Streamer Fly Knot

Fishing season, for me at least, runs from about mid March to late October.  Since I live in the northern part of Missouri, my season is a shorter than those that live in the south.  It is important to note that I am incredibly jealous of you southerners just for the record.  Anyway, about this time of year, I start setting some goals and focusing on some things I want to do different or try this year.  This year, one of those things is using a different knot to attach my streamers to my leader when using a fly rod.  I have ALWAYS used an improved clinch knot but this year, I am going to try switch things up and use a non slip loop when it seems applicable (and when I remember).  I'm going to do this for a couple of reasons.  Number one, it is out of my comfort zone and I tend to get stuck in a rut when it comes to fishing sometimes.  Number two, this is a widely used knot that most true "streamer" fisherman use.  That's the worst reason by the way.  Finally, it just gives the fly more action.  When it comes to throwing streamers, action (like the hokey pokey) is what it is all about.  Now don't get me wrong, I have my reservations.  I've never used this knot before so I automatically have some doubt in the knot being strong and I lack the confidence to use it religiously since it is something new.  However, I think it is safe to say that when I see the action that it gives a streamer and after I catch a few fish using this knot, I am going to wonder why it took me so long to employ this knot and I am going to wish I would have done this years ago.  So if you are interested in using this knot or just need a preseason refresher, feel free to watch the video and use some of the resources below.

Link: http://howtoflyfish.orvis.com/fly-fishing-knots/non-slip-mono-loop-video

Link: http://midcurrent.com/videos/tying-a-non-slip-mono-loop/

Link: http://www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/classic-video-tip-how-to-tie-a-non-slip-loop-knot/

Casting Into The Wind

This is a pretty good article about the most "...fiendish instrument of toruture ever devised to bedevil the days of man." as Everett McGill once stated in Oh, Brother Where Art Though?  Okay so he was describing women but wind on a fly fishing outing can be pretty comparable to Mr. McGill's description.  I prefer option 3 that is offered in the article which describes casting sidearm and low to the ground.  I at least FEEL like I am cutting through the wind a little more and not trying to force on overhead loop through the brunt of the wind.  I liken it to cutting a log with a saw rather than trying to chop through it with an ax.  But hey, those are just my thoughts and I sure as heck am not going to say it is the best way...it's just my way...which is usually the wrong way.

Link: http://www.fieldandstream.com/flyfishing-three-tips-for-casting-into-wind

Missouri Record Fish Stories - Rainbow Trout

With Opening Day on the horizon at Misouri's trout parks, here's a little motivation for those of you wanting to rub elbows with your fellow fishermen.  The state record is out there...and waiting for the right person, at the right time, with the right lure/fly.

Also, state records can be what you want them to be.  The other day on Facebook, I posed a question  on a few different outlets about whether we should have a separate set of records for fly fishing tackle.  The responses varied greatly from people that think records diminish the experience, to the idea that records are nice but not important, to others that think that fly fishing is a drastically different method of fishing from every other method.  Here is what I learned and this is what my thought is: state records ARE what you want them to be.  If you want the pursuit of a state record to be the end-all be-all of your existence and that is what makes you happy, then good for you!  If you think records are dumb and useless, then go out and soak up every moment of the fishing experience and appreciate every fish for what it is...a gift.  Or if you want to play the middle of the field and think a state record would be nice but not the purpose of the experience, then get out there and give it a shot but don't let it define you.  Remember, at its core, fishing needs to be fun and the good news is, you get to decide what is fun and what makes you happy.

Choosing The Right Fly

Sometimes, I give fish WAY too much credit!  I often give them the personification of a Harvard graduate that is somehow able to swim around and tell his lesser buddies (Yale undergrads)  that a guy is fishing for them and what said guy is fishing with.  With that being said, I think that fish can learn a few things and that we as fishermen can educate them in a way that makes them harder to catch.  How else can you explain that bass on public water are harder to catch that farm pond fish?  My dad even used to tell me that if a fish could see you, then it wouldn't bite.

