Wednesday, November 30, 2016

720 Flies

Every once in a while, I run across a website that sells fly fishing accessories and clothing.  I decided to share this site because it looks like it is in it infancy but has some pretty cool ideas.  The prices seem very reasonable and some of the ideas are pretty cool.  I am partial to the mayfly t-shirt.  Also, I do not get anything out of promoting this site and I just wanted to be straightforward and honest about that.  Finally, the site also has a blog but surely it can't be as good as that one.  That's sarcasm in case you are new to the site.  If you are old to the site, I am sarcastic all the time and if you didn't know that, maybe you should reread some recent posts and they won't offend you as much.



Link: https://www.720fly.com/

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Winter Stocked Trout Pictures & The "Show Me Fish" Page Update

If you haven't noticed, and shame on you if you haven't, the "Show Me Fish" page has been updated.  There's a nice grass carp and a lunker Rainbow Trout that will also be featured in the post below.  

Speaking of which, I am starting to get some pictures sent to me of trout being caught at lakes that are stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation during the winter months.  While these lakes can be found all over the state, the pictures I am receiving are coming from James A. Reed Conservation Area in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia, Missouri.  I know that I recently mentioned in a post that the fishing in northern Missouri has slowed almost to a standstill, the chance to catch stocked trout at a lake near you offer a little respite while our native fish slow their activity and metabolism.

Steve
Liberty Park Pond- Sedalia, MO

Cameron
Liberty Park Pond- Sedalia, MO

Cameron
Liberty Park Pond- Sedalia, MO

Cameron
Liberty Park Pond- Sedalia, MO

Austin
James A. Reed Conservation Area- Lee's Summit, MO

Austin
James A. Reed Conservation Area- Lee's Summit, MO

Austin
James A. Reed Conservation Area- Lee's Summit, MO

Austin
James A. Reed Conservation Area- Lee's Summit, MO

Austin
James A. Reed Conservation Area- Lee's Summit, MO

Monday, November 28, 2016

I Guess It Is Time To Start Tying

Well, it is about that time of year where there is little fishing to be done in the northern part of Missouri (where I live) and it is time to start filling those fly boxes and replacing the ones you donated to trees and big fish that broke you off.  This is about the time of year that I get the itch to start tying because there is little else to do outside and it keeps my cabin fever at bay.  This is a good introduction from the Missouri Department of Conservation.  While you can still expect to see fishing stories and pictures, there will be a shift on this site towards more fly tying related information, videos, and pictures.  I will try and keep a fairly even distribution of videos, fly recipes, and information for those that are new to tying and those of us that have already tied a few thousand.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Giving Thanks

I wanted to post this yesterday but just didn't have time so I apologize that this is a day late.  

I think that there is some unwritten rule about writing a "Giving Thanks" post if you are a blogger, so here it is.  However, I reserve the right to stray from conventional, sappy posts and make this a little more fun.  Light and breezy- that's how we keep things around here and with a small side of sincerity and metaphorical language.  So let's eat and give thanks.

Side Dish #1- Stuffing
Let's start with a staple that is both traditional and necessary, just like stuffing.  I'm grateful for my family, friends, house, job, and great country that we live in.  I'm a lucky guy and sometimes I forget that.  I'm not rich by any means, but I sure do appreciate what I have, just admittedly not as much as I should.

Side Dish #2- Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Now this is what puts rears in the seats.  My mom makes these mashed potatoes with sour cream, butter, bacon, ranch dressing, and I think she incorporates lard somehow.  They have become a necessity at family dinners and much like her taters, fly fishing has become a staple in my life.  Without it, I would probably go crazy and be the most unpleasant person in the world to be around.  It gives me a competitive outlet, it helps me appreciate nature, and connects me with friends.  It reminds me that learning is a life-long process and that just like there is always another body of water to fish, there is always something new to learn.  And maybe most importantly, YOU get to decide how you fly fish, and how YOU get to appreciate our fine sport.

Side Dish #3- Cranberry Sauce
Like this traditional dish, fly tying is bitter sweet to me.  I tie in spurts and mostly in winter.  I go through phases of tying like crazy and then don't want to touch a bobbin for weeks.  Like my cast, I am serviceable at tying and am just good enough to get the job done and be moderately successful on the water.  I can feel the upswing starting to occur with my tying habits because I actually cleaned my fly tying desk yesterday.  Look out fly boxes, you are about to be filled with semi-successful flies that work from time to time.

