My New (To Me) Moonshine Reel via Facebook Marketplace

Link to Moonshine Rod Co.- https://moonshinerods.com

I have no problem admitting that I am frugal.  I try not to spend more money than necessary on things if I don't have to.  There is also a possibility that I have a small addiction to Facebook Marketplace.  It's not that I buy a lot of things off marketplace, I just like to peruse a lot and see what people are selling.  I think marketplace is a great resource when looking for things like bed frames, used 3D printers, and yes, fly fishing equipment.  I'm also a fan of Moonshine Rod Company.  I've heard nothing but great things about their rods and reels but have never had the opportunity or need to purchase from them.  So when I saw a band new Moonshine reel come up on the marketplace that had never been used and was less than half the price of a new one, I jumped on it.

While I have not put any line on the reel, and thus not actually used it yet, I already see some things that I like.  First of all, the crescent that is cut out of the housing is eye-catching to say the least.  As if that wasn't enough, the spool is silver on the side that faces the housing.  This means that the silver makes the crescent appear silver with the rest of the housing appear black.  It is a subtle detail but is an aesthetic that I greatly appreciate.  

Second, I the drag system appears to be well-designed.  It is sealed which always points towards less maintenance and fewer malfunctions.  Another component that I dig is that the cap that connects the spool to the housing isn't removable.  As a result, you don't have to worry about dropping it in a lake/stream and you really can't lose it anywhere else for that matter.  The only thing that I don't like is that the traditional clicking sound (that most reels make) is produced when drag is taken AND when the reel is turned to bring in line.  I prefer that my reels only click when the drag system is engaged.  I'm sure I will just get used to this characteristic so it's not a large concern of mine.

I am extremely happy with my purchase and I can't wait to hit the water with it.  I will post a review of the performance reel after some field testing.  I'm also going to keep perusing Facebook Marketplace for good deals on fly fishing equipment.  It's a great place to look for deals so you might want to do the same...just please don't beat me to any good deals!  I'm totally kidding.  If I snooze, I lose.

Link to Moonshine Rod Co.- https://moonshinerods.com

Learning to Fly Fish is Like Learning How to Install a Garbage Disposal

About a week ago, the garbage disposal in our kitchen started to leak.  I did a little research and found out that it was probably a broken seal and that a full replacement was the best plan of action.  Between having some time on my hands and my frugalness, I wanted to take on the job myself.  I had never removed or installed a garbage disposal before but as my buddy Corey says sometimes, "Dude, if other people can do it, so can you."  So with a little confidence, some knowledge acquired from YouTube, and a bunch of tools, I proceeded forward.

During the 4 hours of work that occurred, I experienced many of the components of the learning process.  I started off with confusion, felt some success, more confusion, frustration, doubt, concern, and sense of accomplishment.  Eventually the old garbage disposal was in the trash and the new one was properly working.  At some point it dawned on me that the entire process resembled what it is like to learn to fly fish or tie flies.  

For me, when I got started in fly fishing and fly tying, I have no idea where to start. All I knew was that I wanted to teach myself.  I didn't want to pay somebody to do it for me. I started off my reading instructions but then quickly moved to YouTube.  Everything seemed so difficult and so confusing until I started getting my hands dirty and figuring things out. It was frustrating, rewarding, and frustrating again.  When I thought that I had mastered something, I realized that I had just completed one step in a journey that seemed to be a million miles long. But before I knew it, I had gained a little confidence and felt like I was making progress.  After enough learning had taken place, I felt like I could help somebody else that was struggling with the process.

While I feel like I now understand the process of installing a garbage disposal, I understand that I will never fully comprehend everything there is to learn about fly fishing and fly tying.  With the garbage disposal, there was an end goal of getting the sink back in working order again.  There were small milestones like removing the old disposal and assembling the new one.  With fly fishing there are small milestones like catching your first fish, catching a trout on a dry fly, or catching a fish on a fly that you tied.  However, with fly fishing, there is no end to the learning.  There are always more techniques to learn, new flies to tie, and unexplored bodies of water to visit.