Now if you believe that fish can learn and that they have enough intelligence to not bite every lure that passes by, then by deduction, that would mean that selecting the right fly at the right time on the right day is nearly impossible.  That is why we, as fly fishermen, spend so much time doing what the guy pictured above is doing; staring at a fly box in quiet contemplation and hoping that we pick the winning lottery number.  The article below from Hatch Magazine does a great job of describing the process of fly selection and simplifies the entire process.  I hope you get as much out of this short read as I did.

Link: http://www.hatchmag.com/articles/does-fly-pattern-matter/7714291

The Gurgler

The Gurgler is a fly that I have used from time to time over the last ten years or so to catch largemouth.  I'm not sure what in the heck it is supposed to imitate, but I have caught bass on this fly when nothing else would work.  Ironically, I'm not sure why I don't fish it more, but apparently I should.  Traditionally, this fly has a tail that is made of bucktail, but I prefer to use marabou instead.  Also, the instructions call for a hook with a shorter shank and wider gap but I started tying this fly on what I had laying around and I use the same hook to this day.  Finally, closed cell foam is called for, but I just use a big sheet of foam that I bought at Michael's.  It works just fine.  I originally found this fly on the following site if you want to compare and contrast:

 http://www.jackgartside.com/step_gurgler.htm

Hook: lots of options here but you can go with a wide gaped hook or a longer shanked hook for a bigger body/profile.

Thread: white 210

Tail: white marabou, olive marabou, and flashabou

Body & Cover: white foam

Rib: olive grizzly hackle but feel free to change the colors

Tie in and wind your way to the bend in the hook.

Tie in a small clump of marabou.

Tie in a clump of olive marabou or more white marabou if you would prefer. 

Tie in a clump of white marabout.

Tie in some flashabou on one side.

Tie in some flashabou on the other side.

Tie in some foam at the rear of the hook.  Leave enough foam to reach the front of the hook and enough to extend beyon the eye.

Tie in a piece of hackle.  I went with olive and black grizzly but you can switch things up, not that you need my permission.

I don't count how many wraps I make with the thread, but I try to make them equidistant.

Tie down the foam behind the eye.  Leave a little room to tie off the cover later.

Follow the wraps of thread with the hackle and tie it off.

Pull the foam forward and tie it off.

Trim the foam so that a lip extends beyond the eye.  This will push some water and act as an attractor.

The Gurgler

A closer view.

The Big Casino

Last weekend, I tied what is my favorite articulated streamer that I have made to date.  I thought I would share it with you in case you wanted to borrow some ideas or technques as we near the end of "fly tying season".  So here's what I did,and I'm sorry that I don't have step by step pictures.  I didn't think I would like how it turned out as much as I did.

Back Hook

I'm not sure what type of hook or size I used in the back because it was in an assorted pile that I ran across.  If I were to guess, it would be a heavy gauge wire that was a size 2 and 3X long.  I then tied in an olive and black barred variant rabbit strip.  Next, I tied in some pearl chenille, schlappen, and UV polar and then blended them together before wrapping them forward.  I then tied off the bundle and added in a couple of sili legs.

Front Hook

I secured a strand of wire to a size 6 Tiemco 8089 hook and included a large brass conehead. I ran the wire through a single bead, through the eye of the hook, back through the bead and tied off the wire again.  I then tied in some olive marabou to the bottom of the hook and an olive and black barred variant rabbit strop to the top.  I left both the marabou and rabbit strip long enough to cover the bead and eye of the back hook.  I then blended the same combination of pearl chenille, schlappen, and UV polar chenille.  I then wrapped it forward, tied it off, and included a couple more sili legs.  I finished it off with a schlappen collar some head cement.  

In Closing

As far as articulated flies go, this one is actually pretty simple in terms of the materials that I used.  I didn't use any bucktail or synthetic material that you have to brush out or color.  I also didn't have to spin any deer hair, but I am really happy with the profile and will hopefully like its action once I get it in the water.  You could easily substitute different colors or materials depending on what you have lying around.  Finally, make this pattern your own!  Change a few things and heck, change the name if you want.  If this pattern looks somewhat familiar, that's because it is derived from my favorite streamer pattern I call The Brave.  Since I changed a few things and attached a second hook, I decided to change the name as well.  I named it "The Big Casino" since it has more bells as whistles than The Brave.  I've always liked that name since I heard it in a John Wayne western (Chisum, I think).  Finally, I plan on betting big on this fly come spring hopefully hit the jackpot when I bet on catching my first 6 pound bass on a fly come prespawn.  

