Matching the Hatch for Largemouth Bass?

About three weeks ago, my buddy Justin and I went to fish a farm pond. It is a place that I frequented quite a bit last spring and if you follow this blog closely, you probably recognize the spot. Besides the large amount of 2-3 pound largemouth bass in the pond, we had a sense of urgency on this particular day. The aforementioned pond is completely surrounded by row crops and those crops were limiting the accessibility to the water. In other words, we were running out of time to get to the pond until crop harvest this fall. 

On our way to the pond, Justin asked if he could keep a few fish to feed to his family for dinner. I gave him the green light because the owner of the pond has always asked me to keep fish if I wanted them or if I thought the population needed to be thinned out some. Me and a couple of other folks have pulled some bass out of the pond for the past three years and there has been a noticeable improvement in terms of the size of the fish. The fish have gone from exclusively two pounders to some occasional three pounders! I figured that keeping a few bass was a win-win situation for Justin and the fish in the pond. 

As we fished, we noticed that the number of fish we were catching was less than what we were used to. We were throwing the usual flies such as a 1/0 game changer and a big Lunch Money. I decided to try to catch some bluegill since the bass fishing was a little slow. We had enough bass to feed Justin and his family, so I thought I would see if the big bluegill in the pond were willing to take down a fly. I tied on a couple of size 6, unhackled wooly buggers and that’s when things took an unexpected turn.

To my surprise, I didn’t catch a single bluegill on this outing. Even more shocking was that I started to hook 2-3 largemouth bass more frequently than I had with the bigger flies I had been throwing. I didn’t land many because I was throwing a 5 weight rod with 6 pound leader. The fish would either get wrapped in vegetation or just become unhooked because of the size 6 hook. I unintentionally brought a knife to a gun fight and the bass were pretty good at shooting. I didn’t mind a bit though. It was fun to be overpowered by the fish. They had the advantage for once which made me feel more appreciative of their abilities. I did end up landing a few and those fish were the highlights of the morning.

Eventually, it started to get hot, the wind picked up, and we had to tend to the chore of mowing around my little hunting and fishing cabin. The fishing had slowed down and we had fished the entire pond, twice. We decided that it was time to start running mowers and clean some fish. As we were fileting the bass, it dawned on me that we should cut open some stomachs and see what the bass were feeding on. 

It took exactly two largemouth bass stomachs to teach me a lesson. Each of them contained finger length bluegill. A memory hit me like a freight train. While fishing earlier that morning, I had see a lot of fry. While these fish had hatched this year, I saw one year old bluegill in the shallows as well. I can only assume that the bass were focused in catching more, small fish rather than fewer, larger meals. That would explain why I hooked more bass on a size 6 steamer rather than larger, 1/0 streamers. 

I will be the first to tell you that I don’t know everything when it comes to fishing. I try to learn something every time I hit the water and to retain that information. I might brag to my wife that I feel like I know a lot about fishing, but the fact of the matter is that the amount of knowledge is a drop in a five gallon bucket. Fishing is. It something that someone ever masters. Yes, a person might know a lake/pond/river well enough to be an expert on the fishery, but if that person were put on an unfamiliar body of water, they would be challenged to some degree. One cannot master all types of fishing in all types of locations and in all conditions. It’s just not possible to accomplish in a lifetime.

John Buchan is credited for stating, “The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.” I love that quote and agree with it but I also subscribe to the ideal that hope is not a plan. I feel that if I have more knowledge, then I can formulate a better plan. What I learned on that fishing outing added to my knowledge and taught me a lesson that I will add to my mental fishing data base. 

 

A Carp Crushed My Streamer! REPEAT: A CARP CRUSHED MY STREAMER!

Link to olive unhackled bugger in the Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1523300042/3-pack-of-olive-unhackled-wooly-bugger

It was an angry sea that day. Not really, I just like to start good fishing stories that way. This is a good story so I wanted to give it a proper intro. In reality, it was a cool and foggy morning with no wind at Rocky Hollow Park in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. This was my second trip to the lake at the park in a week. I had caught a 3 pound largemouth on my previous trip and was hoping to replicate the results on this outing. I had also seen some common and grass carp there recently and always appreciate the chance to possibly tussle with either of those species.

