New Oars and 3D Printed Organizers for the Raft

Lately, I have been working on some upgrades to my current raft setup.  One entailed a decent price tag and one was free.  Let's start with the one that required a transaction.

I needed new oars.  From the moment I bought the raft, I knew I wasn't going to keep the oars that came with the package.  I also knew that I didn't want to go cheap on this upgrade.  Two different guys I know that have a lot of rowing experience told me, "Don't forget the oars are the motor for your boat.  Don't go cheap."  With that advice and some spare change I had from sales on my online fly shop, I went straight to the top of the mountain.  I bought a pair of Sawyer oars.  

From what I have gathered, Sawyer is the Cadillac of oar manufacturers.  I bought 8 foot 6 inch polecat oars that came wrapped with rope and had oar stops included.  I paired my oars with shoal cut blades as they were suggested to me by multiple folks and what I have seen many guides use in the past.  I also had to purchase some new oar locks to fit my new oars as my old oar locks where completely circular.  I'm not going to share the overall price tag, but if you want to find out, just go to the Sawyer website or the Backcountry website where I made my purchase.

As far as the free upgrade, this one didn't require any money but required some time.  My raft package came with a utility tray that resembles a cookie tray.  In my limited experience with the vessel, I've learned that the tray is almost worthless if you actually want objects to stay on the tray.  Wind, rapids, or simply brushing up against the contents can knock them to the floor easily.  I knew that the only solution was going to have to be made, and not purchased.  This is where my good friend, we will call him Brandon, came in.  

I'm not trying to be coy, I just didn't get his permission to include him in this post.  Anyway, Brandon is one of the smartest people I know.  He is especially adept at making things.  Before I approached him about my need, I knew I had to settle on a material.  I didn't want a heavy metal or wood that would be bulky.  I wanted plastic.  This seemed to fit right into Brandon's wheelhouse because he has a lot of experience with created computer aided drafting (CAD) designs and then 3D printing them.  

Brandon helped me gain access to a CAD program and I tried to learn how the program worked on my own.  It took me about 30 minutes to determine that I needed Brandon's help.  After asking Brandon for some assistance, we had what appeared to be a perfect design.  Two days later, I had the organizer that I wanted for my utility tray.  The high walls will keep things from moving much and the two compartments will help keep things such as flies away from items such as tools.

There are two more modifications that I need to make to the raft and frame before I say, "That's good for now."  I need to create a protective cover for the inflatable floor and I need to finalize my rod storage system.  I have a functional idea for the protective cover but I have a feeling the rod storage system is going to give me fits.  I want to combine the rod system with my old oars because I want to keep the oars on hand which has been suggested by many guides.  It is my hope that if I can have them work in concert, then I will use up less valuable space in my raft.  More to come on that later so stay tuned!

Artificial Intelligence (Specifically, Google Gemini) Knows Me?!?!

Out of curiosity, I typed "The Show Me Fly Guy" into Google Gemini the other day.  I wasn't trying to help inflate my ego or anything.  I was just curious if this particular artificial intelligence knew who I was.  Good gracious was I surprised when I found out that it not only knows who I am, but knows a (to me) surprising amount of information about me.  It also makes we wonder if it can give me a list of flies to use in certain situations on certain streams.  Or maybe it can tell me what it thinks the best streamer to throw for post spawn largemouth and smallmouth bass.  Regardless, AI continues to improve and how its ability to understand the world around us!  It's applications will only grow as its knowledge base grows as well.

 

Is a Crappie Jig a Fly?

Is a crappie jig a fly?  This idea is might sound a little silly but hear me out.  I recently tied some crappie jigs for a friend of mine and in the process, I thought to myself, "Where is the boundary between jigs and flies?"  Let's look at the facts.

1. Both require a vise.

2. Both involve attaching materials to a hook with thread.

3. Only humans can make flies/jigs when they involve marabou and chenille.

4. A crappie jig is basically a wooly bugger platform without hackle.

I have a feeling that most fly tyers would state that jigs are not flies, and that's fine.  I'm just brainstorming similarities between the two.  Part of me thinks that the lead head is what changes the classification.  Another part makes me think that it isn't a fly is the fact that crappie jigs are fished on light, conventional tackle.  While there are lots of reasons that a crappie jig isn't a fly, it is hard to deny the fact that if you can tie a wooly bugger, you can tie a crappie jig.  The skills are pretty much the same and you don't even need hackle!