The New Fly Fisher

If you haven't ever watched any episodes of The New Fly Fisher on television or online before, then you might be missing out on what might be the most informative and instructional fly fishing shows around.  I usually catch episodes on Sunday mornings on KCPT at around 6:00 since my youngest son considers it sleeping in if he makes it to 5:30.  Anyway, the episodes are hosted by a few different anglers that have a wealth of knowledge.  They always take time to describe the technique(s) they are using in the episode and give an extremely detailed account of the set-up(s) they are using.  Their techniques can be fairly complex and I always learn something from them.  Whether it is how to set up a tandem streamer rig or how to unweighted flies on sinking line, I always walk away with a new strategy to use on the water for a variety of species.  So if you are looking for something to do with your President's Day and you aren't able to hit the water, then this might be the next best thing.

Link: https://m.youtube.com/user/thenewflyfishertv

Missouri Record Fish Stories - Bluegill

As usual, this is an amazing story that has its fair share of surprise and luck.  Enjoy and have a great weekend...and for what it is worth, I am starting to hear from folks that a few bass are being caught in shallow water especially at small impoundments.  It might be worth wetting a line this weekend.  Sure you might be a little early, but would you rather be too early or too late when the fish start biting?

Missouri Angler Profile- Matt

Name (first only): 

Matt

Height:  

6’ 3"

Weight: 

190

Age:  

38

Years of Fishing Experience: 

33

Hometown:  

Excelsior Springs, MO

Currently Residing In:  

Grain Valley, MO

Earliest Fishing Memory:  

Traveling to Canada with my dad (probably 4^th or 5^th grade)

Favorite Fishing Story:  

Probably my big bass!!

Aforementioned big bass!! 

Favorite Fishing Partner:  

My son (Erick)

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

Martin Truex Jr.

Who/What got you started fishing?  

My dad

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri?  

Blue Springs Lake dam

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique?  

Top water

What is your favorite species to fish for?  

Bass

What percent of the time do you catch and release?  

95%

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

My dog dipping its head in the minnow bucket and eating my minnows.

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

Some hidden farm pond holding a 10lb. bass!!!

Missouri Angler Profile- Joe

Name (first only): 

Joe

Height: 

5'8"

Weight: 

168

Age: 

61

Years of Fishing Experience: 

55

Hometown: 

Richmond, Missouri

Currently Residing In: 

Stockton, Missouri

Earliest Fishing Memory: 

Uncle Guy's farm pond

Favorite Fishing Story: 

So many!  My dad wouldn't take me with his buddies one time.  So I got all my buddies and we camped and fished all weekend at local ponds.  We brought home more than Dad and his buddies, and Mom was mad because he drove 100 miles and it cost money for him to go.

Favorite Fishing Partner: 

My dad and my brother

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

My dad

Who/What got you started fishing? 

My dad

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri? 

Stockton Lake 

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique?

A beetle spin

What is your favorite species to fish for? 

Crappie 

What percent of the time do you catch and release? 

90

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

A mud puppy 

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

The Mississippi River

Bennett Spring State Park GoPro Footage

To follow up with yesterday's post, here is some video footage that I was able to shoot at Bennett Spring last weekend.  This my first time using a GoPro so please forgive all of the rookie mistakes that I made.  I want to get better using this thing and editing software so hopefully there are better videos in the future.  Also, I am in the process of starting a YouTube channel so if you want to check out the project starting with its infancy, feel free to tune in.  Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIE8TFKdv5ivGRG8IwS6IDA

Bennett Trip

I was fortunate enough to get down to Bennett Spring and enjoy a little of the last weekend of catch and release season.  I arrived late Friday night, stayed at Sand Spring Resort, and woke up WELL before my alarm was set to go off.  I was on the Niangua at 5:30 and fished until about 7:15 with nothing to show.  I then met up with my old high school basketball coach at 7:30 to catch up before we hit the water together.  We hadn't had the chance to spend any substantial time together in almost 20 years.  After some time catching up on careers, family life, and fishing stories, we hit the water together and enjoyed the rest of the day together.  There were a lot of things that happened over the course of the day and I have decided to list them out below or this post would be incredibly long.  I know I am long-winded as it is, and this is an effort to avoid boring you with details.

