Attention residents of Kearney, Missouri, may I have your attention please! You have a horrible, and potentially deadly problem on your hands. Right now, I mean right freaking now, you have a monster in your midst. I saw it with my own two eyes less than a week ago and it is somewhere that people frequent and assume they are safe due to the pretty and natural surroundings. In the very water that is at the center of your fine soccer fields, rodeo arena, playground, shelter houses, walking trail and amphitheater, there is a monster lurking just below the surface. I saw the beast with my own eyes and I know what I am talking about. Sure I was dehydrated, sleep deprived, on perscription pain medications, and the sun was in my eyes, but I know what I saw and what I saw was...wait for it...a HUGE grass carp.
All joking aside, there is a monstrous grass carp living in the lake at the Jesse James Fairgrounds in Kearney, Missouri. I first saw it about a year ago when it was lazily hanging out around the fountain in the center of the lake but I saw it again a few days ago. It was acting in the same manner this time, but slightly more active. It's back was sticking out of the water and it seemed to be casually grazing from time to time, but mostly it just sat there. The first time I saw the fish, it would just out of casting distance and I couldn't get a fly close to it. This time however, I managed to drift a couple of flies near it and I think I might have got its attention once but it ultimately spooked. I'm not sure if some green yarn and maybe some chenille would do the trick or if maybe a crayfish or mayfly imitation would do the trick, but someone needs to catch this sucker and share a picture of it. Good luck to all that go after it and I hope this is not the end to this story. Also, if anyone out there is thinking it was just a log or some brush, brush and logs don't spook when a fly line nearly hits them!
Let me start by stating that I sincerely and deeply appreciate our Missouri Department of Conservation. Without the MDC, I might not be able to enjoy all of the hunting and fishing opportunities that this great state has to offer. The department is active, attempts to engage as many Missourians as possible, and full of good men and women that want to share their love of the outdoors with others. With that being said, I have a small, but seemingly simple request to the department. I believe that our beloved sport of fly fishing deserves its own set of fishing records.
I have posted over the past few months about different fishing records that have fallen with many of them being classified under the "Alternative Methods" category. This category consists of trotlines, limblines, snagging, bow and arrow, gigging, throwlines, banklines, spearfishing, grabbing, and atlatl. The pole and line category consists of...well...rod and reel. For more information, feel free to visit the following link: http://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/trophies-certificates/state-record-fish-list
Here's what I propose; starting as soon as possible, the Missouri Department of Conservation should create, recognize, and maintain a set of records for fish caught on flies and fly rods. Now, on the surface, this seems like a simple request, but there is a greater depth to this request. Here are the obstacles that I foresee and possible solutions to said problems.
1. A Fly AND A Fly Rod?
Yes, for a fish to qualify, a fish needs to be caught on a fly AND on a fly rod. If these requirements do not come in tandem, then any spin fisherman with a homemade jig would qualify for fly fishing records. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to fishing some of my trout jigs on ultralights to catch crappie. I figure if trout parks can set up rules and regulations for zones and can define what a fly is, then just transfer the same requirements to meet the qualifications under this new category. As for what constitutes a fly rod, I'm not sure how to address that but I'm open to ideas.
2. Why Fly Fishing Records?
Let's be honest here, in most cases, bait fishermen catch more fish than fly fishermen. Fly fishing is more complex and requires more skill and technique. Again, I mean no offense to bait fishermen. My grandma raised me on fishing with worms for catfish and my son and I recently caught a mess of bass on minnows. It has its time and place, but so does fly fishing and should be recognized differently but still with respect and reverence.
3. Why Not?
Why wouldn't we have a set of fly fishing records? Is it because our records won't date back very far? Because if so, the longer we wait, the less history and prestige our records will have. Other than that, I really can't understand why anyone would be opposed to such an idea. It would only open the door for more anglers to be recognized and bring more attention to the fishing opportunities in our great state.
