How to Make Articulated Shanks

This is a fascinating video that shows how to build your own shanks for articulated flies.  These little suckers come in as many sizes as you can imagine.  Now if you want to have most sizes in your arsenal or want to tie flies with multiple articulations, the cost of buying shanks is going to rise.  Here's a cheap, simple, and effective way to build your own rather than increasing your cost per fly with prepackaged shanks.

Link to Chris Mihulka YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIHJUpkexYAMEKItH08gGUA

Henry Winkler, Passionate Fly Fisherman

This is a pretty neat article about a famous guy that loves fishing as much as us "normal" folks.  I've had the fortune to hear Henry Winkler interviewed in the past and he is such a compassionate, thoughtful, and down to earth guy that I would be happy to spend some time on the water with!  In fact, if you would like to read more about Henry Winkler's passion for fly fishing, here is another post from September, 2018

Link: https://www.insidehook.com/article/arts-entertainment/reel-talk-with-henry-winkler

Live the Stream- The Story of Joe Humphreys

What an amazing story about an amazing man with an incredible passion.  Below are a couple of trailers.  In the video on the bottom, there is the option to view the full film for $3.99 and while I haven't seen the entire film, I can only assume that it is powerful!  Have a great weekend and try to enjoy the last bits of "comfortable" fishing we are going to have once winter really gets her claws into us!

Stickers For Sale at Rainbow Fly Shop

You can now buy Pro Staff stickers at Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri.  They are only $5 there, or $6 at the Etsy Store.

Etsy Store Sticker Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/735475766/pro-staff-package-show-me-fly-guy-pro

Folks in St. Louis, You Have Trout Now...and Some Are BIG!

The Missouri Department of Conservation just stocked seventeen lakes with rainbow trout.  Out of those, nine have some lunkers and browns!  I would have to say that if you live in St. Louis and enjoy trout fishing, you just hit the jackpot.  Get out there and hit the water folks!

Link to MDC article: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-celebrates-50-years-urban-fishing-stocking-10lb-rainbow-trout-select-st-louis-lakes

The Articulated Bruiser Bugger STREAMER

Articulated.  Simple.  Effective.  This Bruiser Bugger is a good looking fly with a lot of potential!  Also, in case you didn't hear, tying season is upon us so make sure you store this fly in the memory bank for those cold & snowy winter days when the water is hard and fishing isn't an option!

Fly Fish Food YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWxBa8MprBJr1vuv3uw8ghA

Shenk's Minnow

Sometimes I like to tie simple flies.  They are usually inexpensive which lessens the pain you might feel when you lose one.  Most of the time they are easy and don't require a lot of materials.  They also don't usually require a large time commitment which means you can fill a row in your fly box faster than with simpler flies.  However, all of this is a waste if the fly isn't effective.  I like the potential this simple fly has and I can't wait to try it out.

On another note, when I first looked at this fly, it just looked like a wooly bugger without palmered hackle.  But upon closer inspection, it appears that this material is going to have a little more action than chenille.  It also looks like you can create a taper that gets thicker from the head to the body, and then thin it out as you move back towards the tail.  I like this a lot because it truly reflects how baitfish are built.  It looks like I am going to have to go and invest in some baby blanket yarn.

Tightlinevideo YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIdIkp_uBiYEw-Pb4-BDBjw

Pro Staff Idea- Part 2- It Has Begun!

A while back, I announced the formation of a Pro Staff that will represent this blog.  If you want more details on Pro Staffs, then feel free to read the aforementioned post here.  If you would rather just get straight to the point, then please allow me so summarize.  Big companies (usually outdoors-related companies) will often create a Pro Staffs.  These are usually exclusive positions and are given to folks that have expertise in their field.  It's a pretty cool title with a few perks involved for the Pro Staffer, but again, they can be pretty exclusive.  And that's what lead me to the formation of the Show Me Fly Guy Pro Staff.

This Pro Staff is going to be different!  Anyone can be a Pro Staffer on this team!  It doesn't matter if you fish a few times a year or spend 200 days on the water!  You don't have to tie your own flies, but if you do, that's awesome!  You might be 9 or 99!  All you really have to do is enjoy fishing and want to be on the staff.  If you want to be on the Show Me Fly Guy Pro Staff, there are only two things you need to do!

1. Let me know you want to be on the staff.  Friends, call or text me!  Strangers, email me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  Folks from the Middle Ages, send me a carrier pigeon.  Message me on Facebook.  Hit me up on Instagram.  Comment on the YouTube channel.  After I receive your message, I will add you to the Pro Staff list and your name will show up under the Pro Staff tab at the top of this page!  If you don't want me to include your last name or if you want to go by a nickname or an Instagram account for that matter, just let me know.

2. This part is optional, but you can share your new claim to fame.  At my Etsy Store, you can order yourself a Pro Staff package.  The bundle consists of two items.  One is a pretty sweet sticker.  Not only does it declare that you are indeed a Pro Staff member, but it also includes a trout silhouette and of course the website for this blog.  Two, you can become an official card-carrying member of the Pro Staff.  Wendy, my girlfriend, was able to procure me some etched metal cards that match the sticker.  You can hand these out to your buddies, display them at your fly tying table, or do anything else that is legal with them.  The cost for the package is five dollars so it won't set you back much either!

Link to Pro Staff Package: https://www.etsy.com/listing/735475766/pro-staff-package-show-me-fly-guy-pro

So here we go!  The Show Me Fly Guy Pro Staff has officially started and I am now accepting names!

One CHEAP Fly Fishing Outfit- Conclusion & Video

Last week, I posted about a cheap fly rod combo that I bought last summer.  If you feel the need to get caught up and read some amazing content, just click here.  If not, let me sum things up.  Last summer I bought a fly fishing outfit for $40.  That included a rod, a reel, a case, backing, line, a leader, a fly box, flies, and a reel case.  In this post however, we actually put the rod to work and see how it performs.  The testing grounds were at Roaring River State Park and thankfully the rainbow trout were cooperative.  This gave me the ability to see how the cast as well as how it handled fish.  For your viewing pleasure, I present to you the CHEAP Fly Rod video.  All likes and subscriptions are appreciated!

Show Me Fly Guy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/theshowmeflyguy

Fly Tying Tips: Articulating Streamers

This is a great, in-depth, and thoughtful video that really looks at different methods of attaching one hook to another in an articulated streamer.  If you don't learn something from this video, then you are a White River guide or you had the sound turned off!

Fly Fishing the Ozarks YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9Ra827nueyjCl3h7aLwvA