- The water was low and murky.  I'm not sure how these things go together, and the folks I talked to seemed baffled as well.

- Things started off fast and furious and tapered off until about 12 and then things got downright difficult until the horn sounded at 4.  From 8-8:30 I was getting a strike on every cast.  That trend slowly faded.

- One the bright side, during that time of prosperity I landed a 17 inch rainbow and a 14-15 inch brown that was really thick above the spillway.

- In the afternoon, Coach taught me how to fish a soft hackle and I caugh my first trout on a soft hackle.  It was a small, pretty brown and it came between the spring and the spillway.

- I used a GoPro for the first time and I am working on editing some of the footage.  If I got anything good, I will post it at a later time.  I am also thinking about starting a YouTube channel.  If anyone has any good tips for using a GoPro or editing videos, I am all ears.

- At first, the spring wasn't very crowded but people slowly trickled in over the course of the morning and then tapered off in the afternoon.  I expected a pretty good crowd with temperatures in the 80's and it being the last weekend of catch and release.  My expectations were met but no "combat fishing" took place.

- At about 2:00, everyone that was sharing the same stretch of water (below the spring) had their fishing licenses checked by an agent.  This was only the second time I have ever had my license checked and first time at Bennett.  Coach and another gentleman had been coming to Bennett for over 40 years and had NEVER had their licenses checked.  We were all in good standing and didn't have any problems.

- After having our licenses checked, an older gentleman told me a story about a time he saw two guys have their licenses checked.  He told me that he had been fishing near them for a while and also noticed something reflecting light up on the hillside above them on the opposite side of the stream.  It turned out to be an agent watching them through binoculars.  The agent later showed up behind them and asked the guys to see their stringers.  They were happy to show him they each had two fish per stringer.  The agent then asked them to take off their waders.  As they lowered their waders, each angler had 7-8 trout fall out onto the ground.  It turns out that they had been stuffing fish down their waders so they could conceal their nefarious enterprise.

- Sorry I didn't have any good pictures.  With catch and release season, I didn't want to risk getting in trouble, ticking someone off,  or killing a fish.

- Overall, I probably caught 20-30 fish with two of them being browns.  It was a beautiful day with a man that I respect a lot and was glad to reconnect with.

Shed Hunting- My Best Day So Far

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of enjoying my best day of shed antler hunting that I have ever experienced.  If you have ever been, you know shed hunting is about three things: 1. knowing where deer sleep, eat, and travel.  2. Covering A LOT of ground. 3. Luck.  I was incredibly lucky to find a very nice shed with my two year old son and three sheds with my seven year old.  Days like this are rare (for me) and I will never forget this amazing day in the outdoors with my boys.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing day and the memories will stay with me forever and hopefully with my sons too...well at least the seven year old.

Something I Never Truly Realized

I was watching Fly Fusion TV the other day on the World Fishing Network.  On a side note, both are awesome, but I digress.  Anyhow, in this episode ('The Next Bend") these two guys were fly fishing some stream that was nearly impossible to access in some remote part of Canada.  The stream was home to bull trout and cuttthroat if I recall correctly.  Anyway, it was pristine and magical and everything you would expect from a high-dollar fly fishing show with shots from drones and all.  The guys were cool, had probably forgot more about fly fishing than I will ever know, and seemed to have all of the expensive gear that all came from the same company.  They even wore button-up shirts under their waders.  In essence, they didn't look like me at all, but that's alright.  I'm not judging, just pointing our differences to lead up to my main point.  While we go about pursuing our passion in very different ways (I wear cut-off t-shirts and chuck big streamers at bass in farm ponds), we both still love fly fishing and that's good enough for me.