Maybe I am flying solo here. Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way. However, if there are others that feel like I do, and feel strongly about making this happen, then I will start contacting some folks at the MDC and start the push to make this happen. I feel strongly about making this happen, but if I don't have a group to back me on this, then my push will fall on deaf ears. Email me, contact me via Facebook, send me a singing telegram if you agree and think this should happen.
A good buddy of mine has been trying to get me to join him on a float trip this summer down the Eleven Point River. I have hemmed and hawed about it and couldn't decide if I was going to go. After watching this video though, I don't think I could keep myself from going. I'll be honest, and this will show my ignorance, I didn't know that there were parts of Missouri that looked like this. I hope you find this video to be as beautiful and infections as I did, and maybe this will inspire to you plan a similar trip.
Jason Reynolds broke the state record by catching a 2-pound, 11-ounce spotted bass with a jug line on Truman Lake May 11, 2016. Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
WARSAW, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports Jason Reynolds of Warsaw became the most recent record-setting angler in Missouri when he hooked a spotted bass on Truman Lake on a jug line. The new “alternative method” record spotted bass, caught by Reynolds on May 11 weighed 2-pounds, 11-ounces with a length of 17 1/2 inches. Reynolds was using bluegill for bait to try to catch catfish, but instead caught a state-record spotted bass.
“I really can’t believe I caught a state--record fish,” Reynolds said. “I almost released the fish right after I got it in the boat, but I didn’t because it was hooked in the gills and I wanted to make sure it was going to live before I released it.”
Reynolds added that once MDC confirmed he broke a state-record he was in shock.
“I have fished all my life and caught some pretty nice fish, but I would have never thought I would have a state-record with my name on it,” he said. “I’m so grateful and proud to have caught that fish.”
MDC staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale in at Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Warsaw.
Reynolds noted he gave the spotted bass to staff at the hatchery so they could help nurse the fish back to its healthy self.
“I was hoping to release the spotted bass back into Truman Lake, but the fish didn’t make it,” he said. “So now I am going to mount it and put on my wall.”
Reynolds’ recent catch broke the previous state-record spotted bass by almost 1 pound in the alternative methods category. This state record fish is the 12th fishing record broken this year.
Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.
Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish. For more information on state-record fish, visit the MDC website at http://on.mo.gov/1S64jH6.
“Fishing with my grandpa at Winnwood Lake at Chouteau and
I-35. I caught a panfish on a bamboo rod
just as a reporter was going by. I got a
photo with my fish in the local paper.”
Favorite Fishing
Story:
“See above.”
Favorite Fishing
Partner:
“My neighbor.”
One person you would
like to fish with (dead or alive):
“My grandpa, because he had a stroke when I was 7 and I
never got to fish with him again.”
Who/What got you
started fishing?
“My grandpa got me started, but I stopped from age 25 to age
43- that’s when my friend put the spark back into me.”
What is your favorite
fishing spot in Missouri?
“Bennett springs, MO”
What is your favorite
lure/fly/technique?
“Bass= Strike King, fly = John Deere Jig. I like fishing for bass and fly fishing for
trout.”
What is your favorite
species to fish for?
“Bass.”
What percent of the
time do you catch and release?
“90%”
What is the weirdest
thing that you have seen on the water?
“Carp so thick at the Blue Springs Lake Marina that the
ducks walk across them to get at the fish food.”
What is one place
that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before?
If you didn't catch the article in the Kansas City Star yesterday about fly fishing farm ponds and specifically for bass, it is a good read. Kevin Kurz is the owner of K & K Fly Fishers in Overland Park, Kansas, and provides all of the information in the article. Brent Frazee is the author of the article and an outstanding advocate for all things outdoors. There are some things that you probably already know, but maybe you can pick up a new tactic or technique to help you put some more bass in the boat.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, or you just want to learn a new mouse pattern, you might want to check out the following link. This is an interesting mouse pattern in a size that is unique and scaled down from regular mouse patterns...hence the name "Minnie Mouse". Regardless, have a great weekend and if you can't hit the water, hopefully you can hit the tying bench.