The Main Dish- Prime Rib
I'm not a fan of turkey.  Most of the time it is dry, full of chemicals that may or may not make you sleepy, and I only eat it out of obligation to tradition.  Well since this is my thanksgiving dinner, we're eating red meat by golly.  And like steak, I appreciate you.  (You might want to go get a hanky or tissue because this is going to be a tear jerker).  If you are reading this, it means that out of the countless other things we could be doing, you are choosing to visit this site and read some of my incoherent ramblings.  Whether we have met or not, you need to know how much I appreciate you being a patron of this site.  I constantly monitor the traffic on this site and it never ceases to amaze me that there are actual human beings that visit this site on a daily basis.  It makes me happier than I can describe so thank you for being a bright spot in my day and in my life.  I hope that you are able to find some information, watch some videos, and read some posts that return the favor and bring you a fraction of the joy that you give to me.  Thanks again for all that you do for me!

Honorable Mentions That Didn't Make It To Dinner But I Am Still Thankful For:
9 foot, 5 weight fly rods
Trout that I catch
A River Runs Through It- both the book and the movie
Waders that don't leak
Field & Stream
Star Wars
Trout that I can't catch
The Midwest Drift
Hybrid Striped Bass
Farm ponds
My fly fishing club
Trout that sip bugs off the top of the water
Largemouth that crush streamer patterns
A baby's smile and giggle
Rainbow Fly Shop- Independence, Missouri
Lake Taneycomo
Jaws- you knew I was going to work that in somehow didn't you
The Missouri Department of Conservation
Busch, Austin, Pat, and all my other buddies that contribute to this site
Missouri Trout Parks
The Fiberglass Manifesto
The Brave & John Deere
Four-wheel drive trucks

Thursday, November 24, 2016

6 Anglers You Will Meet On The Water

This is a pretty funny post from the bloggers over at postflybox.com.  I'm not sure where I fall, but I do take a lot of pictures on the water so that doesn't bode well for my classification.  This Ben Duchesney guy is pretty legit.

The Wade Fly Fishing Blog by Postfly

http://postflybox.com/blog/2016/05/04/the-6-fly-anglers-youll-meet-on-the-water/

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Small Lake Profile- Prairie Hollow Lake


This small lake is very unique and unlike any other I have fished before in my life.  While it is technically a part of the James A. Reed Conservation Area in Lee's Summit, Missouri, it is not accessible to the public.  Now you might be wondering if I trespassed in order to fish this lake.  Alas, the answer is no.  This lake is available to nonprofit or educational groups.  I have taken my fly fishing club there as well as attended church outings and kids fishing derbies.  It is a catch and release lake that holds populations of crappie, redear sunfish, bluegill, bass, catfish, and carp.  If you would like to reserve this lake for a group, just call the Regional Office for the Missouri Department of Conservation at the James A. Reed Conservation Area at 816-622-0900.  Just tell them that you would like to reserve Prairie Hollow Lake and they will check the availability of the lake and ask you a few questions.  That's it.  After that, just go to the office the day before or the day of your event and they will give you some paperwork to fill out at the end of the event as well as the combination to the locked gate.  You can also request to use some push-button rods and tackle but try and tell the person that is taking the reservation when you call.  Oh yeah, it's free too!




If this all sounds too good to be true, it isn't.  Believe me, I am a bit of a pragmatist and I cannot find a flaw in this system other than the date you want might not always be available when you want it.  There are lots of fish, there is a variety of fish to fish for, and they are usually hungry.  It is a great lake for kids that need to catch a bunch of bluegill to keep them interested.  It is also a good lake for adults as it offers some good bass fishing that isn't so easy that it is boring.  There are some nice sized fish in the lake since all the big ones have (or should have) been released.  I have caught a 4 pound bass on a spook and a friend of mine caught a 20 inch largemouth on a Lucky #13 (bullfrog pattern) so they are in there and what more can you ask for?