It took a little while for me to put the pieces of the fishing puzzle together but eventually I started catching fish. I was throwing, you guess it, two size 6 unhackled wooly buggers. This rig had been extremely productive for me all of June and I unofficially dubbed it as the fly of summer 2025. I kept riding this wave of momentum and it kept producing. 

As I drifted with a small breeze, I approached a spot that got my attention on my last visit to the lake. I had seen a decent size carp breach near the bank in this area and I was hopeful that it was still hanging out in the same spot. I think (and this is a guess) that sometimes carp jump out of the water when they are feeding. I think they also do it out of sheer boredom. Regardless, and at the very least, it communicates that they are in the area and active.

I didn’t expect to catch a carp. They are as smart as they are picky eaters and they seem to elude me most of the time. On the other hand, I know they will eat small minnows. I was hopeful that the carp were keying on the same food source as the bass and that I might hook one. If fishing had taught me anything, there is always a chance for something magical to happen. The unpredictability of this sport is one of the things I love with all my heart!

As I threw my tandem streamer rig toward the bank and stripped to to my small boat, hope danced in my mind. This was also a spot where I had caught some nice bass in the past which added to the intrigue and motivated my focus. I knew I had to be ready to set the hook on anything that ate one of my streamers. When I felt a definite tug on my line, I set the hook with passion and ferocity.

The first thing I felt was a head shake. More head shakes followed which made me think that I had hooked a decent bass. The fish then made slow, methodical tugs toward the bottom of the lake. This made me think that I had hooked a catfish. On three different occasions, the fish went from open to water to cover. This confused me and I quit trying to guess what I had hooked into. As the fish started to tire, I was able to pull it up to the surface of the water. The yellow and orange colors that I saw in the face and tail told me that I had indeed hooked a carp. That was when things got serious.

In my experience and in tales I have heard/read, I know that a lot of fish get lost when they are close to being landed at the edge of a boat. I grabbed my net, which I was grateful to have, and tried to balance between keeping just the right amount of pressure on the fish and maneuvering the net under the fish. Relief washed over me when I raised the net with the carp secured inside.

I had not caught a carp in years and had never caught one on a steamer. The excitement was so palpable that I let out a joyous “Wooooo!” The fisherman on the opposite bank could not have missed hearing it and a little embarrassment crept into my psyche but the adrenaline rush flushed it out pretty fast! For a moment, I just stared at the fish and tried to soak in the moment. I took pictures and video about 30 seconds later.

After admiring the gift that I had been given, I eased the fish back into the water. It swam straight down to the bottom of the lake but left me a heck of a story and memory to add to my library. No, the sea was not angry that day but it did leave an impression on me!

Link to olive unhackled bugger in the Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1523300042/3-pack-of-olive-unhackled-wooly-bugger

I Almost Stayed Home to Tie Flies. I Am Glad I Did Not! (The Conclusion)

Sometimes when you set the hook on a bigger fish, you can feel it.  You can sometimes feel smaller fish get drug through the water when you give them a good hookset.  Bigger fish sometimes feel like their mass prevents them from budging as much.  I had a feeling, based on the hookset and the slow but steady pulling motion, that I had hooked into something that was above average by my standards.  After a playful and lighthearted tug of war, the fight became serious.  

When I recognized the seriousness of the situation, I finagled my way to fight the fish on my reel.  To say that the battle was intense would be an understatement.  There were runs that scared me.  The fish got near some brush and I was fearful that he would get me wrapped up and find a way to break me off.  With each head shake, I could envision my fly being jettisoned out of the beast's mouth.  And while I was indeed scared of losing the fish, I found myself immersed in the moment.  I reminded myself to just appreciate every second even if the ending of the story seemed intimidating.

After what felt like 15 minutes (probably closer to 2 minutes) the fish began to tire and I got the first glimpse of my opponent.  It wasn't a wall hanger or trophy, but it was the biggest bass that I had ever caught in the lake.  At the very end of the fight when the leviathan was close to the boat, I regretted not bringing my net.  When I had the chance to lip my adversary, I put a grip on it that ensured that there would not be an escape.  The tail of the tape was 18 inches long and a weight of a little more than 3 pounds.