There are multiple reasons for this post.  One thing that I hope you take away from reading this is that I hope you remember that the learning process can be intimidating, frustrating, and difficult.  However, the reward that comes from achieving something seems to make all of those other (seemingly) negative feelings fade away.  Second, the journey of fly fishing and fly tying IS the reward.  Don't get me wrong, there are rewarding moments of catching big fish and have days that boast gaudy numbers of fish being caught.  Those moments are just stepping stones and rewards of you growing as an angler.  

The best part of learning about fly fishing and fly tying, in my opinion, is that there is not an end of the road.  There is no mastery of either discipline.  You can participate in both activities for your entire life and never reach the end of the learning experience.  The learning experience IS the journey that we choose and we accept all of the reward and frustration that comes along with it, just like we do in life!

Fishing for Stocked Rainbow Trout at Krug Park in St. Joseph, Missouri- The Conclusion

Link to the jigged wooly bugger in olive: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1855015123/3-pack-of-olive-jigged-wooly-buggers

Link to the jigged wooly bugger in white: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1840815384/3-pack-of-white-jigged-wooly-buggers

I opened my fly box and found the next fly that I wanted to test.  It was similar in the contrast but different in the color combination.  This fly had a pink head, a white chenille body, a white marabou tail, and grizzly hackle wrapped around the body.  While the olive fly came from a Facebook post, this white fly had some deep roots that requires some explaining.  

When I graduated from college, I achieved my goal of getting a teaching job.  After that, I didn't know what to do with myself.  I wanted a hobby but I couldn't settle on one.  I was leaning towards golf since a lot of my friends were getting into the sport and then something happened that would change my life.  I had taken a break from fishing during my college years but it was always something that I enjoyed.  I'm a competitive person by nature and I found an outlet for my spirit in fishing.  

On one fortuitous day, I went fishing after school.  I had a medium light spinning rod and a small grub tail jig.  It had a pink head, white body, and white tail.  I couldn't cast it very far but it didn't matter because the crappie were on the banks for the spawn.  I think I caught 50 fish that day but I could be wrong.  This IS a fishing story by the way but regardless, I saw my path laid out for me.  Fate and destiny worked together that evening to make sure that a fire for fishing was lit.  

The fly that I plucked out of my fly box was an homage to that crappie-catching grub.  I've always been partial towards white flies when trout fishing and the white profile seemed like it had potential to me.  The pink head looked like it would be an attractor which can mean that it gets the attention of fish.  I had never fished with this fly before but I had reason to believe that it was going to be productive.  Over the next hour, it proved to be VERY productive.

I fished this fly 3-4 feet under a strike indicator.  At Krug Park, there is a fountain on the west side of the lake but on the day that I was there, it wasn't turned on.  When the fountain is turned on, I think the moving water helps to attract fish to the moving (and potentially oxygenated) water.  I fished the spot anyway because of the structure that it provided.  I also believe that there is a transition from shallow to deep which could attract fish as well.  I stood near the concrete box that has a diamond plate top and I noticed a pipe running from the box to the fountain.  I figured this structure could be an attractor as well.  

I'm not sure how many fish I caught, but it was over 10.  I fished both sides of the fountain and did better casting to the west side of the fountain.  Some takes came towards the middle of the lake and others came closer to the bank/pipe/concrete box.  All of the takes were pretty aggressive and difficult to miss.  Having a long-handled net was extremely useful so if you ever fish this lake, it would be wise to take one.  There are lots of places that are elevated above the lake and the water can be difficult to reach with your hands.  

In terms of the fly, aside from its productivity, it was matched by its durability.  I never had a hook bend and I never had any of the materials start to detach from the hook either.  Since the fly worked so well and proved its sturdiness, I have decided to start selling both the olive jig as well as the white jig in the online store.  This jig can be fished on a spinning rod or with a fly rod.  It has a weight of 1/80 ounce and is easy to cast on three weight rods and higher.  I have never fished with a rod with a lower weight than a three, but it is possible that you could fish it on something smaller.  I always fish it with a strike indicator but I have seen folks fish without one and simply strip it in.