How much money do you currently have invested in fly rods and fly reels? No, seriously, think about that for a minute. Is it in the hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands? Regardless, you have put some of your hard-earned money into fly fishing equipment that has been crafted by incredible people using incredible methods and techniques. What's more is that we sometimes obsess about when we are going to dust off these rods and reels next and then we appreciate every moment when we have these tools in our hands. These pieces of craftsmanship, and sometimes art in some cases, mean a lot to us and should be appreciated accordingly. Now here's my next question, how do you display these pieces?
Wouldn't it make sense to put these tools, that you like and enjoy so much, on display? Here's a few of ideas if you would like to show off your rods and reels. This could be a good conversation piece with friends and family. Maybe a display would remind you of a good time on the water or might even remind you that you haven't been on the water enough!
Option 1- An old gun cabinet
You can find gun cases with glass doors at garage sales or other second-hand places since fire-proof gun safes are growing in popularity. While these older cabinets don't provide the necessary security anymore, they could be used to display fly rods in a classy yet rustic manner. Besides, I don't think a thief is going to steal fly rods and it would take some creativity for a young child to hurt him/herself if they were able to get to a fly rod.
Option 2- Hang them on the wall
Sometimes you have to play the cards you are given, and if wall space is all you have, then it's what you need to use. Rod tubes and fly rods alike could be hung on the wall in a manner similar to the picture above.
Option 3- Make your own
A number of years back, I decided to build my own gun cabinet. I wanted something rustic that I could be proud of for years since it was built from scratch. Upon the need for more security for my guns, I transformed the cabinet into a fly rod cabinet. The best part about this option is that you can modify the cabinet an any way you like and decorate it in a manner that reflects your passions and interests. I think my speaks for me, and this is just the way I like it.
I got bored the other day and wrote a parody of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". I hope you find it to be humorous. If you need a video to refresh your memory of the original, it can be found below. If you've never heard the song, then you are in for a different experience all together.
The Devil went down to Bennett, he was looking for a soul to steal
He had what men wanted
He knew what they hunted
A gold fly rod would be a heck of a deal.
As he approached the spring, it was a heck of a thing, a young man was slaying the trout.
He approached the boy with an evil grin but wasn't prepared for such a rout.
"I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fly fisherman too.
If you're wishin'
then we'll do some fishin'
We'll have a contest, just me and you."
"I've got this golden fly rod, and if you better my best,
it could be yours
you can't buy one in stores
But be warned, I have beat all the rest."
"All you have to do is put up your soul, and it's not like you're fishing for dinner.
There are no second chances,
when you're all out of dances
But from what I have seen, you could be the first winner."
The boy said "My name's Austin, and I'm from the Show-Me State
You're a heck of a talker
You must me a Jayhawker
Losing that fly rod will be something you hate."
The devil opened up his tube and his five weight looked like fire.
But it was made of bamboo,
was a good one too,
and was something all fishermen desired.
He double hauled and mended, he even cast left handed.
Each rainbow fell,
went straight to hell,
with a 19 inch being the best he landed.
When the devil was done, Austin said "I think you're point is clear
I've seen this act,
you're just a hack.
Now have a seat on the handicap pier."
He caught a fish on every cast and he caught them all on dries.
They were 20 inches and over and the devil couldn't believe his eyes.
He caught them off the spillway, and he caught them near the spring,
The devil was amazed, it was simply the craziest thing.
The devil cursed and kicked some rocks because he knew he hadn't won,
giving away a golden fly rod was something he had never done.
Austin said, "We can go to Roaring River, if you want to make a deal.
Double or nothin' seems like it would be fair, cause now I need a golden reel."
Chatham, New Jersey (22 miles outside of New York City)
Currently Residing
In:
Blue Springs, MO
Earliest Fishing
Memory:
“We used to go down and fish for sunfish and a pickerel hit
the sunfish I had on and he broke the reed pole I had but I landed him.”
