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Branson, Missouri's Area Lakes

Long before Branson, Missouri became known as the live music capitol of the world, visitors have been flocking to the White River Basin in the scenic Ozark Mountains for some of the best trout and bass fishing in the country. The creation of Powersite Dam, Bull Shoals Dam and then Table Rock Dam changed the area of the White River rapids to 3 very individual fishing and recreational areas: Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake where visitors can enjoy the open waters of the lakes all year round.

At any one of the three lakes in Branson you can find your own special day. Whether you are searching for the extremes of an adventure, an adrenalin rush, unstoppable fun or simply relaxing - peacefully in a charming and serene hideaway by the lake. Maybe a picnic in a shaded spot beside the lake with your loved ones is what you are after or taking your son scuba-diving for the first time, water skiing, parasailing, a kayaking adventure, swimming or just plain fishing!

With the beauty of the Ozark Mountains as the backdrop you can enjoy the soaring of bald eagles, graceful deer standing in the shelter of the trees around you and cranes, ducks and many other water birds swimming peacefully in their own little water territories. The Branson lakes area is wonderful for the whole family, and in the busiest summer months, there is so much room, all of our visitors can find a secluded spot to drop in a fishing line. There’s even enough room to find a special spot to just delight peacefully in the sights before your eyes.

Water enthusiasts will find a wide array of recreational activities. Whether you want to bring your own boat and gear or rent it once you are here, you have your choice of places to service you with fuel, supplies, and a wide range of rentals including ski, pontoon, and bass boats, wave runners, parasails, paddleboats, sail boats, scuba diving and houseboats. Public beaches as well as beaches at the resorts and campgrounds along the lakes provide the perfect spots for swimming.

Visitors to Branson will find some of the best top sport freshwater fishing in the country at any of our 3 lakes  with a variety of fish - great for eating and for trophies. Various species are found in our lakes but trout and bass fishing are the very best. The lakes continue to be a haven for professional sportsmen and week-end anglers alike aided by cooperative aggressive measures to preserve the natural environment of the lakes area and well managed stocking programs.

Table Rock Lake
The completion of Table Rock Dam in 1958 created today’s 52,300 acre lake with 857 miles of shoreline. Table Rock Lake has attained national recognition as a top bass fishing lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, Kentucky spotted bass, white bass, and rock bass provide fast and furious action at the spring spawning. Early spring and late fall are the best times for lunker bass. 15 inch or larger crappie can be caught at these times also. The summer months are best for bass, crappie and large bluegill. The crappie spawn in April and May is a good time to find them around the brush piles, stumps and down trees. Catfish can be found in the coves and creeks. Visitors and residents alike can experience the natural beauty and grandeur of the Ozarks outdoors and Table Rock Lake on the 2.2 mile multi-use Table Rock Lakeshore Trail.

For those who want to enjoy the lakes and leave the navigating to others, The Branson Lakes offer a number of alternatives. On Table Rock Lake you can take a breakfast, lunch, or dinner cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle and enjoy 2 hours of dining and entertainment in a nostalgic riverboat atmosphere. At the State Park Marina you can board the Spirit of America, a 49 passenger catamaran and see the lake at a leisurely pace. The American Star provides its guests with a sumptuous meal and entertainment while enjoying the sites or take the midday sightseeing cruise and learn about the history and today’s sites on the lake. You can also get away from it all on a leisurely houseboat experience. Click Here for more of Table Rock Lake.

Lake Taneycomo
Lake Taneycomo changed from a warm water to a cold water fishery with the completion of Table Rock Dam, creating a perfect habitat for trout. This ideal habitat produces record sized brown and rainbow trout. In 1998 an area resident caught a world record 25 pound, 23.5 inch brown trout in Lake Taneycomo on a 2-pound line! Locals say the best way to fill a stringer is by drifting salmon eggs or angle worms. The upper portion of the lake is reserved for artificial lures only and is ideal for fly fishing. Fishing patterns change throughout the seasons for these beautiful fish but catching is active all year round. There are several species of bass and panfish available in Lake Taneycomo as well as the trout.

From Table Rock Dam, through downtown Branson and beyond, Lake Taneycomo offers easy access to water activities including swimming, fishing, boating and sight seeing cruises. The Sammy Lane Pirate Cruise departs from the wharf in downtown Branson. It offers a 70 minute narrated folklore cruise with a surprise pirate attack. The Lake Queen also departs from the downtown waterfront and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner cruises as well as sightseeing tours.

Branson Landing in downtown Branson is open and many changes are in store for the waterfront in downtown Branson. The project will continue providing access to locals and visitors alike to the Lake Taneycomo waterfront. Our lakeshore family resorts and condominiums will also continue to provide wonderful views of the river and access to all the fun and fishing on the lake. Click Here for more of Lake Taneycomo.

Bull Shoals Lake
Bull Shoals Lake is a popular tournament lake producing lunker fish of several varieties including stripers over 50 pounds. It has a surface area of 71,240 acres at its highest levels. Small mouth and spotted bass along with crappie, bream, and catfish can also be found. Five state record bass catches have come out of Bull Shoals Lake - small mouth (7lb, 5oz.), spotted (7lb. 15oz.), striped (53lb.), hybrid striped (22lb. 4oz.), and white (5lb. 4oz.) - making it the leading lake for state record fishing. A new record striped bass was caught July 13, 2008 weighing 56.35 pounds!

Bull Shoals Lake flows from Forsyth into Arkansas and features a rugged undeveloped shoreline. It is a perfect place to slow down and escape from everyday life. Bull Shoals offers a variety of water activities and public access points to the lake for fishing and recreation. Houseboats rentals are available for a truly relaxing getaway.

The Branson Area Lakes can give you what is described here - one of the best family outings you’ll ever have: Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake & Bull Shoals Lake. What have you got to lose? Discover the beauty in the Lakes of Branson in one day and take home a memory that will last a lifetime.