Photo by Tom Evans

Summertime fishing: The days are hot, the water's hot and the bass are only biting deep, if at all. Even worse, you don't like to fish at night. What to do? All is not lost. For one thing, not all the bass are as deep as you think. And even if they are there are deepwater options available, good ones in fact. You just need to know where to fish -- and with what -- to enjoy summer daytime bassing success.

We'll cover five of the best in the state. All are accessible from major highways, have full service marinas, dining facilities, lodging and plenty of recreation for the family.

LAKE TANEYCOMO
Lake Taneycomo, near Branson, is best known as a trout lake, but it'll produce good largemouths under the right conditions. To fish Taneycomo's waters properly, you need to understand a little of her history. This White River impoundment began life as a warmwater fishery when the Power Site dam was built in 1913 on the river at Mile Marker 506.8. Forty-five years later, conditions changed. In 1958 the dam at Table Rock was completed; it's located at Mile Marker 528.8.

In no time flat, Taneycomo was transformed into a coldwater lake. The water temperature dropped almost overnight. The frigid waters churning through the generators at Table Rock get the credit. (Or maybe, depending upon your point of view, the blame.)

According to Bill Anderson, the Missouri Department of Conservation fisheries biologist assigned to the lake, Taneycomo is a great place for a big one. When asked, he defined "big one" as 6 pounds or better. (To be fair, however, it's not the best numbers lake.) Anderson, himself an avid angler, reports that the key to largemouth bass fishing here is the power-generation schedule. Because the water is so cold, the current flow affects the bass in a very immediate way. When the generation is slow or nonexistent, anglers will find most of the fish off the bank, holding near the deep, main lake ledges and along the main channel. Without a strong current flow the water warms and the bass seek relief in deepwater sanctuaries.

Any of the usual deepwater lures will provoke strikes. Try jig and pig combinations in black and blue, silver or gold blade baits and Carolina rigged plastics. Lizards, creature baits and big worms are all popular and effective. The better colors are purple, watermelon and red flake against almost any translucent background. Drag or hop your lure along the shallow side of a ledge or channel. Every now and then allow the bait to drop over the edge of the break into deeper water.

If the plant is generating, fish shallower areas. The generation chills the water very rapidly, causing the largemouths to look for any warmth they can find. In most cases, that'll be in spots with little or no current and lots of strong sunlight. Typical locations include boat docks, marinas, submerged brushpiles and rock.

Work these areas with spinnerbaits, shallow-running crankbaits and even topwater plugs if the water is less than 10 feet deep. Match your lure color to the prevailing water clarity. If it's clear, throw light natural colors. If the water is stained, try bright colors and combinations of high contrasting colors.

Professional guide Bill Babler, (417) 332-7016, has a very different view of summer bassin' on Taneycomo. He recommends ignoring the generation schedule and fishing the numerous coves and bays, especially those on the east side from the Old 65 Bridge to Forsyth.