Favorite Fishing
Story:
“I went to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan when I was going to
school and went to the Two Hearted River in 1956. I had my trusty Shakespeare Wonderod and
rubber waders. I caught a monster 4
pound female steelhead. I was walking
past a fishing camp and a guy told me the fish was too small and a female and
that I shouldn’t have kept it. He said
that I had better get it up to the cook in the fish camp and to cook it up.”
Favorite Fishing
Partner:
James G. Parker (deceased)
One person you would
like to fish with (dead or alive):
“The people I fish with already. My regular fishing partners.”
Who/What got you
started fishing?
“My older brother.”
What is your favorite
fishing spot in Missouri?
“Early morning at Odessa City Lake, fishing alone.”
What is your favorite
lure/fly/technique?
Popping bugs
What is your favorite
species to fish for?
Panfish
What percent of the
time do you catch and release?
“Except when others ask me for some fish.”
What is the weirdest
thing that you have seen on the water?
“Watching a guy launch a big boat that didn’t belong on Lone
Jack Lake. It was attached to a big
truck and it rolled in the water.”
What is one place
that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before?
If you fish in Missouri, you have probably caught bluegill either on accident or on purpose. In fact, the sunfish is the most popular species among fishermen in the United States. This is mostly due to the fact that they can be found in waters from Florida to Minnesota and from coast to coast. There are lots of them, their diet is diverse, and they are usually pretty east to catch. If you add these characteristics together, then you can see why many fly fishermen target bluegill. Bluegill will hit a wide range of flies, fight hard, and an angler can catch a lot of fish in a day.
Well if you like bluegill, then let me introduce you to the genetically enhanced terminator-like version; the hybrid sunfish/bluegill. This little devil is the offspring of a male bluegill and a female green sunfish. While there are more than 20 combinations of hybrid sunfish that have been discovered in the wild and many more combinations created in hatcheries, the aforementioned combination is widely accepted as the most popular for a few reasons. For one, the overwhelming majority of hybrid offspring are male (80-90%) which keeps ponds or lakes from being overpopulated with hybrids. Second, hybrids are more aggressive than bluegill or green sunfish. This means that they will grow bigger and grow faster because they eat more, and thus they are easier to catch. Sounds like a deal too good to be true doesn't it? The only drawback is that these fish will need to be restocked occasionally due to limited reproduction.
If you have never caught a hybrid bluegill/sunfish, then you are in for a treat. Last weekend I had the honor to attend a graduation party of a fine young man which just happened to be located at James A. Reed Conservation Area. An opportunity to wet a line was not only available but also encouraged. Like I said, he's a good kid. I had the chance to catch a few hybrids and was reminded how aggressive they are and how hard they fight. I caught all of my fish on an olive wooly bugger but you can catch them on jigs, nymphs, dries, or poppers. A few years ago, I even had the chance to land a hybrid that went almost a 1 and 1/2 pounds.
Finally, some anglers have a difficult time identifying the differences between a bluegill and hybrid bluegill/sunfish. Here's a few key characteristics.
1. Hybrids have bigger mouths than bluegill. They get the mouth of a green sunfish which helps them obtain more and larger prey, and consequently makes it easier to unhook them when caught.
2. Green sunfish have an electric or fluorescent blue around their mouths and trace amounts throughout their bodies, but hybrids seem to have more blue and more clearly defined fluorescence.
3. Hybrids seem to have the body profile of a bluegill and the marking of a green sunfish. Specifically, they have more yellow and white trim in their tails and fins. Bluegill don't have this characteristic, but green sunfish do.
Green Sunfish
Bluegill
As usual, the Missouri Department of Conservation has done an outstanding job putting out information about this species. If you are interested in learning more about these hybrids, you should check out the link below. It also offers stocking tips and information in case you have a pond/lake that would make for good hybrid habitat and different fishing opportunities. This is also the source of much of the data and statistics that I used for this post.
Bowfisherman becomes 11th angler to break a state record in 2016
Posted by Lucas Bond
Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation
Congratulations to Jonathon Randall on breaking the state record by shooting an 11-pound, 2-ounce river carpsucker with his bow and arrow.
