Wading and Fly Fishing Upper Lake Taneycomo

A little over a week ago, I had the opportunity to attend the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) Media Camp.  CFM is an amazing organization that is dedicated promoting conservation and opportunities for those that love the outdoors in Missouri.  While I will get into how things went during the media camp in a future post, this post is about what happened before the program started.  I was fortunate enough to get to Branson, where the camp was being held, a little early and since a minimal amount of water was coming through Table Rock Dam, I was able to fish the "trophy area" near the dam.

I arrived right before sunrise on Sunday, Feb. 8 and had most of the area near the parking lot to myself.  I was able to fish around the first and second outlets, which are usually pretty productive.  This trip was no different.  At some point, I quit counting how many fish I caught but if I had to guess, it was probably in the 20-25 fish range and that came over a two hour period.  I didn't catch a fish on every cast but it was consistent and kept me locked in on my fishing more than if the fishing varied from hot to cold.  

I exclusively fished a small, white thread jig about 18 inches under an indicator...until I lost it in a tree at the end of my time.  The takes were aggressive and as a result, I didn't lose many fish.  Hooksets were solid and the fights were epic.  The U.S. Corps of Engineers was running half of a unit which made for active fish, long drifts, and just enough current to keep the fish active.  The biggest fish I caught was 17-18 inches long and put up a heck of a fight.  I caught males and females with some of them being brilliantly colored with others having more chrome than color.  

This spot is, without a doubt, my favorite place to fish.  You can fish it in a boat if the water is up and you can fish it in waders when the water is down.  You can fish jigs, nymphs, or wet flies.  You can spot and stalk, dredge deep holes, and fish the riffles all in a morning.  There are folks to socialize with or you can find some solitude.  I caught the biggest brown of my life on a fly rod and so did my wife.  It is has a sentimental quality that I love and the fishing is usually pretty good too.  It's a unique stretch of water that I love with all my heart.  

 

Maxxon Outfitters

Recently, I ran across some ads on my social media feeds about Maxxon Outfitters.  You might have experienced something similar.  For one reason or another, you just seem to start seeing a particular set of ads about something that is obscure enough that you are unfamiliar with it but pertinent to what you are interested in.  Maybe it is a brand of car that you have never owned before but you see it because you are interested in cars.  Well that's what happened with me.  I'm obviously interested in fly fishing but I was unfamiliar with the Maxxon brand.

Since I was unfamiliar with Maxxon, I started browsing the website.  If I have learned anything about fly fishing equipment, I have learned that value can be found if you're willing to look for it.  Yes, $1,000 fly rods tend to perform really well but what I'm looking for is similar performance with a lower price tag.  For example, I have a Maxcatch 3 weight fly rod that I bought for $40 and have loved that rod for years!  I also own an Orvis Helios and not only love the rod because of how it casts, but received it as a wedding gift from my wife so it carries sentimental value to it as well.  Obviously, I'm not a person that is loyal to a brand.  All I want is equipment that suits my needs and is fun to use.  Since I tend to be tough on my gear, it also helps to have a good warranty program.

I'm going to break fly rods.  It happens every year.  Sometimes it's just wear and tear.  Sometimes it is due to my dog sitting on a rod.  Regardless, it is going to happen.  I have used warranty programs with Echo and Orvis, specifically, and have been happy with the results.  Due to my experiences, I WILL NOT buy a fly rod that lacks a warranty.  Even after looking at Maxxon's products and researching Maxxon's warranty program, I decided I still needed to dig a little deeper prior to making any sort of purchase.

I am not one to simply take something for face value.  I want to hear from actual people and get their actual thoughts.  I understand that the experiences that people have with a brand can vary greatly from one another so I always take opinions into account but never take a single opinion as the end-all, be-all gospel.  I decided to set out and look at some message boards and noticed that they all had positive things to say about the company.  I decided to go a step further and post a question on my Facebook page.  One individual posted their experience and it fit the theme of what I was reading in other places but seemed to have more...passion.

"My name is Randy Benzon, ive got this page and 2 other social media pages, on Instagram @Hooks.an.beads.  This is my fly tying an fishing page.  @Trad_man is my everyday personal page.. lol."