It was towards the end of the show that the host said something that resonated with me and I still have not been able to get it out of my head.  It's like hearing "Thunderstruck" at the beginning of your day and you spend the rest of the day humming it out loud or envisioning it as the soundtrack of your life.  One of the hosts (Jim McLennan) said "I've always thought that the great thing about fly fishing is that it allows you to completely focus on something.  In fact, it doesn't allow you to do that, it almost requires you to do that.  You can't have fly fishing and something else on your mind at the same time.  So fly fishing allows you to focus on something completely and that something is really not that important and the fact that fly fishing takes you away from the things that truly are important is one of its great values.  You can't fish and worry about something at the same time."  To me, that means fly fishing demands all of your focus.  In other words, if you go to the water and your mind is somewhere else, then you aren't going to catch anything.  Wow!  I never realized that before!

In my opinion, I live a pretty busy life right now.  I have a career that takes up about 50-55 hours of my time per week plus a wife and two young kids.  I also sponsor a fly fishing club for middle schoolers and have responsibilities around the house as well.  I also have to force myself to do things that I love (like running this site, tying flies, and actually fishing) so I can maintain my sanity.  I'm not complaining here, just stating some facts.  I fish (and hunt sometimes, all be it unsuccessfully most of the time) because I want a break from all of my responsibilities and duties.

What the host said made me realize something that I had never thought of before.  When I am fishing, that is ALL I am doing.  I am not thinking about bills to pay.  I am not thinking about a grocery list.  I'm not thinking about that email that made me angry last week.  I am thinking about my casting, my fly selection, the splash that I heard behind me.  I'm thinking about where fish hide, what fish might be eating, and the direction of the wind.  I am enveloped by nature and all that it offers.  I am able to enjoy all of the simple things as well as the intricacies that fly fishing provides.  I think fishing also returns us to a very primal place where our ancestors once lived.  While they fished for sustenance and out of necessity, we fish for pleasure and to return us to a simpler time (that was probably a little bit tougher if we are being honest).  It makes things fade away that you need a break from and makes life simple if only for a little while.

Norman Maclean wrote "But when I am alone in the half-light of the canyon, all existence seems to fade to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four count rhythm, and the hope that a fish will rise.  Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.  The river was cut by the world's great flood, and runs over rocks from the basement of time.  On some of the rocks, are timeless raindrops.  Under the rocks, are the words, and some of the words, are theirs.  I am haunted by waters."  While this is a little deeper than my thinking process, I think the same message is being shared.

Maybe you fish for the same reason or maybe you fish for a different reason, I don't know.  But what I do know, is that fishing brings me a clarity, a calmness, and a change of perspective that I cannot find anywhere else.  It changes the way I look at the "problems" and "challenges" that are in my life and makes me appreciate things that I sometimes take for granted.  I know it sounds crazy, but it somehow restores my soul in a very religious way.  I know in my heart that God Almighty put fishing in my life because he knew that I would NEED it in my life.  And thank God it is there because it gives me so much, and maybe most of all, it brings me peace.

Missouri Record Fish Stories – Alligator Gar

Such a cool story.  I would LOVE to tangle with one of these critters.  I don't care if it is a bow, fly rod, Zebco 202, or handline; how much fun would it be to tie into one of these leviathans!?

Loon Outdoors

If your winter is going anything like mine, then you are getting a little edgy due to no fishing, filling fly boxes, and ready for spring.  On the positive end, I have some fly boxes getting filled and I have picked up some new skills at the vice.  I hope you have too.  If you are looking to learn a few more patters or techniques while in the grips of winter, I would HIGHLY suggest checking out the following pages from Loon Outdoors.  They have a lot of patterns for a variety of species as well as archived videos from their Loon Live series.

Library

https://loonoutdoors.com/fly-tying-videos

Loon Live Library

https://loonoutdoors.com/loonlive

Driftwood Fly Display

The other day I ran across some flies that other folks have given me over the years and a few of my own creations that I appreciate.  I find it hard to fish flies that others give me because to me, they are unique, special, and are symbolic of our friendship.  I know, it's sappy and a little quirky, but I have come to grips with who I am and all of my weirdness.  Anyway, I wanted a way to display them so that I could continue to appreciate them and others might do the same.  

Now anyone that knows me understands that I appreciate two things: 1. nature and 2. simplicity.  Those two things led me towards this driftwood display to show off some oft the flies that I have an affinity for.  Also, I stole the idea from a similar display at Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri.  The display now sits above my fly rod cabinet and is now the crown jewel.