What ended up being a bit of a reluctant outing turned into a really fun day.  As I got into my truck to head home, I felt my spirit restored a little.  The smile on my face was evidence of that.  I'm glad that Wendy gave me a nudge out the door and I'm glad that I went fishing for stocker rainbows.  Every outing on the water provides me with a memory that I can carry.  It helps to relieve my stresses and give me a sense of calm.  Problems that I have don't go away but are sometimes put into a better perspective.  I need to remember this in the future so I don't have to push myself outdoors but rather welcome it for all of the benefits that nature, and specifically fishing, provides me.

Link to the jigged wooly bugger in olive: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1855015123/3-pack-of-olive-jigged-wooly-buggers

Link to the jigged wooly bugger in white: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1840815384/3-pack-of-white-jigged-wooly-buggers

Fishing for Stocked Rainbow Trout at Krug Park in St. Joseph, Missouri- Part 1

 

A few days ago, my wife kicked me out of the house.  Her exact words were, "I love you but you need to get outside.  Go to the farm, go fishing, but you have to do something.  Do something that makes you happy."  She was right.  The stress of the holiday season, my seasonal depression, and a general feeling of cabin fever was setting in.  I was in the kind of mindset where I was unhappy but wasn't interested in doing anything to get me out of my funk.  If you've ever been in a similar situation, you can relate to feeling of apathy and indignance.  If you aren't familiar with this, it's a bad feeling and sometimes it takes a nudge to get you moving forward in a direction that brings positive results.

My wife was right about one thing and it was that I needed to go fishing.  To be honest (and as I mentioned before) I didn't really want to go.  I didn't want to fish for stocked trout.  I didn't want to fish a lake that was going to have it's stocked trout population  depleted the minute that the fish hit the water.  I didn't want to drive to a lake that had catch and release policy.  What I DID want to do was throw a couple of new flies that I thought had some potential.  I also wanted a better frame of mind and wanted to make my wife happy at the same time.  So with a little reluctance, I grabbed some equipment and plugged an address into an app on my phone.  

The moment that I saw the water, I felt my spirit rise.  I didn't realize how much I needed a fishing trip but it started to dawn on me as stress, frustration, and a little depression seemed to evaporate off me like sweat turning to steam.  While I felt my mental health improving, I also recognized that there was only one thing that could keep me trending in a good direction.  I needed to catch a fish.  And if I'm being honest, I knew that a fish wasn't going to be enough.  I knew that I needed to catch a few.  

I didn't have a desire for gaudy numbers.  I just wanted somewhere between 5-10 fish.  I felt like that number would make me feel like I knew what I was doing and not just catching a couple of fish out of luck.  That would have felt like some sort of pity party and I didn't want that.  I wanted a boost of confidence and to hear a voice in my head say, "See!  You know what you're doing.  You're a good fly fisherman!"  

When I pulled up to the parking lot, I saw some fellow fly anglers that were catching fish near the parking lot.  This felt like a good sign but I was determined to set off on my own path.  I didn't want to fish around a crowd so I started walking.  I started looking for rising trout and fish in clear/shallow water.  I didn't see either so then I stared looking for spots where I had experienced success before.  I found a point that I really liked, which produced a nice fish, and made me feel good.  What made me feel bad was the fact that I put my fly in a tree about 4 casts later.  As the fates would have it, this last event was a good thing.

After putting on a new leader, a new strike indicator, and a new fly, I decided that I wanted to find a new spot.  I didn't want to relive that experience again and I wanted to look for a new and potentially more productive spot.  This little mishap also provided the proper motivation for me to try out one of the new flies that I was wanting to test.  The fly that I selected was one that I had recently seen in a Facebook post and attempted to replicate.  I felt like my version was respectable but I also recognized that the only judges of a fly are fish. 