I took a moment to appreciate the gift that I had been given.  I think every fish is a gift but like a small child on Christmas morning, I like the big gifts just a little better.  I slipped the hydrilla gorilla into the water and watched it swim off.  Hopefully we get a chance to meet again one day and/or someone gets a chance to experience the exhilaration that I felt.  Maybe the gift will be even bigger one day too!

I Almost Stayed Home to Tie Flies. I Am Glad I Did Not! (Part 1)

About 10 days ago, I had a late morning and early afternoon that was free of appointments or responsibilities.  While I was sitting at home, I pondered what I would do with my free time.  At first, I thought that the responsible thing to do was to tie flies for the online store.  It seemed like a good idea.  It would keep me at home, prevent me from going out and spending money on anything, and possibly generate some revenue from the flies that I would produce.  On the other hand, it was an overcast late morning that wasn't too hot and almost no wind.  If you live in the Midwest, you know that these days are rare and should be taken advantage of if possible.  

At my wife's urging, I decided to go fishing.  I started to gather my rods and tackle but still needed to formulate a plan.  I didn't think I had time, nor did I have the desire to hook up my jon boat.  I decided to load up my small 2 person boat but I still didn't know where to go.  I settled on a small lake called Rocky Hollow in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.  I hadn't fished there in a long time and remembered that it was a good fishery the last time I visited.  I had caught largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, and catfish there before.  I had also seen some gigantic grass carp there as well.  I was curious to see if it was still a solid fishery and it's primitive boat ramp would be perfect to launch my small boat from.

I knew I had made the right decision when I saw the water.  It was as smooth as glass and there wasn't a single other person at the lake.  I don't mean that there wasn't another boat.  I mean there wasn't another car in the parking lots.  I had the lake to myself, a Redington Path 5 weight, and two streamers on the leader.  I headed to the side of the lake that had rock and laydowns because I had caught bass, bluegill, and crappie there in the past.  It seemed like a logical place to start and the results came quickly.

On my third cast, I felt a fish hit one of my streamers.  From the head shakes and short but strong runs, I recognized it as a bass.  It put a solid bend in my 5 weight and I managed to get him in the net after a fun fight.  It was a healthy bass that was probably 13-14 inches long with a full belly.  I remember telling myself that if that was the biggest fish that I caught for the day, I was happy because that fish made me feel like I had made the right call.  It also showed me that maybe the fishery that I enjoyed fishing a few years ago was still a good one.  I continued to fish and caught some smaller crappie as well as some more largemouth that were small but fun to catch.

I was hitting all of the usual spots with my fly like rocky areas, laydowns, and aquatic vegetation.  A lot of times, I caught a bass right where I expected to find them.  Other times, I came up empty but the bites were consistent and kept my attention.  I didn't slip into a lackadaisical or inattentive frame of mind.  I wasn't missing many takes which made my confidence soar and made me feel sharp.  When I set the hook after casting to a fishy looking place, my first thought was that I was hung up.  I had snagged some submerged sticks prior to this event so I wasn't shocked.  What WAS shocking was that the thing I was snagged on started to swim to my right.

My First Guided Fishing Trip- The Conclusion

Life is full of decisions just like fishing.  There are so many variables that need to be considered in both.  Do you stay in one spot or move?  Will things be better over there or should I stay here?  Should I change jobs/flies?  There were a lot of variables in making the decision to change water and flies and the outcome of the decision was unknown.  Looking back at the decision we made, I can definitively say that we made the right call!

Over the next few hours, we caught quite a few fish!  Timothy caught a crappie, largemouth bass, and even some bluegill on a black streamer with a chartreuse head.  I quit counting how many fish he caught and just focused on putting the boat in good positions and netting fish.  I will readily admit that I made a mistake on this pond, however.  

My buddy Ryan Walker of Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance once told me that a client should never hand a rod to a guide because only bad things can happen.  I made the mistake of picking up a rod and making some casts while Timothy was also fishing.  I was fishing a 1/80 ounce jig for crappie and bluegill when something bigger hit my fly.  It ended up being the biggest bass that we caught in that pond and I felt like an absolute jerk.  While I wrestled with my own self loathing, Timothy didn't bat an eye.  He wasn't upset with me at all but I didn't do much more fishing after that.  I learned my lesson though.

