Missouri Angler Profile- Austin

Name (first only):

Austin

Height:

6 ft

Weight:

150 lbs

Age:

14

Years of Fishing Experience:

“About 10 years including conventional, about 3 for fly fishing.”

Hometown:

Lee's Summit, MO

Currently Residing In:

Lee's Summit, MO

Earliest Fishing Memory:

“Catfishing with my grandfather.”

Favorite Fishing Story:

“Catching 25 lb striped bass on a fly rod. The fish took me so far into my backing that a boat hundreds of yard away ran over my line and started pulling it out even faster until we waved the driver down to free the line. From there I reeled in slack for a few minutes until the fish came tight and I fought it the rest of the way in. It ended up being 25 pounds and I caught it on a 9wt using 20lb test tippet and a squid fly.”

Favorite Fishing Partner:

“My uncle Bob who also fly fishes (he was with me when I caught the striped bass).”

One person you would like to fish with (dead or alive):

“My 8^th grade science teacher.”

Who/What got you started fishing?

“My grandfather got me into conventional fishing and I got into fly fishing just from curiosity.”

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri?

Lake Taneycomo

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique?

“Black Wooly Bugger(pretty sure it can catch anything).”

What is your favorite species to fish for?

“This is a tough one, so I would have to go with false albacore because the fight is incredible on a fly rod or redfish because I love sight fishing.”

What percent of the time do you catch and release?

“99% catch and release, I've only kept fish when my grandfather and I were having a fish fry.”

What is the weirdest thing that you have seen on the water?

“Another tough one, but probably when I caught a bluegill that had no eyes, no lips, half a tail, and scars everywhere(no idea how it saw my fly).”

What is one place that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before?

Roaring River