 

That Was a Pretty Good Birthday!

Did you know that famous actor Paul Rudd was born on April 6, 1979?  Well you do now!  Did you know that he is from Kansas City?  If not, your brain just grew a little more.  It just so happens that Mr. Rudd and I have those two things in common.  Why did I point out those facts on this blog post?  Well, I wanted to couple a couple of trivial points to pair with the fact that this post is dedicated to the small fishing trip that I got to experience on my birthday recently.

As luck would have it, I didn't have to go to work on my birthday this year.  So when my birthday approached, my wife, Wendy, didn't ask if we were going fishing.  Instead, she asked "So where are we going fishing on your birthday?"  I mulled it over a little bit and settled on hitting some farm ponds in northwest Missouri.  While farm ponds usually offer some easy fishing successes, I fish them for other reasons as well.  For one, they are sentimental to me.  I've fished these ponds for decades and they have provided me with some incredible memories.  Finally, where I live, the fishing at farm ponds gets better than anywhere else I fish as it relates to throwing streamers.  I know I could jig up some winter bass or target suspended crappie...but I don't want to.  I want to chase largemouth with big streamers!

As usual, the fishing was pretty good at the farm ponds we hit.  April seems to be when bass move into the shallows and start feeding aggressively.  The levels of activity and quality of fish vary from pond to pond but they all offer great opportunities.  Some offer quality over quantity and some offer large numbers of fish but smaller in size.  Regardless, they are all fun to fish.  

One pond that commonly produces quality over quantity continued that theme for Wendy and I.  Each of us landed a bass that was in the 2 and 1/2 pound to 3 pound range.  I ended up catching a few more in the 2 pound range and all of the takes were solid.  Some eats were visual too which only added to the fun!

Next, Wendy and I traveled to a friend's property that has two ponds on it.  One has bass in the two pound range and some HUGE bluegill.  The other lake, which is significantly bigger, has a lot of stunted bass with the occasional fish that can go 2-4 pounds.  The lake also has come big bluegill and crappie as well.  I caught a bunch of bass that were small and spat flies out about as fast as they would eat them.  The highlight, however, was a crappie that I landed that went almost 14 inches.  It was one of the biggest crappie I have ever caught, the biggest crappie I had ever caught on that pond, and a nice surprise to end fishing on my birthday.

In terms of gear we used, we threw Maxxon Double XX 7 weights, floating line, and Braves.  That was all we needed for the entire day!  I had never landed so many bass on my Maxxon rods and I loved how they performed with fish on the end of the line.  Wendy hadn't ever thrown a seven weight before and she commented on how smooth the rods were.  It took her a little time to get used to the mid flex of the rods (she's used to faster rods), but she made adjustments quickly!

One Million Views?!?! Are You Serious?!?!

When I started this blog over 10 years ago, I never dreamed that I would have one million views!  I was hoping to share my experiences with people and maybe help others grow as anglers in the process.  I also saw this blog as an outlet for my writing.  I've watched my writing improve and even published a couple of projects along the way on Amazon (click here to check out the book and click here to access the journal and logbook).  

I have been informed by some folks (some friends, some strangers) that they follow the blog with is pretty humbling to me.  I have some friends that have followed me since the beginning (I'm referring to you, Pat) and some that have just read a post or two.  Regardless of which category you fall into, thank you for stopping by my little website!  Each click makes me feel like others care about what I share and that maybe I'm making life a little better for others in the process.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the views and the support!

Upcoming Presentation: How to Catch Gar on the Fly with Nathan Bettencourt

Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FXAjcgXs4/

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  I have yet to see a fish that I think is ugly.  That's why the idea of "trash fish" is something that I just don't subscribe to.  Some folks turn their noses up at catching carp, gar, and drum.  To each their own and everyone is entitled to their opinions.  What I see in the aforementioned fish are opportunities and challenges.  If you've ever tried to catch a gar on a fly, it is a challenge!  

Isn't the challenge what we are here for as fly fishers?  Sure, we could be fishing with bait and probably catching more fish.  Instead, we choose to put feathers, fur, and synthetic fibers on a bare hook and trick a fish into eating a fly that was created by someone's hand.  If that's not a challenge, I don't know what is!