The trip ended around 11:30 and it wrapped up just like I had hoped for.  Timothy was happy with the quality and quantity of fish that he had caught.  We talked about the wildlife that we had seen, the fish that we caught, and maybe most importantly we started to become friends.  I know that being a guide means that you need to be able to catch fish and help others replicate your actions.  I also know that being a guide means building relationships.  A client needs to trust your teachings and a guide has to earn that trust.  When that trust is established and the fish start to end up in the net, smiles start to appear which plants the seed for friendship.  

Timothy also had some very kind words to share about my guiding which gave me a sense of accomplishment as well.  I have believed, for years, that I want to become a fly fishing guide.  I have been guided by professionals and taken a lot of notes during my experiences.  I have also taught a lot of students which has given me confidence in my teaching abilities.  This trip was donated because I wanted to give someone a good fishing experience.  

My ulterior motive was for me to find out if I enjoyed guiding and if so, what did I need to get better at.  I can unequivocally state that I loved guiding Timothy and I indeed want to become a guide.  I feel like this was a good way for me to dip my toe in the water of guiding because the fish were pretty easy to catch and my client was just an all around good dude to fish with.  The journey of a million miles begins with one step and I feel like I took a step down a path that is going to be pretty exciting! 

My First Guided Fishing Trip- Part 1

A little over a year ago, I was asked to donate to a Frontline Fly Fishing auction.  The organization was holding one of its fundraisers (I think it was their annual Iron Fly) and was trying to gather items/experiences to auction off.  After mulling over my options, I decided to offer something that I had never given away before.  Rather than a copy of my book or some flies in a fly box (which is what I have donated to fundraisers in the past), I decided to offer a half day guided trip.  I was hesitant to do this because it seemed a little risky.  I have never actually guided a client before and I wasn't sure if anyone would want my services.  While I have taken plenty of friends as well as kids on fishing trips and helped them catch fish, I have never taken out someone that I wasn't familiar with and tried to help them catch fish.

After the fundraiser, I was contacted by one of the members of Frontline and was informed that my trip had been purchased by a guy named Timothy.  While I knew of Timothy, I didn't know him very well.  I was a nervous wreck to contact him because this was the first "client" that I had ever had.  My plan was to get him on the phone, throw out some options of what we could do, and then let him choose where he wanted to go as well as what he wanted to fish for.  I offered up fishing some local lakes for smaller panfish with the likelihood that he would catch some gaudy numbers of fish.  Another option was chasing hybrid striped bass in the spring with the hope of catching one trophy fish.  The final choice was to visit some private farm ponds and chase largemouth bass.  On this trip, I couldn't promise trophy fish but I could almost guarantee multiple hookups on quality fish.

Tim chose to go the farm pond route and I started putting a plan together.  I had to compete with crops being in fields which limited access to some spots.  I also didn't want to make Timothy walk long distances because where is the fun in that?  I ended up settling on a pond that required about a quarter mile walk but I brought my 2-man boat to hit another pond as well.  The pond that required walking had fewer fish but bigger fish.  The pond that I planned to put the boat on had more fish but they tended to be on the smaller side of average.  The next obstacle that we had to overcome was finding a time where we were both available at the same time.  We both have kids as well as other responsibilities which made finding a time where we were both available a little tricky.  Admittedly, it took longer than I expected to get our schedules to sync up, but eventually a date and time was set.  

I picked Timothy up at his house at 5:00 AM on an early summer morning.  After arriving at our family farm, we headed towards pond #1.  We rigged up some 7 and 8 weight streamer rods and put some streamers on that were in the 6 inch range.  Timothy had a black streamer that he wanted to try out and I planned to throw a double deceiver from Milo's Flies.  My plan was to see if I could find a spot and pattern that I could then offer to Timothy but I also planned to limit my fishing.  I constantly reminded myself that this was Timothy's trip, not mine.  My plan was to be helpful and available to net fish but I didn't want to hover and/or be annoying.  

The first pond was a little slower than it usually is but I also know that the pond can be a little moody.  Don't get me wrong, Timothy caught a few with one of them being a high quality fish no matter what body of water you fish in northwest Missouri.  After throwing everything we had at the pond, including mice, we decided to move on to another location.  The idea of putting Timothy on a bunch of fish at another spot and being able to cover more water out of a boat tempted both of us.  It was about 8:30 when we arrived at pond #2.