I'll be honest, the fly was not hard to tie.  It is just a wooly bugger that is tied on a hook with a jig head.  Olive marabou, olive chenille, and some olive hackle was all it took.  The head of the jig was a fluorescent orange which added a nice contrast which is something that I appreciate.  I've had a lot of success with flies that have bodies that contrast with the painted jig head.  I believe that the brighter color of the jig head works as an attractor color and the body/tail of the fly seals the deal sometimes.  So what I had working for me was confidence.  I based this on my previous experiences, information from a Facebook post, and my schema that I have acquired over 20+ years of trout fishing.  While a confidence in a fly/lure is paramount, success on the water maintains confidence in that fly/lure.

With my new fly, I set out of a new spot.  I headed towards a spot that had been productive in the past but I wasn't sure that it would work out very well.  Typically, there is a fountain at the lake which is located near the amphitheater.  I have caught a lot of fish there in the past because I am of the opinion that the fountain helped to oxygenate the water and create a little current.  For whatever reason, on this particular day, the fountain was off.  However, I was of the opinion that there was enough structure in the water (pipes and whatnot) as well as enough change in water depth that the fish might still be there.  

My first few casts were directed straight toward the inoperable fountain but my next casts where directed towards the shallows to my left.  My hope was that my fly would find some fish in the shallows and some fish that were in a drop-off that I hoped was there.  I got my first take in my third cast.  It was so subtle that I missed it but I did notice it.  It made me feel like I was on to something but the pessimism that always seems to loom in my mind said that it was a one-off occurrence and that the event would not be replicated.  One cast later produced a hook-up on my new-to-me fly.  I landed this fish and it felt good.  The fish I caught two casts later felt even better.  When I lost my fly on my next hook-set, I simply took the circumstance as a suggestion to change flies and that was exactly what I did.

White Game Changers are Available NOW in the Online Store

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1845675867/1-white-game-changer-fly-gamechanger-fly

Last summer, I tied my first few game changers.  I was skeptical about whether they would have the action that so many people have talked about and what I had seen in videos.  I didn't think that this fly could move like what I had seen.  I was also unsure about whether a game changer that I tied would behave similarly.  So my utter shock and amazement, I found out that I could tie a pretty good game changer fly that did indeed have the legendary action that I had seen and heard about.  The next step was field testing.  

If you haven't picked up on my cynicism and skepticism yet, let me point out that I am both when it comes to new things.  I rarely expect projects that I take on to live up to my high standards and I follow our unofficial family moto of "prepare for the worst and hope for the best."  I find that having tempered enthusiasm avoids letdowns and disappointment.  These disclaimers were thrown out the window when I drug my fly through the water for the first time.  It did everything that I had hoped for.  It's swimming motion was fantastic.  When I gave a hard strip and a pause, it would dart and hover a little.  It was easy to cast and didn't foul one time over the course of the first field test.  While my confidence was rising, my last amount of doubt said, "Is this a fly that catching fish or catches fishermen?"

What I mean by the last statement is that I have seen amazing flies and fishing lures that just don't catch fish.  I've seen this more in fishing lures a sit seems like every year there is a trendy lure on the market.  I've seen Ned rigs, wake baits, shakey head worms, and the banjo minnow catch a lot of anglers and some of them catch fish.  Those trends seem to come and go but what I am looking for is something with staying power.  I was hoping that this fly would prove to be so effective that I will tie it for years to come.  Against (what I felt) were long odds, this fly worked.  The largemouth that I was fishing for the morning of my field testing, showed me what I needed to know.  They hit the fly hard, hooksets were effective, and I landed almost every fish that hit the fly.

That morning showed me everything that I needed to see.  The fly checked all of the boxes that it needed to prior to me selling it in my online store.  It is important to note that I only sell flies in my store that I have full faith in and have caught fish with before.  For those reasons, I am now selling white game changers, as well as chartreuse game changers, in my online store now.  It is my hope that if I can catch fish on this fly, then you can too!  Good luck on the water and thanks for visiting this site.  I greatly appreciate all page views as well as online store purchases.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1845675867/1-white-game-changer-fly-gamechanger-fly

Great Video About Stocked Trout and Missouri Trout Specifically!