CONCEPTION JUNCTION, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that Jonathon Randall of Conception Junction became the most recent record-breaking fisherman in Missouri when he shot a river carpsucker with his bow and arrow on Smithville Lake.
The new “alternative method” record river carpsucker shot by Randall on April 23 weighed 11-pounds, 2-ounces with a length of 25 1/2 inches and a girth of 20 1/2 inches. Randall shot the fish in about 2 feet of water. MDC staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale in Gladstone.
“As soon as I pulled the fish out of the water I knew it was bigger than the river carpsucker I shot last year,” said Randall. “I just couldn’t believe how big it was.”
Randall broke his previous state record set in 2015 with this fish by almost two pounds. This fish was also certified by the Bowfishing Association of America as a world record for the largest river carpsucker ever taken by bowfishing.
“I really just can’t believe it! I shot this fish literally about 20-yards from last year’s state-record river carpsucker,” he said. “I’m still in shock that this happened. I have a new state-record fish, but also I now have a world record. It’s really unbelievable.”
According to MDC Randall’s fish is the 11th state-record fish this year. Anglers are on track to break more records this year than ever.
“2016 is shaping up to be a year for state-record fish,” said MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “The most state-record fish caught in a year was 19 and we are definitely on track to break that this year. Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish and it shows with all the big fish anglers are catching this year.”
Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.
While the problem is unfortunate, and the solution is creative, the video is simply one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. Make sure you read the short article prior to watching the video. Oddly enough, the virus they are describing, I believe, is the same virus that killed 75% of the carp in Blue Springs Lake a few years ago.
Alright fellow fishermen, if you aren't busy tonight, you now have something to do. I feel like I may be the last to find out about this, but in case I am not, I am passing along some pretty cool news. A new show is premiering tonight on Animal Planet at 9:00 and it is called Fish or Die. It follows some fishermen (I believe all are fly fishermen which is even cooler) that are on an epic quest to fish remote waters in the middle of nowhere. Now if these guys look familiar, it is because these are the guys that were featured in the "Geobass" web series. It looks like it is going to be a lot of fun, and if we as sportsman want more programming like this, then the best way to get that done it so support incredible shows like this. I hope you are able to tune in and I hope it turns out to be as great a show as I am hyping it up to be.
If you are new to fly fishing and are looking for a good place to start learning more about the subject, the Missouri Department of Conservation has a great site to get your started. For those of you that have a little more experience, it is still worth visiting because you still might learn a thing or two or be reminded of something you forgot. There is a great pdf file at the bottom as well.
A buddy of mine has a pond that is infested with both Asian and Common Carp. I feel bad for him because he stocked bass, bluegill, and catfish in the pond in the hopes of providing some fun fishing opportunities for his kids and friends. However, a nearby creek flooded, backed into the pond, and some less desirable fish (at least in his opinion) were introduced into the ecosystem. The Asian Carp are responsible for consuming large amounts of plankton as they are filter feeders. The Common Carp consume large amounts of vegetation and muddy up the pond in a way that makes it difficult for other species to survive. My buddy Pat and I try to eliminate a few of the carp every time we visit but I'm not sure how big of a difference we make by taking one or two fish out every once in a while.
Alright, enough of the doom and gloom, let's look on the bright side. Common Carp are formidable opponents on a fly rod which is A LOT of fun. It is possible to catch these carp in this particular pond on leaf flies, pellet flies (which imitate floating fish food that we use to bring these critters to the surface), and Griffith's gnats. I have caught Common Carp as large as 12 pounds out of this pond on a fly and I am certain there is one that is MUCH larger than that. As far as the Asian Carp go, they are either Bighead Carp or Silver Carp, I'm not sure which. I don't think it is possible to catch these fish on a fly because I don't know how anyone could imitate plankton. However, they can be snagged, gigged, and shot with arrows while bowfishing. We have only successfully landed two of these fish while snagging but have hooked many more. Regardless, I guess one man's trash (fish) is another man's treasure.