3D Printed Stripping Basket- The Conclusion

After getting some time on the water to test out, the 3-D printed stripping basket, I am ready to give an honest review of what I made. Before we get to that, let me explain to you how I drew my conclusion. I tested the basket out one time on the water by myself. On a second occasion, I tested it out and allowed my friend Justin to try it as well. Between his feedback and my own observations, I feel like I have arrived at an opinion that is worth sharing with others. 

There are both pros and cons to using this stripping basket. One of the benefits is that it does indeed or fly line and keeps it from tangling around pretty much everything. The cones do help to gather the line and angling fly line is kept to a minimum. I would really like this stripping basket and would use it more often if it weren’t for the cons, however. 

The biggest negative is that if you sent it around your waist, it’s just in an awkward position. I prefer to strip fly line at about waste level. The problem is that the basket is at waist level as well and needs to sit lower on your body. The basket either needs to be attached lower or the angler has to strip in an awkward position. Ideally, the stripping basket would be attached at about mid thigh. I actually tried this out and it worked really well but again was awkward and cumbersome.

Does this tool do the job that it was intended for? The answer is yes, ultimately. However, aside from just looking silly where the dog gone thing, it is just awkward. There’s just no natural way to wear the thing. I don’t mean to sound like a grumpy, old man, but I think I will stick to the methods that I have used to gather fly line in the past. I have used 5 gallon buckets, laundry, baskets, and the water itself to manage line. There is one more system that I am considering testing out though. 

I recently ran across something called a stripping mat (see last picture at the bottom of this post). It looks like it might have the ability to organize fly line on a boat and on land. Just like with the stripping basket, I do not want to spend my money on something that I might not find useful. I am going to try and make one before the end of the summer and if and when I do, I will keep you updated. Until then, I am including a picture of what I’m thinking and if you have any feedback or experience with one, I would love to hear from you. Until then tight lines and good luck on the water.

I Wish Tying Flies Outside was More Manageable

Fly tying is a passion of mine. I’ve been tying flies for over 20 years now, and I actually love it more than when I started. I love it so much that most of the flies I tie anymore are for other folks!  I even opened an online fly shop so I could continue to tie flies even when my fly boxes are full.  To me, it is the strange combination of being productive while still being able to take a break from work as well as other stressors in life. Like fly fishing, it requires your 100% focus and if you give any less than that, then the end product is going to suffer. As much as I love fly tying, there is one serious drawback that is problematic for me. Fly time is almost exclusively and indoor activity.

Most of my interests involve the outdoors. Fishing is my biggest passion, but I also enjoy hunting and camping as well. The common thread in all of my hobbies is being outdoors. Multiple obstacles arise though when one attempts to tie flies outdoors. First of all, most of the materials that are used to tie flies are light and wispy. The slightest gust of air will send most of them into the air with unknown destinations. Second, it is beneficial to have a fly that you are working on to be completely still, and not twitching about. If you have spent any time in Missouri, you know that even on a day that has good weather, there’s gonna be at least some wind. Even the slightest breeze makes fly, tying outside, almost impossible.

With that being said, I’ve recently found a spot where I can actually tie flies while being unencumbered. The back patio at my house actually offers a pretty good wind block most of the time. I have found that tying flies such as game changers, which typically incorporate heavier, less flexible materials, can be tied in the spot.  I won't be tying with marabou, laser dub, or hackle out there anytime soon, but this is a decent compromise.  This allows me to not only high quality flies, but also spend time with my wife, keep Waylon occupied, and at least be outdoors, where I prefer to be.  Heck I can even have movies or series on in the background if that's what my wife wants to do!  So my question to the readers of this post is: does anyone else tie flies outdoors?  I would love to read your thoughts in the comment section.

The Summer of Unexpected Crappie Continues!

