Tuesday, January 31, 2017

F3T is Coming to Kansas City on Feb. 22

Well look what I saw when I was up at Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri yesterday!


That's right people, the Fly Fishing Film Tour is coming to Glenwood Arts Theatre in Overland Park, Kansas on February 22 at 7:00 PM.  I am REALLY excited to attend this event and I hope to see you there!  You can learn more at the following link: http://flyfilmtour.com/

You can purchase tickets from K& K Flyfisher in Overland Park, Kansas.
Here's a link to their site: http://kkflyfisher.com/

2017 F3T Stoke Reel from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.

Monday, January 30, 2017

Mountain Lion and the First State Fishing Record to Fall in 2017

The Missouri Department of Conservation released some big news recently that I wanted to pass along to you.

New State Record

John Paul Morris (yes, the son of the Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris) has arrowed the new state record Bigmouth Buffalo on a private pond while out bowfishing with some friends.  Congratulations to him for his alternative methods state record.

 I will also use this opportunity to push for a set of fly rod state records.  Who's with me?  Seriously!  I'll start the petition and research if anyone wants to help and that is not sarcasm.  I'm 100% serious!


Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/springfield-fisherman-takes-state-record-bigmouth-buffalo


A Female Mountain Lion in Missouri

MDC has confirmed that DNA results show that the first female mountain lion in Missouri since 1994.  This is a big deal because that means that breeding populations could start to produce offspring within the state.  The one thing that are article fails to mention is how the DNA was collected.  I'm not starting any conspiracy theories here, just curious.


Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-female-mountain-lion-shannon-county


Friday, January 27, 2017

If You Are Looking For a Weekend Project, May I Suggest Some Letter Art?

I saw an advertisement for this on my Facebook news feed the other day and thought it was interesting enough to pass along.  It is a really unique product that looks to be really well done.  The photography looks very professional and I am a sucker for sentimental things, especially ones that incorporate family and fly fishing.  The possibilities are endless and you could definitely complete this project with a hunting, golfing, or some other theme that you are passionate about.  With that being said, I really want to take this on as a project that I complete myself.  While I don't think it will look as good, I think it might mean more with my own creative touch.  If I ever get around to doing this, I will be sure to share the final product.  If you decide to take this on yourself, I would love to see what you come up with.


Link: http://personal-prints.com/products/fly-fishing-letter-art

Shed Hunting Attempt #1 of 2017

I love to shed hunt!  I look forward to this season for months and when it is finally here, I take advantage of any chance I get to out, do some walking, and look for some antlers.  For those of you that don't know, male whitetail deer (bucks) shed their antlers ever year around mid January to late February here in Missouri.  They will grow new antlers over the summer to replace the ones they have cast off.  What we have here in Missouri is a small window that allows a person to try and find these antlers that have been shed before prairie grasses, row crops, and forest brush cover up and conceal them from view.  There are many factors working against a shed hunter.  First of all, looking for antlers in the woods is less like looking for a needle in a haystack and more like looking for a specific needle in a stack of needles.  Also, you have rodents to contend with.  The minute those antlers hit the ground, they become a calcium supplement for mice, rats, and whatever critter has the desire to chew them up.  A final factor to consider is deer density.  If you are hunting for antlers in an area with a small deer population, then naturally your chances of finding antlers go down.  I have been fortunate enough to find probably 15-20 antlers in my shed hunting career which is about 10 years old.  Yesterday, I was able to go out on my first hunt.

Like many hunts, it was not productive in terms of antlers found, but most of the time I find something that is incredible and I wasn't even looking for.  For years, I have hoped to find one of these little nature nuggets and yesterday, I finally found one: an owl pellet.




If you don't know what owl pellets are, they are regurgitated remains of something that an owl consumed.  An owl can't digest the bones or fur of the varmints it eats so it vomits those items up but not after its stomach compacts them into a tight wad.  In many cases you can reassemble a complete skeleton of the mouse or vole or whatever it ate.  It's pretty cool.  

