Lake Taneycomo

About Lake Taneycomo

Lake Taneycomo is a beautiful lake in the heart of Missouri, USA, just outside St. Louis, Missouri. Add to that the beautiful scenery of the Missouri River and its many lakes, and it's easy to see why this lake is a vacation paradise.

The Powersite Dam, also known as the Ozark Beach Dam, was Missouri's first hydroelectric power plant when it was built by the Ozarks Power and Water Company in 1911. The lake was created for flood control, hydropower and recreation, but it's also a great place to head to Missouri for the treats of the OzARK Mountains. Lake Taneycomo was originally created by the construction of a dam on the Missouri River in the early 19th century.

In 1958, the Table Rock Dam was completed upstream of Lake Taneycomo, and the lake's environment changed almost overnight. The lake became a cold water lake and was filled with cold water flowing down from the bottom of the Table Rock Lake. Today, the dam and lake level are owned by Empire Electrical Company, which also operates the Ozarks Power and Water Company and other hydroelectric plants.

The water flow from Table Rock Dam can change hourly, and the temperature and water conditions of Lake Taneycomo depend on whether it is used or not.

When the Table Rock Dam generates electricity, Lake Taneycomo is a fast-flowing river and therefore has the characteristics of a lake and a river. Where the lake is deep, the water is warm, but when it is shallow, it is cold. The unique conditions of this lake make it one of the most diverse fishing lakes in the country, where both cold and warm water fish live.

In 1997, the Missouri Department of Conservation designated the upper part of the lake as a rainbow trout trophy area, and fly fishing is very popular here. When the Table Rock Dam drains the water, the conditions can be dangerous, so fishermen can wade into the lake and fish in all parts of the lake and river. Fishermen can also move into and out of Lake Taneycomo in the summer months when the horn sounds.

It is important to check the conditions with local authorities for changes in water level, water temperature and other conditions, as well as weather conditions.

Fishermen need to adapt their fishing techniques to the conditions of the lake, and hiring a guide can be helpful. The well-developed lake offers guided tours and all the facilities for the marina, and visitors can rent canoes, kayaks and fishing boats. Fishermen can catch perch and toads, as well as perch, trout and other fish in the shallow waters of Lake Taneycomo.

Due to the water temperature there is not much swimming or water skiing, but visitors can go out on the lake. Accommodation options range from resorts to campsites and RV parks to visitors from across the United States who come to Taneycomo for camping, fishing and other activities.

In 1957, the Missouri Department of Conservation established the Taneycomo National Wildlife Refuge, one of the first national parks in the United States. It covers 211 hectares, 84 of which have been built up, and includes a nature conservation centre.

This is a great place for families, and children and adults will be enthusiastic about the development of trout and feeding the fish by hand. With its well developed coastline and a variety of lakes and rivers, Lake Taneycomo has something for everyone and has become a popular destination for fishermen. Almost three-quarters of a million trout are caught in the lake each year, most of them from the Shepherd Hills.