I'm not sure how the universe works in its entirety on a religious or scientific level.  Gravity makes sense and I believe in miracles but I'm no expert.  With that being said, I'm scratching my head in regards to why I have caught so many crappie so far this summer.  I don't target crappie on purpose usually they tend to hang out in deeper water.  I don't eat crappie because I just don't like eating fish.  I don't try to catch them on purpose, but I don't dislike catching crappie especially the bigger ones.  I gave that disclaimer because my hot streak of crappie fishing continues.  

So there I was, fishing my favorite HOA pond and not catching anything.  It was the middle of the day which, to me, translates to slow fishing activity.  I was fishing around a drain pipe in the pond when I got a solid hit.  I must have been pretty excited because I set the hook with a force that would have made a gorilla jump.  The fish on the other end of the line didn't give head shakes like a bass or swim in circles like a bluegill.  Instead, it just swam parallel to the bank and stayed in the middle of the water column.  Signs started to point towards a crappie.

This fish didn't feel like a 5 inch dink.  The bend in my 5 weight told me that this was a fish that was a little above average and my heart and brain raced one another in terms of excitement and curiosity.  As the fight came to an end and the fish was approaching the bank, I finally got a glimpse of my catch.  It came in sideways and even in the murky water, my small glimpse showed the girth and coloration of a slab crappie. 

My first thought was to get my hands on the fish.  My second thought was to get a tape measurer because I was hopeful that the fish was around 12 inches.  My hope sprang from my belief that a 12 inch crappie is pretty good size as well as the fact that the biggest crappie I have caught recently had been 10 inches long.  The tale of the tape ended up being really close to 12 inches and almost a pound on my digital scale.  As you can see, this crappie ate an unhackled bugger and that is something that I will get into more in a future post.  

I left the pond with a smile on my face and another crappie story to add to my collection that has been growing as of late.  I recently heard Phil Robertson, of Duck Dynasty and Duck Commander fame, state that he believe that every duck he experienced was a gift from a higher power.  I too believe that every fish I catch is a gift.  While I don't target crappie, I still appreciate them.  If I'm being honest, I appreciate the bigger fish just a little bit more.  If I continue with my honesty, when a bigger fish is a surprise, the gift is appreciated even more!

Third Fishing Outing of Summer Break- North Lake

The flies thrown on this trip can be found in my online store: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com

A week ago, I decided to visit a lake that I haven't fished in a long time.  It is called North Lake 

and I can only assume it is because located north of Harrisonville Missouri.  I fished this lake a lot when I lived in Blue Springs and when the only boat I had was my plastic 8 foot Bass Baby.  I have caught catfish in thunderstorms on a fly, the biggest redear sunfish that I have every caught on a fly, and a 5 pound bass on a crankbait.  I have taken multiple friends to North Lake and even fished there with a former student as a pseudo surprise party for his birthday.  So yeah, we have a history. 

I had never put my jon boat on North Lake so I was excited to fish this lake with a new vessel.  I arrived early in the morning and the lake looked like glass.  The forecast was for the wind to stay down most of the morning which is always nice when throwing a fly.  My plan was to work the weed lines with a tandem streamer rig and then throw a bigger streamer on sink tip line for suspending fish.  Over the course of the morning, the weed lines and patches of vegetation near the bank were productive.  The suspending fish were uncooperative.

During my outing, the theme was variety.  I caught bluegill, largemouth, and green sunfish.  One bass that I caught was over twelve inches and my propensity for catching 10 inch crappie this summer continued to roll on like a freight train.  However, the most memorable fish that I caught was probably the longest and heaviest green sunfish that I have ever seen.  The pictures do not do this fish justice!  For a fish that commonly gets eaten before it gets time to get very large, this thing was a unicorn.  It was 9 inches long and THICK!  

The fly of the day was an olive unhackled bugger.  I fished two of these flies that were separated by about 15 inches of line.  As fish activity started to slow down, so did I with a Standard jig that was 1/80 of an ounce and suspended under a strike indicator.  I threw a couple of streamers for suspending fish with one being olive and white (The Brave) and one being an all white shad pattern.  I encountered 2-3 schools of shad that were 3-5 inches long which swayed me towards throwing something that shad-like.  While I didn't catch the big bass that I was hoping for, I'm excited to go back to one of my old haunts again.  One of the joys of fishing is that the next cast you make could be the one that creates a new, lifelong memory!

The flies thrown on this trip can be found in my online store: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com