If you're up for a challenge, and specifically want to challenge gar at a contest of wits, there is an outstanding presentation coming up which will be put on by an even getter guy!  Nathan Bettencourt has been fishing for decades and knows a thing or two because he has seen a thing or two.  He's a member of Tri Lakes Fly Fishers (Missouri-based) and has been invited by Frontline Fly Fishing to put on a program about the ins and outs of fly fishing for gar.  The presentation will be held from 10:00-11:30 on April 18 at the Bass Pro store in Independence.  

Nathan is a thoughtful and creative individual.  I've lost track in regards to the number of conventional  lures and flies that I have seen him develop and improve.  I can honestly say that I have seen him make flies and lures appear and behave in ways I didn't think were possible.  On top of that, he is a genuine dude that loves fly fishing with all of his heart.  I am certain that his enthusiasm will come across in the presentation.  As a result, I believe that all attendees will walk away with not only deeper knowledge bases, but also with smiles on their faces.  I hope to see you there!

Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FXAjcgXs4/

Would You Buy This Shirt?

It's hard for me to turn my brain off sometimes.  I'm pretty sure that I have undiagnosed ADHD because it is often hard for me to keep thoughts from rolling like a freight train through my brain.  While talking to my wife Wendy the other day, I ran an idea for a t-shirt design by her.  It took a matter of seconds before we came up with a better idea and color scheme.  Don't get me wrong, we do this kind of thing all the time.  Usually the ideas end up being just ideas that never go anywhere.  This design took up residence in my mind and I don't think it will move out until I see this project to fruition.  

I recently saw a t-shirt on St. Patrick's day that depicted St. Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland with the quote, "Go on now, git!"  I thought it was absolutely hilarious and have laughed about it many times as I have recalled the image in my mind more times than I should admit.  I'm not sure how the idea of using the same term but in a catch and release setting came to me, but it did.  I settled on the color of turquoise on black fabric because Wendy is going through a turquoise phase and because black goes with everything.

I also liked how the entire idea was a wholesome but humorous situation.  It is also relatable to folks (at least here in the Midwest) because almost everyone has had the same response after looking at the design.  Almost every person has giggled and said, "Go on now, git!"  I don't know if this design would sell out in the Pacific Northwest or New England region, but I think folks from the Midwest and South can recall hearing the catchy phrase, or have maybe even been guilty of saying it themselves.  Regardless, it seems like a good idea to me so I will be getting some made in the near future.  If the initial offering goes well, I might even print a couple variants of the design as well.  Feel free to leave a comment here, on the Facebook page, or on Instagram!

 

And Here…We…Go!

It is not easy for me to wait for some of my favorite lakes and ponds to warm up.  I have to constantly remind myself that most of the places that I like to fish in the ways I like to fish them, don't tend to warm up until late March or early April.  I have spent a lot of cold days with water temps that were not conducive to fishing streamers for largemouth bass.  I've learned my lesson.  I've learned to wait and be patient.  Last weekend, my waiting paid off.

My youngest son, Cody, and I headed to some farm ponds in northwest Missouri with the hopes of catching some largemouth bass.  It was a chilly morning and to say that the air temps (and thus, the water temps) had been up and down.  The first pond that we hit seemed void of vegetation and fish activity.  It didn't take long for us to figure out, this pond was not ready to cooperate with us.  

We decided to let the sun get a little higher in the sky and maybe warm the ponds a little bit.  While we waited, we went shed hunting.  We didn't find any sheds but found a snapping turtle skull which Cody thought was pretty cool.  I forgot to mention that we brought Waylon, my German Shorthair Pointer with us.  He got some running and chasing in during this time as well, which he was happy about.

Before heading home, we decided to hit one more pond.  I've been fishing ponds in the area for long enough to know that fish activity can vary greatly from pond to pond.  Sometimes it is due to water temperatures, time of day, time of year, or other factors that I don't understand.  Regardless, if one pond seems to be dead, another one might be on fire.  

While the second pond we visited wasn't as active as I have seen it at its best, we did catch some fish.  Oddly enough, we found them right out in the middle of the pond and located near the surface.  They were all too happy to smash a Brave streamer.  The takes were NOT subtle and the fights were solid.  We caught 5-6 fish with all of them being in the 15-16 inch range as well as one healthy bluegill that was probably between 8-9 inches.