"I purchased the Maxxon NX-3 10'6 3 weight euro nymphing rod about 3 years ago. At the time I was just getting into the Euro fishing.  I like researching stuff and get enough information about a item/ product.  As I was looking for an euro rod I came across Maxxonoutfitters. After doing a long search, I liked what I read on the Maxxon NX-3 10'6 rod.  And to think these guys should know about fishing gear being up in Washington, and I was right. it was also budget friendly.. so i purchased the outfit, both rod and real. Maxxon Outfitters was a great help in deciding on what reel would work well with the rod I purchased.  After the rod & reel were purchased along with the gear, I hit the river I've been fly fishing for well over 33 years.  At this point, I kinda had an idea of how and what to do as far as nymphing. So off I go."

"It was the second cast when I actually felt the sensitivity of the rod knowing that feeling the next cast was money.  After experiencing the feel of the hookset and the action of the rod, I knew that I made a great choice and a great buy. Side note: I've had $1000 fly rods and still have a Thomas & Thomas. I can't get the sensitivity feeling from the $1000 T&T as I can with the Maxxon NX-3 10'6 rod."

"The 3rd time I took the rod out was a learning experience.  I felt completely comfortable using this rod and catching a ton of fish that day.  Towards the end of the day I decided to hit one final spot.  As my nymphs hit the water the fight was on (that fast).  I fought this fish for a good 25 minutes.  I had a friend there to help net this fish, but the brown had other plans as he darted down stream stripping the line off the reel.  I made a bad mistake of changing my rod position from left to right and as I had the pole up an centered he took off on a run and SNAP!"

"The line, the tip of my fly rod, and my pride were all over in one motion.  My heart was shattered.  I did get to see the fish, as well as my friend that tried to net it. It was a Big fish. 28 to 30" big (estimated guess)."

"As you know, the day came to and end at that point the ride home was heartbreaking.  Just thinking of what I could have done differently.  As I arrived home, I still had time to make a few phone calls and the costumer service at Maxxon Outfitters was outstanding.  I told them what happened and within minutes, they had me taken care of. 3 days later I had a replacement in the mail."

"I've hit the river several times since then and still have the rod to this day.  I've had no issues with the rod.  I love it and can't say enough about the rod or the company in whole. Thanks to great costumer service, I'm still fishing with the rod."

So yeah, I might be picking up a Maxxon rod soon!  Stay tuned for more information and a possible rod review.

I Tried to Tie a Juvenile Sucker, but...

...I might have ended up with a big bird fly...or I might have ended up with a decent little game changer.  This fly is proof that the way a fly looks dry and the way a fly behaves when it is wet are two different things.  When I tied this fly, I was actually a little embarrassed by how it looked.  After I put the fly in the tester tank, I was pretty happy with how it behaved.  I think this has the potential to be a good smallmouth bass fly due to the fact that smallmouth prey juvenile suckers and carp.

Excellent Brown Trout Article

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/fishing/freshwater-fishing/brown-trout-fishing-guide

Brown trout, in my opinion, are the most beautiful freshwater fish in the world.  Sure, peacock bass and brook trout give them a run for their money, but nothing beats a colored up brownie.  Part of the allure for me is that they are the less common of the two trout species primarily found in Missouri with rainbows being the second.  Something beautiful and rare yet attainable is what makes brown trout so special to me.  

If you would like to learn more about brown trout, where to find them, and how to catch them, this is a fantastic article.  I especially like how it covers tactics that can be utilized on stillwater as well as rivers/streams.  In Missouri, browns can be found in places like the Current River but also found in Lake Taneycomo.  It is a quick, easy read and I bet you learn a thing or two.  Spring will be here soon and so will brown trout fishing so start gearing up physically and mentally.

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/fishing/freshwater-fishing/brown-trout-fishing-guide

The Right Tool for the Job

So there I was, talking to my buddy Corey about my need for a sharp knife to have in my boat and to be readily available in an emergency.  He asked me if I thought I needed a diver's knife.  I said, "No, I don't need that."  I then quickly realized I didn't know what a diver's knife was.  Before he could respond, I said, "Why do YOU think I need a diver's knife?"  He grinned and said, "You don' know what a diver's knife is, do you?"  I quickly responded with an emphatic, "Nope!"