Name
Prairie Hollow Lake

Link: http://mdc7.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=5501

Location
James A. Reed Conservation Area in Lee's Summit, Missouri

Species to Target
Bass, redear sunfish, bluegill, and hybrid bluegill






Spots to Try
To be honest, I have seen fish caught at almost every point you can cast to on this lake.  Now don't take that to mean that there are literally fish "everywhere".  There are usually fish holding around the concrete pier as well as the concrete platform.  You can usually pick up a few fish around the dam and around the island and the peninsula.  If the water is warming or cooling, you can find fish in the sloughs around the island and peninsula but the conditions have to be just right for fish to be there. Bluegill usually hang out around the sidewalk and if you are feeling adventurous, you can fish along the east bank.  This bank is a little overgrown and contains A LOT of poison ivy.  Needless to say, I don't fish that part, but I have seen guys catch quite a few bass along that bank.

Flies to Use
Well, you can never go wrong with a John Deere or other mini jig under a float, but the usual suspects work as well.  Woolies, zonkers, poppers, and nymphs will catch just about everything.  Chase the bass with baitfish patterns and the bluegill family members with nymphs and small minnow imitations.  If you have casting tackle, spinnerbaits, worms, square bill crankbaits, and chuggers can produce some bites as well.




Monday, November 21, 2016

What the heck are those?

If you got the Varsity Blues movie reference, good for you.  If not, you need to watch Varsity Blues if you are of the appropriate viewing age that is.  Alright, now to the point!

While deer hunting on my uncle's farm in west-central Missouri, I ran across some of these amazing and beautiful structures.  I know they are associated with frost and freezing temperatures, but that is the extent of my knowledge.  Any help with what they are called or how they form would be greatly appreciated.  I hope you find them as incredible as I do.










Friday, November 18, 2016

Streamer Chronicles: Kelly Galloup

I'll be honest, I don't know much about Kelly Galloup, but I DO know three things about him.  1. He ties some amazing looking flies.  2. He is famous in fly fishing and fly tying communities.  3. This guys has revolutionized fishing for big browns with big flies.  If you're into those kinds of things, you are going to enjoy this video.

Fly Fishing The Ozarks Presents Streamer Chronicles: Kelly Galloup

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Changes to Pages


Alright boys and girls, there are going to be a few changes to the pages here on the site.  Hopefully they are for the better and give you more ways to access information that you might be looking for.

Fishing Reports
After trying to post fishing reports here and there, I have decided to discontinue this practice.  I wasn't doing a very good job of keeping up with the reports and I don't fish big bodies of water very often either.  In essence, my reports were out of date and probably not very useful to others.  However, in an effort to get you better, more accurate, and current fishing reports, I am going to include some links to fishing reports from around the state.

Fishing Journal
Old fishing reports will be relocated to the "Fishing Journal" page.  I actually started this site because I ran out of pages in my old fishing journal so I am going to continue journaling my experiences.  This is probably more for my own records and something to pass on to my sons one day, but if you ever want to read about my experiences and small trips, feel free to take a look.

Missouri Angler Profiles
I know there hasn't been a profile of an angler in a long time, but it is something that I want to get back to doing.  Also, it seems like a shame to not cataloge the old interviews so anglers can get to know one another and learn a little about our fellow fishermen.

Small Lake Profiles
Again, all of the profiles of small lakes will be cataloged here.  These profiles might be as good as the fishing reports page in terms of providing suggestions and guidance on the water.  Some of these smaller lakes don't get covered in fishing reports because they just aren't big enough, but maybe some of the information that is provided will help you locate and catch more fish.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Night Before The Opening Day of Deer Season (Rifle) and Catching Farm Pond Fish...Still!

I look forward to the opening day of deer season every year.  Admittedly, I am not a very good hunter but I always look forward to the chance of spending time with friends, enjoying the outdoors and maybe getting a chance to shoot a nice buck.  After 13 years of deer hunting, I still have yet to kill a deer over 120 inches but every set of antlers that hang on the wall of my basement has a great story to go along with it and each story involves a friend that I love as much as life itself.  That's why I love deer season.  

This year, I was able to get up to my hunting cabin with some time to kill before the sun went down on opening day eve.  Since I am not one to just sit around and watch life go by while rocking on a front porch, I decided to string up a fly rod and hit a farm pond.  I didn't think that I would have much chance of success even though this fall has been unseasonably warm.  Temps had been cooling down over the last week, but I thought maybe the evening temps would get the fish into an active feeding mood.  I was right (which is rare, just ask my wife) and I landed a couple of nice bluegill and missed a few as well.  While I didn't get a deer on opening weekend, I did gain the memory of catching some farm pond fish the night before opening day...which is just plain weird but also memorable.



