from trails at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery below Table Rock Dam, outside the closed zone of 760 feet below the dam.

Is Lake Taneycomo stocked with trout?

Yes. The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery raises 350,000 to 400,000 pounds of rainbow and brown trout a year, and about 80% of them go into Lake Taneycomo.

Can you float Lake Taneycomo?

Yes. A popular float runs 5 miles from the hatchery boat ramp below the dam to the Cooper Creek Access, best when the dam is generating.