He then picked up a knife that had a pointed tip and asked me, "Do you want to accidentally drop this onto your raft?"  I said, "Absolutely not!  That's my baby!"  Corey then proceeded to show me that diver's knives have blunt tips that can even be used to pry things open.  One side has a sharp edge and the other side is sometimes serrated.  I liked what I saw.

As fortune would have it, I actually got two of these knives for Christmas.  One came from Corey and the other came from my lovely wife, Wendy.  I feel that overkill is underrated so I'm happy to have two of these!  I plan on keeping both of these knives in my boat for a couple of reasons.  One is that I am really good at losing things.  Two is that I want access to a knife if a need for one presents itself.  If I need to cut an anchor rope or cut a line that has gotten wrapped around someone, I want to get that done quickly.  I never became a boy scout, but I sure subscribe to the idea of "Be prepared."

 

Laser Dub Baitfish Fly- Update

Earlier this winter, I saw Brian Wise of Fly Fishing the Ozarks, tie a baitfish completely out of laser dubbing.  It got me thinking that I wanted to take what he tied, add a few tweaks, and make a pattern that was a little better suited for smallmouth bass.  To make a long story short, I wasn’t thrilled by what I had made.  My first version seemed to be all head and no tail when it was in the water.  Version 2.0 had more body and tail and a smaller profile for the head, but the head gave an odd appearance in the water that resembled a mohawk.  I was going for a teardrop profile and that was not what I was getting.  Don’t get me wrong.  Both versions were serviceable, but I was looking for perfection.

What was supposed to be a laser dub only fly eventually morphed into a thinner variant of a Smallmouth Bass Streamer that I watched my buddy Ryan Walker tie on YouTube a few years ago.  While it seems like a lesson in futility on the surface, I learned what did and did not work through my experimentation or trial/error process.  I also learned that trying to invent a fly is harder than just learning an existing pattern.  In other words, creating a new, original fly pattern, in the age we live in with so many fly tyers and so many folks sharing their patterns, creating something original is challenging.

So here is what I wound up with.  It’s an SBS that I believe will serve me well when I pursue smallmouth bass.  I tied it on a size 2 hook which, in my opinion, makes it not too big and not too small.  I didn’t want to make it so big that medium sized smallmouth couldn’t fit it in their mouths.  I also didn’t want to make it so small that bluegill would be taking it down.  I plan on throwing this fly in farm ponds that hold smaller largemouth as well as for targeting bigger trout on Lake Taneycomo.  I’m excited to do some field testing with it and see how it works on the water. 

Another Bed Bench

 

Recently, I posted about a bed bench/coffee table that I made as a Christmas present for my stepson, Collin.  The project turned out better than most things I make and my wife, Wendy, and I took note.  We liked the piece of furniture so much, we decided that I needed to make another one.  I was hopeful that it would be easier to make a second one due to the facts that I knew improvements that needed to be made and how to make the process more efficient.  I followed the same process and turned out a nearly identical product.  However, this piece was going to be used exclusively as a bed bench and needed a slightly different theme.

Collin's bench had a longhorn skull engraved into the wood.  While it turned out great, I wanted something different.  Wendy and I settled on having the letter "D" on the bench this time.  Our last name is Dykes so it felt apropos.  However, I subscribe to the idea that if something is worth doing, it is worth overdoing.  The letter needed a little something extra.  It needed to reflect a little personality.  So with a little help from AI, the letter received some detail in the form of fish scales.  After the project was complete, I was a little concerned that not everyone would catch (pun intended) what I was going for with the element.  I felt better when my oldest son looked at it and said, "Cool.  Fish scales"

To be honest, I have a total of zero hours of professional carpentry training.  I tend to come up with a design, slap some things together with screws and glue, and hope for the best.  Sometimes what I make looks decent and sometimes it ends up in a fire pit.  If you look at the last picture, you can see the headboard, bench, and sign above the bed my wife and I share.  I made all three of those things and they are some of my best work.  If you want to see some pictures of the hot garbage that I've made, just find some ashes somewhere.  