In terms of antlers, I found 4.  Two four pointers and two spikes.  Unfortunately, they were still attached to their owners and ran off in the opposite direction.  So if you are a shed hunter, and hunt around the Kansas City area, you might give it a little more time.  With a mild winter like we have had, it looks like bucks are holding onto their antlers a little longer than usual this year.  I will report back if I do any more hunting and if I find that bucks are shedding.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

More Missouri Angler Profiles

Since the winter fishing is slow (to say the least) and you can only do so many fly fishing posts, I decided to try and get some more "Missouri Angler Profiles" to post and share.  I hope you like these posts and find ways to connect to these fellow anglers and maybe a way to reconnect to your own fishing heritage.  I think it is through the experiences of others that we start to learn about others and ultimately, understand ourselves better.  I will be posting these in pairs from time to time and cataloging them on the "Angler Profiles" page.  If you are interested in filling out a profile (and I am always looking for more folks to submit their info), feel free to contact me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  The mission of this site is to promote the idea of fly fishing, and specifically fly fishing in the great state of Missouri.  It is the stories of fellow anglers that add to the culture and appreciation for who we are as anglers and conservationists.


Missouri Angler Profile- Luke


Name (first only):
Luke 

Height:
6’2”

Weight:
245 lbs.

Age:
35

Years of Fishing Experience:
I’ve been fishing for 31 years

Hometown:
Grew up in Smithville, MO

Currently Residing In:
Live in Liberty, MO

Earliest Fishing Memory:
One day I wanted to go fishing really bad but it was midday and middle of the summer. My dad kept telling me it was too hot and the fish weren't gonna bite. I convinced him into letting me fish while he mowed around the pond. I threw this little crawdad rapala up next to this downed tree and a bass crushed it. I had it on forever but could tell it was a lot bigger than the ones I was used to catching. I couldn't lift the rod tip. So I started walking backwards up the bank to beach it so I could get to it. My dad saw me struggling and stopped the mower to help, he lipped it on the bank it ended up being my biggest bass for several years to come 6.5 pounder. I let him hear it for a long time about it being too hot to fish and they wouldn't bite. I was five years old at the time.

Favorite Fishing Story:
A few years ago I was asked to write an article for A Tight Loop, it needed to have some good pictures. I said yes and of coarse didn't have any on hand so I needed to catch some fish and get some good shots. It didn't help it was about the wild spring creek trout here in Missouri. If anyone is familiar with them at times they can be really tough. A buddy and I planned a trip and of coarse hit high water, we were struggling with the normal nymphs only picking up little fish here and there. We hadn't ever had much luck on streamers at this particular creek and I said "Forget it, I'm gonna throw a sculpin." First drift/strip through a run I caught a 17" fish, I was yelling for my buddy to come get a picture. I told him to put on a streamer and we caught more big fish than some catch down there in a lifetime in one evening, including a 21"er. Needless to say I got the article done and had some great fish to prove we have some good wild trout here in Missouri.

Favorite Fishing Partner:
My kids and my dad

One person you would like to fish with (dead or alive):
I'd like to fish with Tom Brokaw.  He's an avid fisherman and has been all over the world.

Who/What got you started fishing?
My dad got me started

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri?
I don't really have a favorite, I guess where ever I'm fishing that day.

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique?
I'm a fly fisherman, I like throwing big streamers.

What is your favorite species to fish for?
Favorite species: Bass, really all bass but smallmouth and hybrids are my favorite.



What percent of the time do you catch and release?
99.5% of the time, really only time I keep fish is if we're trying to manage a pond.

What is the weirdest thing that you have seen on the water?
I don't know the weirdest, but you see a lot of unusual stuff at the boat ramp just about every time out.

What is one place that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before?
I've fished a lot of them but I want to get up a fish Hazel Creek. I see a lot of musky pics from up there and I've been chasing them on a fly rod for a couple years.



Missouri Angler Profile- Gary

Name (first only):
Gary

Height:
6’2”

Weight:
175

Age:
60

Years of Fishing Experience:
50 years fishing experience

Hometown:
Kansas City, MO

Currently Residing In:
Kansas City, MO

Earliest Fishing Memory:
Fishing with Dad and Grandpa in farm ponds

Favorite Fishing Story:
Catching Northern Pike in Minnesota with Dad watching.