Link to video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7tNeAqbKGg8?si=KrLnAikkcVXtlR1e

Link to Missouri Department of Conservation YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@moconservation

Wow!  The Missouri Department of Conservation knocked this video out of the ballpark.  It's both entertaining and informative.  If you don't learn something from this video, I will be shocked.  If you're not impressed, I will be even more shocked.  Enjoy the video and have a great day!

3D Printed Fly Tying Tool Organizer

I hope folks aren't getting tired of the posts that have a 3D printed theme to them, but I had to share a cool tool that I recently made.  I found the file for a tool organizer that can hold hooks, scissors, bobbins, etc. on Thingiverse and you can access it by clicking here.  Most of the things that I make come from files that I find at Thingiverse and at Printables and they are all free.  I don't want anyone to think that I am designing the things that I make from scratch.  I'm not that smart or skilled...yet.

Anyway, the tool organizer works pretty well.  It's a little loose on my vise but it helps me put my tools in a specific place and misplace them less.  It's sturdy and looks pretty close to a manufactured product.  I've made them in black and olive so far but I would like to print them in some other colors.  I also want to make some other items that can aid in organization but I'm going to make something just for the simple fact of making something.  I want things that I make to serve a purpose and fill a niche.  

I'm not planning on selling any of the things that I make with my 3D printer in my store, but if ever see something that you want, just shoot me at email at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  For example, if you want a tool organizer of your own, just email me and I'm sure I can get one to you.  I don't have the desire or capacity right now to crank out a lot of 3D printed products, but I could fill a few requests!

Cranking Out Streamers and Some Could Be YOURS!

Link: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com

Braves Assortment Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1830258006/brave-streamers-assortment-streamer

As I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago, I have fully emersed myself in fly tying season.  I am tying flies almost every day and lately, I have been focusing on making streamers.  Specifically, I have been tying quite a few variants of my favorite streamer which I call The Brave.  This fly has a flutter from the color, a wiggle in the tail, and can be tied in some color combinations that resemble baitfish, bluegill, or shad.  The profile of this fly is small and unassuming so it looks like easy prey to a hungry predator...until the predator latches onto the Gamakatsu B10 S, size 1 hook...then they become the prey!

This is one of my go-to flies from spring to fall.  I can fish it on a sinking line to get really deep or on a floating line if I want to fish the shallows.  I have used this fly to catch largemouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, big bluegill, hybrid striped bass, and even a carp!  I have never thrown these flies for smallmouth bass but I have no doubt they would catch that species too and one of these days, I'm going to prove it.  

If you are interested in purchasing some of these streamers, feel free to visit my online store.  You can either purchase them a la carte or in an assortment that I just placed in the store.  If you think you need all three color combinations and a box to hold them, this might be just the item for you.  All of the flies that I sell are already tied and ready to be shipped so if you need these quickly (maybe as a Christmas gift) I can usually get them in the mail the day they are ordered or the next day at the latest.

Link: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com

Braves Assortment Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1830258006/brave-streamers-assortment-streamer

Fishing with a 3D Printed Fly Reel and Strike Indicator

A couple of days ago, I posted about fishing for stocked trout at Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia, Missouri.  Both the fish and the weather were cooperative and since the conditions were decent, I decided to do a little field testing of some items that I had recently 3D printed.  The item that I was most excited to test was a 3D printed fly reel that I made about a month previous.  The second item that I had made was a strike indicator.  The indicator is the type that comes in two halves, has leader/tippet inserted into a groove in the middle, and screws together.  To say that I was hoping to catch a fish on this setup would be an understatement.  I was hoping for one dumb stocker.

I actually ended up catching two dumb stockers on this rig so my goal was accomplished and my hope was satiated.  But that's not what you probably want to know.  You probably want to know about how the items performed.  Well, they were...okay.  The indicator's buoyancy was perfectly matched when throwing a 1/80 ounce jig.  It was easy to see and rode just high enough in the water without sinking.  It was sensitive and didn't appear to require much effort on the part of the fish to take it under.  On the other hand, I hated how it felt in a cast.  It made everything feel heavy and clunky for lack of a better word.  However, if I were fishing deep holes from a boat and not making long casts, I think this is the perfect tool for the job.  I'm not going to get rid of the strike indicators that I typically use, but I'm going to keep a few of these 3D printed indicators on hand to use in the right circumstances.  