Green and Gold Streamers

Sometimes I get an idea in my head that grabs a hold of my brain and won’t let go. I don’t know if everybody else is that way. Maybe I’m just a weirdo.  In this particular instance, I'm referring to the fact that I recently acquired some golden chenille with some pretty long fibers from Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri.  I spent a few days trying to figure out how to incorporate the new-to-me material into a fly.  After looking at some pictures of some fish (specifically baitfish that live in Ozarks streams) I settled on the idea of blending the gold with some olive.  My goal was to give the fly some countershading and mute the flash.  In other words, I wanted the fly to have a dark back, a flashy belly, and to make the gold chenille a little less overpowering.

I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out.  I do wish, however, that I would have come up with a more creative idea rather than just throwing it on a platform that I have used so many times.  I'm referring to a pattern that I tie called The Brave.  So if you're a fly tyer, or heck, even if you're not, I would love to hear or see some ideas about how to incorporate this material into another fly.  Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  Thanks for reading and for any suggestions that you can send my way.

Peowing’s Provions- The Conclusion

Link to Peowings Provisions Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/peowingsprovisions/

Important Note: Awhile back, I posted about meeting the folks that operate Peowings Provisions.  If you want to read that post before this one, just click here.

This world is full of good people with good hearts.  Sometimes they get overshadowed by bad folks and troubling situations, but they are everywhere.  The folks that run Peowing's Provisions are an example of kindhearted individuals with generous hearts.  On top of that, they make some really impressive stuff.  I was fortunate enough to receive a few things from them in the mail recently and wanted to share a little about my experience.

First, I received a couple of magnets.  One was a piece of live edge wood with an engraved outline of the state of Arkansas.  While I hope Mizzou whoops up on the Razorbacks every time they play, I absolutely love the state of Arkansas.  There are some really pretty places in Arkansas and while I have fished there a little bit, I would love to spend more time there.  This magnet will act as a reminder that I need to head a little further south in my fishing excursions from time to time.

Second, I got a really cool magnet with an engraving of a buck, a duck, and a fish hook.  To top things off, there is an inlaid bottle cap opener on the back side.  Sometimes when I need one, I can't find one.  Now that I have one on my refrigerator, I'll always have one available and it's a good looking one to boot.

Finally, I was given a live edge wall decoration that included a scenic image of a brown trout taking down my favorite streamer.  The detail is amazing and the trout looks great.  In my experience with people trying to create images of fish, things don't always turn out great.  The proportions are sometimes off or sometimes a fish looks like some sort of hybrid that has been crossed with four different species.  This wall decor is spot-on though.  When the folks at Peowings Provisions asked me to send them my favorite fly, I wasn't sure why.  The fact that they incorporated it so beautifully into this piece of art blew my expectations and hopes away!

If you purchase from Peowings Provisions, I honestly believe you will be happy with your purchase and see the value in not only your money but you time.  This is a small business ran by good folks.  They take care of their customers and go the extra mile to make them happy.  And if you order something from them, please tell them that I passed along my gratitude and appreciation for their work!  I have already done that, but it never hurts to share a kind word.

Link to Peowings Provisions Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/peowingsprovisions/

Another Buck on the Wall

Miller's Taxidermy Website: https://www.millerstaxidermy.net/

Christmas came a little early for my buddy Corey.  A few weeks ago, Corey got a call from Terry Miller of Miller's Taxidermy which is located in Plattsburg, Missouri which isn't far from where Corey lives.  Mr. Miller (Terry to most folks) was my high school biology teacher and a darn good one.  We have not only stayed in touch since I graduated, but he's also mounted a couple of bucks for me and even messages me with funny fishing memes from time to time.  This was Corey's first buck and when he started to consider mounting it after we recovered it, I told him, "I've got the perfect guy for you to talk to."  

It was a lot of fun to connect two really good guys.  Corey is one of my best friends and Mr. Miller is one of my favorite teachers that I had in high school.  I was a little nervous about recommending Mr. Miller to Corey because I felt like his opinion of the final product would be linked to my suggestion.  However, I took solace in the fact that Mr. Miller's work is impeccable, but his customer service is outstanding as well.  Like Corey's mount, mine are European mounts and like me, Corey was extremely happy with the final product.  Like Hannibal Smith used to say in the television series, The A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together."  When everybody is happy, it is a win-win situation! 

Miller's Taxidermy Website: https://www.millerstaxidermy.net/