Favorite Fishing Partner:
Hank Rosebrough

One person you would like to fish with (dead or alive):
Captain Mac from Atlanta, GA

Who/What got you started fishing?
Father making his own spinner baits in the basement

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri?
Truman Lake

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique?
Trolling with downriggers on Truman Lake with homemade jigs

What is your favorite species to fish for?
Strippers and hybrids

What percent of the time do you catch and release?
50%

What is one place that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before?
North Fork and Bull Shoals

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Tying The Goblin

I want to start off by stating that I cannot take credit for the invention of this fly.  I'm not sure where it originated from but I found this fly when searching for a new pattern to tie a few years ago.  Here is the link to the original Goblin.

Link: http://www.current-works.com/how-to-tie-fly/goblin-sculpin-goby-fly-pattern/

Here's where the story starts though and why I put my own touch on tying this pattern.

When I found this pattern, I thought it looked great.  I really wanted to tie it and wanted to come as close as possible to tying it right.  However, I was unable to do so because I was missing some materials and had to make some substitutions and modifications.  The resulting pattern looked similar but not exact.  I was a little disappointed in the fact it didn't look like the picture from the website, but it still looked like it might work.

Fast forward a few months when I was catching some bass in early summer.  I tied this fly on to see if it would work and the first thing I noticed was how it moved int he water.  While it gave a tall profile in the front and pushed some water, the tail had a lot of action that I thought would coax a bass into biting.  Sure enough, it worked really well that day and landed quite a few bass.  Knowing that the original Goblin was supposed to imitate a goby, I was curious why the bass were hitting it when they had never seen a goby in their lives.  (For the record, I now know better that bass don't care if they have seen something before.  They will eat it.  For example, I have never seen a 10 inch black and red worm with glitter on it in the water but I have caught bass on such a lure before.)  About an hour later when I was taking my boat out of the water, the answer revealed itself to me.  When beaching my boat, I spooked a large number of bullfrog tadpoles and one ended up stuck in the shallows.  With it's wide profile, white belly, and wiggly tail it sure looked a heck of a lot like my goblin.  At that point, I realized that I had a tadpole fly pattern and not a goby pattern.  Since that day, I always make sure that I have a few goblins (and by a few, I mean a lot) in my bass/streamer box.  It has produced so well over the years, I decided to go ahead and include it here on the fly tying page.  For your enjoyment and hopefully future success, I present to you MY Goblin...just not THE Goblin.

Materials:
Hook:  Tiemco 8089, Size 6
Eyes:  Yellow, medium, dumbell eyes
Tail: Olive Black Barred Variant rabbit strip- Hareline
Body: Same piece of rabbit strip used for the tail palmered to the eyes.
Fins: Pheasant body but other short, small feathers can be substituted.  The feathers can also be tied so that they angle inward toward the body or outward away from the body.
Head: Olive and white sculpin wool.

You can tie the fins angled inwards or outwards depending on the look you want.  Also, I have lost the fins over the course of the day and it didn't really matter.  I also substituted the dubbing and hackle for the wrapping of the rabbit strip forward.











Any of these feathers can be used.  I prefer the pheasant body on the right.


















Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Ol' Buschy Tails- Boredom

Show of hands - Who’s favorite words to hear are “I’m Bored”? Hey OFG, real funny, put your hand down. You’re a teacher for God’s sake.
Anyway, those two words are like nails on chalkboard with Celine Dion playing in the background, while jackhammering. I should say while someone else is jackhammering, because if you’re jackhammering, even a Celine Dion/Adele duet couldn’t ruin the moment.
I’m all the parents out there have heard their kids say, “I’m bored”, scanned the immediate area, and found (last count at my house) 12,475,631 things their kids could be doing. I’ve tried to instill the following:


So when that never works, I list out numerous things we could do. I start out with win-win solutions, but it usually ends up with me doing whatever she wants anyway. Which usually means I watch her do whatever “we” decided to do. (I’m not kidding when I say that this exact scenario happened on Saturday. I wrote this the day before. I felt like Zoltar)
Though I talk all high and mighty like I’m never bored because I’m awesome and creative, I am mostly human. During one recent boredom scare, I came across a link and thought I would share. Since we are in the teeth of winter, I just couldn’t have it on my soul should one of our readers try to re-enact The Shining  while I’m just sitting here, methodically going through this link one by one. I’m saving lives here, folks.
So, check out this link for 75+ Ideas for Your Free Time and don’t come crying to me if you’re bored.