As for the reel, it was serviceable.  I don't tend to sink a lot of money into reels, especially on rods that are less than a 6 weight.  I don't tend to need an outstanding drag system with lower weight weight rods so to me, a reel is a glorified line holder.  When it comes to 6-8 weight rods, that's when I will upgrade to a rod with a better drag system because that's when I tend to catch bigger fish that need to be played a little more carefully.  The 3D printed reel held the line fine and I was able to peel off line without a problem when I wanted to make a longer cast.  The biggest negative was how the reel felt when I retrieved line.

This thing is about as smooth as 100 grit sandpaper.  While it DOES click and offer a little resistance, its winding motion is cumbersome unless you really add some muscle to it and crank it fast.  The reel sticks and is inconsistent with it's tension.  As one of my club members said after trying it out, "It feels like it was 3D printed."  That is best way I can describe it.  To summarize, I don't plan on abandoning my manufactured reels anytime soon.  However, with all of that being said, I found a lot of satisfaction in catching fish on both of the items that I made.  It was just as rewarding as catching my first few fish on flies that I had tied and I will definitely use both in the future.  

They are both far from perfect but like so many other things that I tend to make, I can live with that.  I am not a machinist or master carpenter, but I can find an appreciation for things that I make and I can overlook the flaws.  I can do that because of the joy that the process of making something gives me and the fact that I can say, "I made that!  It started off as nothing important and now it is something that I can be proud of."  In comparison, this situation is like my dog.  It's not perfect, but it's mine and I love it anyways.  So if you're thinking about tackling this task or a similar one, just go into it knowing that things might not turn out perfectly but you can still find satisfaction in the process and the imperfect final product.  And don't forget, if you wanted perfection, you would have paid for a machine to make the object but it would have been more expensive and not nearly as gratifying.  

Fishing for Stocked Trout at Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia, Missouri

Last weekend, my youngest son Cody, the middle school fly fishing club that I sponsor, and I headed to Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia, Missouri to fish for stocked rainbow trout.  It was an hour drive for most of my club members but I more than half of the club was able to make the trek.  Now you might be wondering, "Why drive so far to fish for stocked rainbow trout?  There are multiple lakes in the Kansas City area that are stocked with rainbow trout."  The answer lays within the regulations of Liberty Park Pond.  

All of the lakes in the Kansas City area are catch and keep lakes all year long.  That means that once trout are stocked in the lake, anglers can start harvesting them.  Liberty Park Pond is different.  At this lake, all trout must be released until February 1 when anglers can start keeping fish that they catch.  Another important note is that Kansas City area lakes get three stockings over the course of the winter but Liberty Park Pond gets one stocking of trout.  So not only does Liberty Park Pond have more fish than Kansas City lakes, it (should) maintain that population.  That should mean higher catch rates and thus, more fun for both adults and kids.

While it wasn't a perfect day, it was pretty good.  The temperatures weren't tool cold and it wasn't too windy.  What worked against us was the fact that the lake was approximately 80% frozen except where the fountains in the lake were keeping the water moving.  Since our fishing locations were limited, I believe that lowered the number of fish that we caught.  If we could have tried to fish other spots, I believe that we could have caught a few more.  I believe (and I could be wrong) that these fish move around a lot.  I believe that because that's what they do at the hatchery they are raised in and what they instinctually do in their native, wild habitat.  In other words, we fished spots and hoped that the fish came to us, and they did sometimes.  

We probably caught a total of 25 fish over the course of the day.  All fish were caught on 1/80 ounce jigs and midges which were both under strike indicators.  Almost all of the takes were aggressive and hard to miss.  Some fish were caught on short retrieves and some were caught without giving the flies any action.  While it wasn't a day that produced gaudy numbers or any fish that were larger than stocker-size trout, it was still a good day.  It was nice to be outdoors and spending time with other folks that enjoy fishing.  The occasional fish just made the day even better!