I received a message on Facebook the other day inquiring about the types of flies that Austin was using to catch grass and common carp. Well ask and you shall receive! Austin was kind enough to provide some pictures of the flies he is using and I hope they work for you too.
This fly is one of Austin's creations and does not currently have a name. I bet the green ice dubbing gets a lot of attention when it hits the water.
This fly is another one of Austin's creations and does not currently have a name either. The four bead chain eyes are definitely unique and not like anything I have ever seen before. It is a testament to his creativity and ingenuity.
Austin calls this fly, the "Hybrid". A lot of times carp flies don't seem to look exactly like anything but are wildly effective. I know Austin has caught some nice fish on this and I just have to wonder...what in the heck do they think they are eating?
Congratulations to James Lucas on setting the state record by catching an 8-pound, 6-ounce hybrid striped bass with a throwline on the Mississippi River.
Photograph courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation
O’FALLON, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that James Lucas of O’Fallon became the most recent record-breaking angler in Missouri when he caught a hybrid striped bass on the Mississippi River.
The new “alternative method” record hybrid striped bass caught by Lucas on April 22 weighed 8-pounds, 6-ounces with a length of 24 3/4 inches and a girth of 18 1/2 inches. Lucas caught the fish with a throwline in one of his honey holes. MDC staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale in O’Fallon.
“I’m really excited that I caught this fish,” said Lucas. “I have been trying for over a month and a half to set this record with a throwline, and I’m just really glad all my practice finally paid off.”
Lucas added fishing with a throwline isn’t easy; it takes a lot of practice to get it down.
“I was able to locate the fish and get over the hybrid striped bass and drop my line. Then the fight was on. The striped bass put up a decent fight, but once I got him on the bank, I got that gut feeling I had the record,” he said. “I didn’t know for sure until I talked with MDC and they confirmed it.”
Lucas is familiar with state-record fish. He holds a state record for the skipjack herring in the alternative method category, which he broke on April 8.
“You haven’t heard the last of me,” he said. “I hope to set many more state records in the future. As for this fish, I plan on mounting it and putting it on the wall with the others.”
Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.
The other day my buddy Craig was telling me about a guided muskie fishing trip that he was going on down at Pomme De Terre Lake. He was pretty pumped for the trip and upon his return, I inquired how things went. He told me that while he didn't catch a muskie, the guide decided to take a break and fish for some bass in a cove. While Craig didn't catch a muskie, he DID land a beautiful three pound smallmouth. Congratulations Craig on an incredible catch!
Last week, there was Missouri Angler Profile on a young man named Austin. Austin is a fantastic student, a polite young man, and ONE HECK of a fly fisherman. I have known Austin for about 3 years now and he never ceases to amaze me in terms of his casting, fishing, and tying abilities. Austin is a great representation of the next generation of fly fishermen, and with young people like him, the future is bright for our loved sport.
I could praise Austin for a while, but let's go ahead and get to some ACTUAL fishing information. Austin and his older brother have been catching some grass carp and common carp out of the Little Blue River in Independence, Missouri, and let's just say they aren't small. The pictures speak for themselves and it just goes to show that if you are willing to adapt your tactics and the species you are fishing for, you can find quality fish in almost all of our waterways here in Missouri.
I had the fortune to fish with my buddy Pat over the weekend at Blue Springs Lake. The weather on Saturday morning was calm, cloudy, and drizzly...perfect for wipers. We got to the lake a little late and our window appeared to be closing. The rain was coming to an end, the wind was picking up, and the sun was coming out. Pat fished off the dam with a jerk bait and I fished further out in my kayak. Pat picked up his first-ever white bass and a largemouth (congratulations buddy) while I was getting skunked in the yak. With the wind picking up and the waves getting larger, I decided to fish off the dam with Pat. I was in the middle of saying that I thought we had missed the good fishing when I got bit...hard. It is amazing to me, and maybe always will be, how hard wipers hit and how hard they fight. We tussled for about 3-4 minutes and I finally got him but not without a few amazing runs and bulldoging. I only wish there were more of them to catch because I might not fish for anything else if I had the option.