If anyone creates something awesome, I will receive nothing from the Art of Manliness, but please email us pics or stories at showmeflyguy@gmail.com . (Sidenote, Art of Manliness is a pretty fun site with some decent podcasts, highly recommend a thorough perusal)

Monday, January 23, 2017

Another Double Post Day- Bowfin Fishing

Southeast Missouri- I know I don't focus on you enough, so this post is for you!

If you are a frequent read, you know that I really dig everything Joe Cermele does.  His videos are great and his writing style is informative without being arrogant.  Joe seems like one of "us" in the sense that he is IN the fishing industry but still comes off as a guy that just loves to fish.  He is genuine and seems like he could be a next door neighbor.  By the way, Joe, if you happen to be reading this, the house across the street is for sale and I would be happy to show you around town.  But I digress.

Joe recently wrote an article about fishing for bowfin.  They look like a fascinating fish to go after with a fly rod (or any rod) but unfortunately, I don't think we have any bowfin in my neck of the woods.  The only place in Missouri that I have heard that bowfin are widespread and have some decent populations is in the bootheel.  If you know where more of these toothy critters call home in Missouri, or if you have tangled with one, PLEASE leave a comment in the section below.  I would love to hear from you and I bet others would as well.



Link: http://www.fieldandstream.com/under-dogfish-why-bowfins-should-be-on-your-hit-list

Winter Missouri Trout Park Article

In this article, truer statements have never been said about winter time catch and release fishing at Missouri's trout parks.  If you have never fished at Montauk, Meramec, Bennett Spring, or Roaring River in the winter, you might want to give it a shot.  The fish still bite but the crowds are a fraction of what they are when the parks are open for "catch and keep" season.  If you can brave the cold or find an unseasonably nice day, I can almost promise you will have fun!



Link: http://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/2017/01/18/trout-anglers-who-brave-winter-cold-hit-big-when-fishing/96672728/

Friday, January 20, 2017

Round 2- Guess What That Old School Fly Tying Tool Does- The Answer

I guess this tool just goes to show that even folks back in the day were suckers for tools that were gimmicky and claimed to make life easier.  Also, I guess using ones' fingers to perform the same function because I feel like I do this with almost every fly I tie at some point in the construction.


Thursday, January 19, 2017

Double Post Day!

Any time Brian Wise comes out with a new video, it is a must-watch.  When he comes out with a video that shows him tying a Kelly Galloup fly, well that's a heck of a combination and you know something unique and incredible is going to be produced.



Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T)

This trailer has been out for a while so sorry if I am late to the party.  While I have had some positive comments and some videos from the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4), it seems only fair to give the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) some equal pub.  For the record, I am only partial towards the IF4 because I have attended this event in the past and have yet to attend the F3T.  Hopefully that changes this year because it looks phenomenal.

2017 F3T Stoke Reel from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Guitar Building Blog

I have a friend that is as passionate about his guitar building as I am about fly fishing and I had to pass along his a link to his website.  He does some amazing work and does almost all of it from scratch.  While he would never admit it, this guy is a heck of a craftsman and problem solver.  From making an internal amp that will be hidden in the back of a guitar to making a wind counter with a fishing reel and old calculator, this guy is innovative!  He has built an electric guitar for each of his children (awesome) and is now taking on his most ambitious project to date.  Like me, he doesn't make any money off his blog but you can see that he pours his heart and soul into his projects as well as passing on his wealth of knowledge.  He is in the middle of build #3 (which the link will take you to) but you can find additional links to his other builds at the bottom of the page.  Even if you aren't into building guitars, I would highly suggest you check out his page if for no other reasons than:
1. you might learn something you didn't even know you wanted or learn
2.  just to see what an intelligent and motivated person can do with his/her own two hands.