Tuesday, November 15, 2016

So my neighbor is putting in a koi pond...(part 2 of 2).

Step 4- Now I Am Doing Something Very Wrong

At this point, I am in too deep.  Like an undercover FBI agent in a re-imagined story that involves the seedy drug trade, I have started to give over my response to authority to my own morals.   I start to question the entire fabric of the Constitution of The United States of America and wonder if my neighbor's property is really theirs since it is in a water way.  Well sure it is theirs, but my subconscious suggestions start to creep into my consciousness.  While I know it is wrong, I have some sort of sick and twisted way to justify fishing for koi in my neighbor's pond.  That is when I sneak out of the house for the first time.

Since I am a man of moderate intelligence (I'm being a little generous there), I don't expect to catch a koi on my first attempt.  This is a learning experience.  I would probably learn that while these fish have excellent sight and intelligence, they are not nocturnal which is due mostly to the fact that they are fed during the day.  Uh oh.  This just got a LOT more complicated.  This mission (like it is some sort of military action) has just taken a serious turn.  This is now a daylight, shock and awe campaign.  In preparation, I start to set aside some Christmas money to be used as bail because this story doesn't end without a call from the cops.  The best case scenario is that I hook a fish but the owner forgives me.  The worst case is that I make one cast and that the neighbor is a cop that arrests me on the spot with nothing to show.  Like Bruce Wayne, I channel my inner Batman and select my morals over that of the accepted social standards and structure.



Step 5- The Moment Of Truth
I have a job.  Some would call it a career.  I simply don't have time to figure out when my neighbors will be home so I throw caution to the wind and hope for the best.  After arriving home on a particularly stressful day, I decide that this IS the day.  I would probably hem and haw over it for a few weeks, but then the stress of a long day would trigger some sense of primordial response that has its ties to Homo Erectus.  This is it.  It's on much like the popular 80's video game, Donkey Kong.  this is about to get off the hinges, my ninjas.  Gameface....on.

When I get home, I know I don't have long before the wife gets home and stops my plan.  As for the neighbor, I stopped caring about presence and opinion a LONG time ago.  I rig up a fly rod (inside of course) and make a few practice casts (knocking over some lamps of course) before I step outside.  I emerge from my back basement door like a Navy Seal slowly emerging from calm water.  Eyes first, weapon second.


I peel off line as I approach the property line as I walk.  I figure I have 5-10 casts before I get noticed and if I actually hook a fish, well then that time gets cut down dramatically.  First cast. sucks as usual.  Second cast, off to the left.  Third cast, off to the left again because I am stubborn and a wind gust must be to blame because that sure as heck wasn't my fault.  Fourth cast is off to the right because I finally admit fault and over-correct.  Cast five rings home like a blacksmith's hammer.  A fly is on the water and there is a serious chance that I might catch my neighbor's koi.  The deer hair pellet fly circles the artificial pond like Paul's stonefly on the Big Blackfoot.  Then there's a sip.

It happens with the subtleness of a broken shoelace.  A koi has my fly and this entire ridiculous plan has come come to this point.  I set the hook and I feel meat on the other end.  Holy crud, I've hooked my neighbor's koi.  I shouldn't have done this.  What have I done?  I can't undo this!

The neighbors don't notice at first because they are eating dinner (early bird special) and the splashing in the koi pond is nothing compared to the roast beef sandwhiches splashing in au jus suace.  Eventually the great beast tires and while a sense of relief washes over me like the salmon of Capistrano, I still can't get the fish unhooked.  I sure as heck can't just walk over into my neighbor's yard and unhook their ornamental fish so I start to drag the fish out of the pond and toward my property.  It is with some ill-placed sense of pride that I am glad that I selected a 10 pound monofilament tippet.  That's when my neighbors notice the multicolored critter being drug across their backyard.  Mission accomplished, and mission failed all at the same time.  I'm caught gold and orange handed.  There I stand with a fly rod in my right hand, a koi in my left, and a guilty grin on my face.  Hey neighbor, allow my to introduce myself.  Oh yeah, my hands are full.  You understand if we don't shake hands, don't you buddy?