On top of everything else, I got the chance to land my first few fish on one of my new Maxxon Double XX fly rods.  I loved how it seemed to cast as far as my 8 weight rods I own but didn't wear me out like my 8 weights do.  The casting was smooth and the fish I hooked put a deep bend in the rod which made us feel evenly matched.  I was concerned about how the mid flex would deliver solid hook sets outside of strip sets or combined with strip sets, I didn't miss a single fish because of the rod.  I missed one because I was too slow on a hook set but that was my fault, not the rod's.  

Overall, it was a nice start to the season.  With that being stated, I am certain that better days lie ahead.  Water temps will continue to climb and fish metabolism as well as aggression will increase.  While it is always nice to kick off the season with a few fish in my hand, the best is yet to come!

 

Step 4- Find Some Work

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

If you're going to try to earn money in the fly fishing industry, your options are few.  You can apply for a job at a company that sells fly fishing equipment.  A person can make and sell flies.  Someone could become a guide and take people on fishing trips as well.  For me, I'm not qualified to do much other than teach and I already sell flies online.  That has left only one option for me if I want to try to turn my passion into something more.

If you haven't figure it out yet, I have started working on becoming a part-time fly fishing guide.  Becoming a guide has been a dream of mine for over a decade.  I see guiding as a way to teach others, enjoy my passion even more, and make a little money in the process.  It is my hope that I can help people enjoy the outdoors, expose them to beautiful scenery, and help them catch fish.  I have a passion for teaching and I want to teach fellow anglers new techniques and improve strategies that relate to fly fishing.  What I'm trying to say is that I want to be a fly fishing guide for a lot of reasons with all of them bein positive.

I also want to start setting myself up for a career after my public school teaching career comes to an end in the next few years.  At the latest, I will retire from teaching at 54 years old.  At the earliest, I could retire in May of 2027.  While I'm not sure when I will retire, I know that I want to guide during the spring, summer, and fall months while I am retired.  I also know that I want to spend some time guiding on Lake Taneycomo for trout and Ozarks rivers for smallmouth.  I also know that I don't jump into things headfirst.  I am cautions and like to progress towards goals in a slow, calculated way.  

If someone that aspires to be a guide and plans to take people on fishing trips in a boat that has a motor, that person needs to have a captain's license from the U.S. Coast Guard.  It is difficult, time consuming, and a little expensive to acquire.  What I have chosen to do is guide out of a raft for now.  This will allow me to guide but not require the captains license.  I can navigate Ozark streams and float Lake Taneycomo as a result.  While it will only be a one way trip down Lake Taneycomo, I think I can make it work.

For now, I want to focus on targeting smallmouth bass on Ozark rivers.  Due to having a full time job and living almost 3 hours away from the Ozarks, my open dates are limited.  However, my good friend Ryan Walker of Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance has agreed to help get me some trips through his guide service.  For now, I will be available on multiple boat trips.  Ryan's raft can handle two anglers, like mine, so for now, I get the spillover.  This allows me to work a few dates and receive important mentoring from Ryan.  While I have 20+ years of fly fishing experience, I know I still have a few things to learn about smallmouth, Ozark streams, and rowing a raft.  Ryan has already taught me a lot and I'm excited to learn a lot more!

So it looks like I am getting pretty close to becoming a part-time guide.  While I have guided some friends and family on smaller trips, this next step is a big one for me.  Guiding strangers, learning rivers, and preparing shoreline meals are going to be big changes.  It's also something that I am excited about.  I'm not ready to book my own trips just yet so if you're interested in hitting the water with me, it's going to take me just a little more time to become independent.  For the time being though, I'm close to hosting my first guided fly fishing trips!

Step 3- Buy a Set of Fly Rods

Recently, I posted about a seven weight rod that I got from Maxxon Outfitters. I waited until this post to be a little more forthcoming with some information. I didn’t want this rod because I wanted to add a 7 weight to my collection. I wanted this rod because I was hoping to approve of it and potentially buy a few more just like it. The rod exceeded all of my expectations so I bought 3 more just like it. I wanted to have a set of four rods for a very specific reason. If you follow this blog carefully, you might see where this is going. If you don’t follow this blog routinely, you’ll just have to wait for the big announcement that is coming soon!