Link: abeleguitar2017.weebly.com

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Wooly Bugger Video

If you haven't noticed, most of the pages listed along the top of the homepage have been reorganized and hopefully made it easier to find things that you are looking for.  "Ol' Buschy Tails," "Fly Tying," "Small Lake Profiles," and the "Fishing Journal" all have links to different content.  This way, you don't have to scroll through a bunch of information to get to what you are looking for.  In addition, this video and subsequent fly tying demos have been added to the fly tying page.  I hope this helps you find what you are looking for and just makes your overall experience on this site more enjoyable.  Now, on to the video.

The Wooly Bugger might be the most productive fly ever tied in the sense that I would bet that it has caught more fish than any other single fly in the history of fly fishing.  What other fly can imitate a baitfish, a nymph, or a crayfish?  This fly is easy to tie, versatile, and a staple of my fly collection.  I hope this video helps you learn to tie this pattern or just reminds you how great of a fly the Wooly is.  



Monday, January 16, 2017

Round 2- Guess What That Old School Fly Tying Tool Does- The Question

Since there was such a positive response to last week's "Old School Fly Tying Tool" post and subsequent answer last Friday, let's do it again.  This will be the last installment for the foreseeable future unless anyone has any interesting tools they would like to share.  Feel free to email (showmeflyguy@gmail.com) those to me or let me know that you have something on our Facebook page.  Anyway, back to the tool.

Just like last week, this tool was shown to me by Matt Sutton up at Rainbow Fly Shop.  While it was less intimidating and medieval in appearance than the other tool, it was a little more confounding.  I know that most people will probably guess that they are hackle pliers so to make things a little more difficult, they are NOT hackle pliers.  However, in the order of fairness, I will give you a hint: it has a very specific skill that you could probably use with most flies.  Please feel free to comment below and make a guess what this tool does.  The answer will be posted on Friday and good luck to all!



Friday, January 13, 2017

Guess What That Old School Fly Tying Tool Does- The Answer

So it is time for the big reveal.  There have been some great guesses and some were pretty close.  Others have given me ideas to invent new fly tying tools and I have already patented your ideas so see you in court.  Just kidding by the way.  Here were some guesses that were made in the comments section:

"Hackle comb or hook sorter."

"Robot mustache dress up kit...for flying tying."

"My guess is hackle fluffer/separator or something that does something with hackle. What I am saying is, this thing(s) performs a task related to hackle."

The hackle separator was the closest guess, but instead of separating hackle, it was a wing separator.  Apparently using wing sections was a big deal back in the day and eyeballing the width of a wing section was just too difficult back then.  In all seriousness though, I can see this tool being extremely useful for tying a muddler minnow...if I could tie a muddler worth a darn that is!





Thursday, January 12, 2017

Paddling With The Father In Law- The Final Chapter

So we loaded up the canoe on top of Bertrand’s Toyota Avalon with like 2 million miles on it. I followed behind in my truck and headed to the put in on the Meramec. Interesting note, on the way we saw a full blown police chase. A black Charger was flying down the highway at what had to be about 100 mph. I didn't even see it till it was on my left and cut in front of me by inches then wove through the rest of traffic without even tapping the brakes. Scared the bejeezus out of me. Saw the Highway Patrol flying up shortly after and just prayed they got the guy without any issue.


The put in wasn't too far from the highway and just south of Six Flags St. Louis. This is when I got to thinking about outdoor opportunity. I was maybe 25 minutes from my front door and about to paddle a couple miles on the river. It was a bit surreal. Though not as surreal as the hiking trail just north of Six Flags. You walk right by one of the larger roller coasters, seeing and hearing people scream at the top of their lungs as the train (or whatever it’s called) drops down a huge hill and goes up to a sharp turn. The smells are also pretty crazy as funnel cake and giant turkey leg carnival smells waft through the trees. It’s quite a juxtaposition against the serene valleys.
Anyway, we dropped my truck off at the finish line and headed to the put in, I was pretty sure we were going to tip at some point, so I just accepted it and checked that I brought dry clothes. Bertrand, of course, sealed that deal with the kiss of death, “well, I’ve never flipped, almost once”, he said ominously (Bertrand says pretty much everything ominously. Must just the way fathers in law talk to their sons in law. Or maybe that's how sons in law hear their fathers in law). Thanks, Bertrand, for ensuring we would flip and emboldening me with great confidence (as the sarcasm drips from my fingertips)