Hands, not shaken.  Apology, not accepted.  Cops, called.  Bail money, in my wallet.  An awkward selfie with my fish of a lifetime, on the phone that I hope the cops won't take.  Will it all be worth it...umm...yeah!

Monday, November 14, 2016

So my neighbor is putting in a koi pond...(part 1 of 2).

Dislaimer: I refuse to purposefully trespass or knowingly steal another person's property.  I WILL NOT follow through on stealing someone's ornamental goldfish!  I might think it, but I wont do it.


I'm in trouble here folks and this story is not going to end well.  Before we get to my potential arrest for stolen property and trespassing without ACTUALLY trespassing, let's take a moment to look at the backstory to my problem.  My wife and I bought our current house about 7 years ago.  We had always had a vacant lot on one side of the house until last spring.  When we came home one day and utilities had been marked, we knew that things were about to change.  The construction took all summer but finally our new neighbor moved in.  What seemed strange was that she moved in without any landscaping or sod work.  I was talking to another neighbor and he informed me that part of the reason for the lack of landscaping might be that she is putting in a koi pond.  My first thought was "Are you kidding me?" which was followed by "I'm going to jail."  This is like waving a 20 dollar bill in front of someone with a gambling problem and saying "Wanna bet?"  So here's what I am pretty sure is going to happen in step by step sequence.



Step 1- The Pond Is Made & The Koi Go In
I assume that there is a black, plastic tub in my neighbor's possession that is just waiting to be placed in a 3-4 foot deep hole.  It probably resembles a drop-in pickup truck bedliner and is all pre-formed.  I will probably come home one day, gaze off the back deck at my empire of dirt, notice the enclosure, and think to myself "Hum, I wonder how long that has been there?"  The truth is that it will probably be the same day as its installment because I pride myself on my observance even though my wife says I don't notice anything.  CORRECTION: I notice the cool outdoorsy stuff!  Soon thereafter, when the chlorine has been removed and the temperature has balanced out, the first of the overpriced yet beautiful goldfish variation will be introduced into the synthetic ecosystem.  Again, I will be moderately surprised at the site of a slashing orange ornament in the plastic pond.  That's when my pulse will quicken and my problems start.  Step 1- complete.

Step 2- I Formulate A Plan

See, it CAN be done.  This is a picture of Joe Cermele from "Hook Shots" fame hold a koi from Arizona.

After the realization has sunk in that there are fish within casting distance of my backyard, I will start to hypothesize silly little plans to catch them.  It will start off innocently enough with thoughts like, "Wouldn't it be funny if I found out what Koi eat?"  Then, I will think, "It sure would be silly if I found out what they eat and then tied a fly that looked like said food source.  That would be funny."  That, in actuality, is not funny.  That is scary because THAT is a plan coming coming to fruition.  (On another note, I sometimes wonder if the word"fruition" comes from the word fruit?)  Then I would choose to look up koi, goldfish, and carp fishing information as well as videos on YouTube.  Following that, I would have these subversive conversations with folks at fly shops and online message boards about catching koi pond fish.  Attention Western Missouri Fishing Authority: we have reached Defcon 3.  Reattention: we skipped Defcon 1-2.  Oops.



Step 3- It Begins, But No Actual Problems...Yet

At this point, research is done, ties are flied and in a box that says "Neighbor's Koi Pond" but there is still some trepidation.  I am by nature a "rule follower" and feel genuine remorse after doing something wrong that I know is wrong.  I have a lot of guilt about a lot of things that I have done during my life and I really don't want more baggage.  However, the fear of guilt might not be enough to overcome the drive to catch a goofy looking carp.  So I start to cast in my backyard.
To the untrained eye, it would look like I am simply in my backyard, doing some grass casting, and maybe getting ready for an upcoming fishing trip.  However, the truth is much darker than that.  The fact is that I am simply measuring my reach.  Like a Tiger swiping at a leaf on the branch of a tree, I am just calculating my depth perception.  I figure if I can hit a spot in my neighbor's back yard with a backhanded cast, then a forward cast should be simple.  At this point, you might be starting to think, "Wow, this guy has a command over quotation marks like he is Zeus, king of the Gods.  Also, this guy has really had some time to think this through and might have some sort of mental illness."  To that, I can only respond with thank you and frankly, that's none of your darn business.  But, then again, I did start my own blog so I guess I am kind of putting myself out there so maybe you're right.  We are getting off track here.  Back to the koi pond.

