Every summer, when the sun gets hot and the lakes stay cold, a combination of Branson fishing fanatics and families search near and far for decent fishing spots. Some drive two hours, some drive six and some may even leave the state, all the while unaware of the fact that they’re neglecting some perfectly good trout fishing to be had right here on Lake Taneycomo.
And who better to facilitate that perfectly good trout fishing than Lamar Patton owner of Scotty’s Trout Dock & Marina.
Located just past the Branson Landing at 400 Boxcar Willie Dr, tucked away behind the City of Branson Lakeside RV Park, sits a tranquil and quaint dock chock full of fishing boats. Inside the dock is a cozy waiting area surrounded by walls lined with bait, tackle, ice, fuel, snacks and basically everything you could possibly need for an unforgettable fishing trip. “We do everything to do with fishing. We rent out boats and provide licenses. Everything that you need to be done for trout fishing, we do it,” said Patton.
Patton’s dock claims to be the only “freestanding” marina left in Branson, meaning it’s the only marina in town that isn’t attached to a resort. It’s a standalone business you can drive right up to and get everything taken care of, so you can fish with friends or family. “It’s here and it’s available for the family. A lot of families come down here and fish together. They can get on a pontoon or they can rent a fishing boat. That’s kind of what we do here, family fishing.”
And there’s a hefty emphasis on the aspect of bringing your friends and family. Patton is remarkably passionate about fishing, so naturally, he’d like to introduce as many people as possible to the world of fishing, especially on Lake Taneycomo. But Patton wasn’t always this passionate about Lake Taneycomo. At first, he wasn’t even aware that there was any decent trout fishing here.
“A lot of people come to Branson not knowing that there’s any decent trout fishing around here. I still run into people every week who still don’t even know that it’s here. Plenty of people spend tons of money and travel to all kinds of faraway places for trout fishing. I, for example, came to Branson for a week-long vacation (before I moved here) and left our vacation for the Little Red River in Arkansas just to go trout fishing.”
And as soon as Patton discovered that there was some great trout fishing to be had on Lake Taneycomo, he bought the dock from Scott Meyer and hasn’t looked back since.
“Lake Taneycomo is a great body of water. It’s tranquil and peaceful. It’s teeming with wildlife from fox to deer. But most importantly, it accommodates all styles and levels of fishing,” Patton said. “Fly fishermen, bait fishermen, lure fishermen, motorboat fishermen, dock fishermen. I mean, state record was caught out of here a couple of months ago, a 35 pounder. It’s good for everybody.”
If you’d like to get in touch with Lamar Patton or Scotty’s Trout Dock, please visit his website at ScottysTroutdock.com, email at scottystroutdock@gmail.com, Facebook at Scotty’s Trout Dock or call at 417-334-4288.