Bertrand gave me a quick refresher on paddling and we were off. Really, I wasn’t all that nervous about the put in or paddling. It was, and probably always will be, the landing and take out. Maybe it's from my many misadventures of docking boats at Taneycomo or maybe I just know how badly I lose focus at the finish line, either way it is just something I need to prepare for. Anyway, I didn't even bring a fishin’ pole since I really wanted to focus on relearning, but I did keep my eye out for potential spots. For the most part, I think this short trip was exactly what I needed at the time. I just kept my eyes open and enjoyed the quiet (well for the most part, Bertrand’s a bit of a talker). The Meramec is a pretty standard river, not really much to report. Though we did float by an undercut cliff that caught my fancy. The river created around a ten foot overhang to the bank through solid rock. I pondered what the rock looked like before the water started taking it apart, which led to what that rock looked like during the Civil War or when Mastadons roamed the area. Was it uneroded and pristine before the dinosaurs? Has anyone had this same thought about this particular undercut bank before?  Just a few Sunday afternoon thoughts. Probably should have taken a few pictures of that or, ya know, anything, however I was far too scared to take my phone out. The only other point of interest was this fish that swam up to check us out. It hung at the surface of the water for a beat, just before it realized we were far too big too eat. I think it was a sturgeon, but I haven't found any indication that those exist in the Meramec.


Alright, so the mileage was much shorter than I planned or my powerful paddle stroke sped us too quickly to the end. Take out was upon us. Again, I know this is my weakness and I was positive I would end up in the water. The line Bertrand took, was not the one I would take. Of course any canoeing confidence I had gained was  about to take a nosedive anyway, so i was going to go down swinging, then swimming. We were taking out at a boat launch, which isn't ideal- just no slow water to ease into the shore. We were coming in hot and  quickly narrowing the margin for error. With no water depth to paddle, I just held on. We hit hard and the back end spun downstream. The canoe jerked and I stuck my hand down to steady, reaching the bottom. I don’t know if that saved us from tipping, but I did end up with a wet arm and an untipped boat. Bertrand may have yelled at me, I may have yelled at him. Either way, we were on dry land with dry underpants. That’s my goal of every boat trip - dry land and dry drawers.


All in all a good day and once I get a manageable backpacking/canoeing/kayaking fishin’ pole, I will be hitting some of those spots I spied.
As we packed up and headed home, it again sunk in that this short little trip was a totaled about 4 hours and only 2 miles from civilization. Might as well been about a million. Who knew serenity was just off the Highway at the exit to Six Flags?


This little trip also helped me sort through an idea jammed up in my brain box, I’ll have to post more on that at another time, but here’s the gist of it.


As the OFG frequently reposts Redington’s Find Your Water series, I got to thinking that my “home” waters (or trails, or happy hunting grounds) were all pretty far away by vehicle. Travel creates an obstacle, not one like Lewis & Clark experienced, but something to think about and plan for nonetheless. Travel also is just starved for your time. I’ve always said if you travel 6 hours round trip, it should be for at least 12 hours of doing the thing you traveled for. I guess what I’m saying is, you might not be throwing streamers to salmon in the Rockies after hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, camping in Alaska and waking up in the morning to hunt Caribou, but similar activities are right outside your door. Or at least a half hour’s drive or so.


I know I tend to think like a lion when it comes to everything I do, but of course not in the super cool “king of the jungle” way. You see, a lion (and most predators) can judge whether chasing after particular prey is worth the energy they would expend to catch it. They’ve specifically evolved to do this. It makes sense, a squirrel a hundred yards away just wouldn’t make up for the calories expended. I’ve found this is not a great approach to life and really sucks the enjoyment right out of it. My thinking was always - How can I hike this little two mile trail when there’s Everest? Why fish for bluegill when the world record trout’s swimming around just 4 hours away? I still don’t know if there’s an answer for me or you, I just know that I’m doing my best to find places closer to home. Since I’ve started looking, I’ve found a ton of them. It’s like my eyes were opened and I’ve often thought, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?” When the real question is “why did I never ask?”.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Paddling With The Father In Law- Part 2