Flies have been selected, casting distances have been determined, and the next full moon has been documented.  Step 3, complete.  Secretary of the Western Missouri Fishing Authority, let's move this sucker to Defcon 2.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Best Fishing Scenes From Movies (That I Could Find Clips For)

This is NOT a top ten list by any means because of the following reasons:

1. There are 12 videos.
2. I couldn't find clips for all the videos I wanted.
3. Top 10 lists are arbitrary at best and assembled for the sole purpose to spawn debate and arguments.  I've got enough stress in my life and I don't need to have arguments online about whether "the stinky fish in the car scene" from Grumpy Old Men should have been number 5 instead of number 6.

On another note, why aren't there more good fishing movies or parts of movies that have good fishing scenes?  Almost everyone can relate to fishing in the sense that most people have at least been exposed to fishing a little bit.  I guess it is just evidence that Hollywood doesn't get us awesome, simple, and down to Earth Midwesterners.

STRONG DISCLAIMER!  PLEASE READ PRIOR TO WATCHING CLIPS.
While I pride myself on this site being pretty close to G-Rated, there are a few curse words tossed around in some of the clips.  Proceed with caution.  I tried to weed out the naughty words and this is the best I could come up with.

Jaws- We're going to need a bigger boat



On Golden Pond- Catching Walter



A River Runs Throught It- Paul's monster rainbow


Cast Away- spearing a fish


Star Wars Episode I- there's always a bigger fish


The Assassination of Jesse James- shooting trout through the ice


Jurassic World- using a great white for ba


Godfather II- Fredo getting killed


The Perfect Storm- catching fish in the sun and calm water


Life of Pi- flying fish


Grumpy Old Men- stinky fish in the car


The Old Man and the Sea- need I say more?


Other movies that I couldn't find the right clips for:
Happy Gilmore- Caddy brings up a fish in his teeth after jumping in a golf course pond.
Great Outdoors- when the guys fall asleep in a boat and wake up cover in the leeches they were using as bait.
Lethal Weapon- when the guys bring a shark on the boat that they hooked.
The Edge- when Anthony Hopkins' character uses part of a pocket watch chain to attract trout in a mountain stream.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Private land open to the public?


This is an interesting idea that the Missouri Department of Conservation has come up with.  Essentially, the department has come up with a program that helps open up private land to the public.  When I first read the article, my first thoughts were positive and general in the sense that I think that there needs to be more public land and water.  I think MDC does a great job with what they have but I also think that we always need to be looking for more opportunities to free up more property for those that don't have family farm land or otherwise.  However, I was shocked to read the negativity in response to the article on Facebook.  PEOPLE WERE TICKED!  And it isn't like there were just a couple!  Everybody was talking trash on the program and coming up with potential problems as well as flaws in the current structure.  At first I just thought it was a bunch of internet trolls looking to vent about anything, but then after I thought about their reasoning, it kind of started to make sense.  So now I am torn.  While everything so far is happening on the eastern side of the state and doesn't effect me directly right now, I think it is important for ALL Missourians that enjoy their time outdoors to stay informed about changes to public land access.  I would really like to see and read what you think about the program and its merits.  PLEASE comment in the section below if you read the article and have positive or negative feelings about the program.

Missouri Department of Conservation press release link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-and-private-landowners-provide-new-public-hunting-fishing-and-wildlife-viewing-areas

Article link: http://kplr11.com/2016/10/26/getting-private-land-owners-to-open-up-properties-to-outdoor-recreation-activities/

Program link: https://mdc.mo.gov/property/property-assistance/missouri-outdoor-recreational-access-program-mrap

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Micro Fishers?