Pretty much every city, municipality, county, town, street, old timey shop, and about every other thing in and around St. Louis claims some sort of connection to the journey. Many consider themselves the the jumping off point for the expedition. I’ve seen this same thing in several towns and cities where historical events happened and just imagine the arguments that ensue at the City Council meetings. “No this event that happened 200 actually started where my restaurant still stands” says one. “Nuh, uh this actually started where my restaurant now stands” till eventually the only place that can legitimately claim the event is wherever the participants great, great, great, great, great grandparents were born.
What I’m saying is, you really can’t go anywhere without some connection to it.
Plus these signs are on just about every road and one would think they wore themselves out early in the process by riding around with no real direction. Many times when Clark is pointing in any direction but West, I’ll yell at the sign, “wrong way, Clark”. I’ve done this for a long time and am easily entertained. I do have to come clean, I never really check if Clark is pointing west or not. That feels better.
Here's your sign...

On my daughter’s Spring Breaks, we’ve always gone to several different L&C museums and sites around the area. I think she likes Lewis and Clark about as much as I do, but I know she likes the spyglass (now lost) and the wood carved eagle pen (once lost, now found) that she’s gotten over the course of our journeys. There really is a ton of cool locations - everything from working reproductions of their boats and a camp with real buildings they used.
Here's OUR sign...

Anyway, I finally got around to reading
Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. Despite the alleged plagiarism, this is a good read for anyone interested in the expedition and offers a great insight into the early United States on several levels. I guess I always pictured the expedition as two men up against great odds and no additional human contact during the course of the two year trip. This was not the case as Lewis and Clark assembled a team and met with many Native American tribes along the way. In some cases, becoming very familiar with the natives. One of their main goals was to offer trinkets and wares to the different tribes as introductory gifts from their new Great Father, Thomas Jefferson. Also, Mammoths. Old TJ thought the frontier was just lousy with Mammoths-3x the size of elephants along with 10 foot tall lions. And Jefferson wanted proof. Early Americans, right?

Another interesting fact about the trip was malaria. It was a real danger just outside of civilization and possibly contributed to Lewis’ eventual and much too early demise. It is hard to imagine contracting malaria anywhere in the United States, much less in the upper Midwest. So now we’re all grateful for dictionaries, medical advancement, and public works projects. (on another note, do not name your child Meriwether Lewis insert last name. William Clark named a son after his partner and that son also died unfortunately after basically inventing the Kentucky Derby. I guess doing great, memorable things then dying tragically isn't all that bad, but I’m not going to risk it)

I would say I know a little bit about Lewis and Clark and, all told,  that knowledge did not help my canoeing skills in the least. So again, I’ve gone off course. Thank goodness, we’ll be hitting the Meramec River which is almost impossible to go off course.
Now, I can only assume that you think this is turning into some sort of buddy comedy where two mismatched partners are forced together and comedy ensues. As it turns out, this was nothing like Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Lethal Weapon 4, Shanghai Noon, 48 hours, Rush Hour, Tango and Cash, Bad Boys, Midnight Run, Another 48 hrs, Bad Boys II, Men in Black, Men in Black 2, Men in Black 3, Hot Fuzz, Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Beverly Hills Cop 3 etc. (there are a lot of these types of movies and I’ve grown weary of this “joke”). And, as always, all my two man trips are much more like Point Break (the original, not the perversion they released last year we will never speak of again). Unfortunately, I am more like the Gary Busey character than either Keanu Reeves or Patrick Swayze.

So, I probably hadn’t been on a canoe in 15 years or so and wasn’t all that good to begin with, but at least I’d never flipped one. Most of my floats involved one of those rafts that require no skill because I was floating for reasons other than enjoyment of the outdoors. So we finally set a date and with the unseasonably warm fall, the outlook was good. I was getting a little nervous since I am  pretty knowledgable about the outdoors, but not so great on the water. I love streams and rivers, but prefer wading. In my mind, boats are just something else to worry about and maintain, taking away time from fishing. Really, I just haven’t had the means or will to learn more. So it’s all stems from a lack of confidence and not wanting to look like an idiot. Especially to those who know me, you would think the fear of looking like an idiot wouldn’t bother me so much. Weirdly, not the case.