Hey, this is what I do!  I catch small fish and I guess I have done it long enough that I ended up being trendy?  All kidding aside, this is kind of an interesting and existential approach to fishing.  After all, the only "trophies" that exist in this sport are determined by each individual and his/her own set of criteria.  Who am I to say that catching a darter, a sculpin, a shiner, or a chub isn't an accomplishment for someone?  If that's what makes you happy and fosters a love for our sport, then by all means, do what makes you happy!

http://www.moldychum.com/micro-fishers-focus-species-not-size/

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Rio- How To Series

I have heard about soft hackles.  I have soft hackles in my fly boxes.  I can even tie a few soft hackle patterns.  But truth be told, I had no idea how to fish a soft hackle until I watched this video.  Sure, I have had a few people give me some incomplete tips like, "Oh, it's easy.  Just cast it out, swing it, then give it a few twitches."  What kind of advice is that?  It's like telling an astronaut that is asking how to power the space shuttle, "Hey buddy, it's not that hard.  Just prime the engines, build up some heat, and ignite the old oxygen."  But then I watched this video and I feel like a pro.  Again, to be honest, I always feel like a pro right before I fail at something.

On a serious note, I am really looking forward to this series of videos.  While I love the "Find Your Water" videos from Redington for all of their variety and beauty, Rio has done an amazing job in presenting usable and instructional information in this video.  I will definitely be fishing soft hackles more in the future now that I know how to use them...and since I am basically a pro now!

Monday, November 7, 2016

Pencil Boxes Into Fly Boxes

My youngest son has a penchant for waking up early.  Like really early.  Like earlier than a human that isn't going fishing should be allowed to wake up.  Anyway, I get up with him on weekends and let the rest of the house sleep.  At this particular time of day, there isn't much to do and he is only 1 year old so that limits things even more.  We go looking for deer, watch the sun rise, get donuts and coffee, but most of all, we go to Wal Mart.  We look at toys, look for good movies in the five dollar bin, and hit the clearance aisle.  Most of the time we don't buy much, but the other day I spotted something that I have had my eye on for some time.

Before the start of school, I saw these pencil boxes.  They were sturdy, had good hinges, and were camo.  All important selling points and I swear that I will stop and consider buying something if it is camouflage.  The other thing it had was was a locking latch.  This caught my attention too.  I thought that it was a good idea at first.  You just can't keep your pencils and erasers secure enough in the day and age that we live in.  But then I thought, what is the point of locking a box that someone could practically put in his/her pocket and then smash with a hammer later?  I don't know why all these thoughts ran through my head but I am going to chalk it up to still waking up or being over caffeinated.  The only negative I could find, besides the locking mechanism, was that it was priced at ten dollars.  Um, no.  I was not about to buy a pencil box for that price that I A. did not need and B. did not know what I would do with it even if I did buy it.  That's when the idea of turning it into a fly box donned on me.  From there, I bided my time and waited...for the cost to come down.  And come down it did my friends...like the Berlin Wall...mainly because it took a long time.


A couple of weeks ago, these objects of my desire finally found their way to the clearance aisle.  At two dollars each (eighty percent off by my calculations) I bought four of them.  It was only after my purchase that I noticed a little netted pocket inside the box that was attached to the lid.  It would be the perfect place to hold some strike indicators!  After getting home, I realized that I should have bought ten of them.


Anyway, it took a grand total 5 minutes to turn these suckers into fly boxes.  I took some measurements first and then found some foam that I had laying around.  Now when it comes to foam, I buy the good stuff.  Not that 2 mm thick stuff from Wal Mart.  I buy the 5 mm foam from Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  DO NOT SETTLE FOR 2mm FOAM.  YOU WILL REGRET IT.  It just isn't thick enough to stick a fly hook into.



I then grabbed some super glue.  I prefer the gel option because it doesn't seem to get soaked up by materials like the liquid does.  I put glue on the inside of the box, on the foam, and then dropped it in place.  Finally, I slapped some cool looking and fly fishing related stickers on it and that was it.  I think they turned out pretty well so I thought I would pass the idea and steps along to you.


I auctioned off a couple of the boxes to the members of the middle school fly fishing club that I sponsor and I still have two left.  Maybe I need to set one aside for my youngest son since I wouldn't have been able to do this without him and his awful sleeping habits.

The all-important 5mm foam.  The thicker the better!

Cut to the correct size.

Apply a strong adhesive and drop into place.

Done!

I think I prefer the black option over the white.

Slap a sticker on it to finish things off so nobody thinks it is a pencil box.