Missouri Angler Profile- Steve

Name (first only):

Steve

Height:

6’3”

Weight:

220

Age:

59

Years of Fishing Experience:

50+

Hometown:

Maryville, Missouri

Currently Residing In:

Jackson County

Earliest Fishing Memory:

Getting up before dawn and going catfishing with my Grandpa

Favorite Fishing Story:

I was about 9 or 10 and I was fishing on Hole #8 of the Riverside Country Club in Trenton Missouri.
The pond was maybe an acre and I was throwing a 6" yellow worm rigged with 2 hooks and an inline spinner.
I caught a three pound bass and ran all the way home, probably 1/2 a mile or better holding that fish by the worm in its mouth to show anyone who would look.

Favorite Fishing Partner:

Pat

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

Would have liked to go fishing with my dad one more time

Who/What got you started fishing?

I remember thinking it was so cool when my dad and his friends went to Canada every year in a pickup camper.
Only time I saw Dad's "good" equipment.  That was probably what gave me the itch

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri?

I primarily fish Truman these days, although Blue Springs lake during the week ain't bad.

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique?

If I had to take one lure it would be a Cicada by Reef Runner.  It is a weighed, swimming blade or spoon bait.
I was turned on to it when I fished Johnson Lake in Nebraska.  It is a White Bass lake and the locals threw this lure.  Since then, I have caught seemingly every species
in Missouri on these silly things.  They seldom hangup, they are simple to fish, and you get results.  Maybe not what you were expecting, but you will catch fish.

What is your favorite species to fish for?

I enjoy fishing for largemouth bass

What percent of the time do you catch and release?

95%.  I will usually keep one limit of crappie and/or whites a year for eating.

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

We were fishing at Lake Fork Texas.  Our guide was motoring between spots when we came across a herd of cows
in the water.  The guide instantly stppoed the boat and went in among the cows.  It was 3 to 4 foot of water.  The guide said "cows in the water means excellent fishing". 
We had an hour left in the day and were catching quality bass literally every cast or two.  We were warned not to hook a cow, but were fishing between their legs. 

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

Won't mind trying walleye at Stockton or any of the small rivers (ie: the Current)

Missouri Angler Profile- Blake

Name (first only): 
Blake 

Height: 
6'2"

Weight:
175

Age:
29

Years of Fishing Experience:
24ish

Hometown: 
Columbia 

Currently Residing In: 
Lees Summit 

Earliest Fishing Memory: 
"I remember being about six and catching probably 2 to 3 bluegill. I was dead set that they were going to feed my family for the day. I remember being really upset when my uncle told me that it probably wasn't enough."

Favorite Fishing Story: 
"This isn't necessarily one story but more of a collection of stories. My grandpa used to live on a bluff over the current river in Doniphan Missouri. I would stay about a week with him every summer and we would start every day by getting up and checking the limb lines we had set the night before. I remember being so excited pulling up and seeing the tree limb bounce up-and-down in the water because it meant that we had caught something. I'll never forget cutting up squares of what my grandpa called cotton seed cake to use as bait."

Favorite Fishing Partner: 
"Either my Grandpa Bill or my uncle Randy. Both of them took me out fishing a lot growing up and tried to teach me when I was patient enough  to sit still."

One person you would like to fish with (dead or alive): 
"My grandpa passed away this fall which really inspired me to start fishing again because that is something I always did with him. I would love to be able to go fishing with him again."

Who/What got you started fishing? 
"Both sides of my family fished growing up, so I was fortunate that both of my grandpas love to fish and would take us fishing. "

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri? 
"This is a tough one, but I think I might have to say the Gasconade River. The few times I've been there I've been successful so that helps."

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique? 
"Fishing on the Current River got me hooked on using one of those Rapala fire tiger floating lures."

What is your favorite species to fish for? 
Smallmouth bass

What percent of the time do you catch and release? 
"About 99% of the time. I can't count this past summer when we were fishing in Florida and caught our dinner of snapper."

What is the weirdest thing that you have seen on the water? 
"Over Christmas break I walked down to the lake to fish for a few minutes and caught the lure I had lost a few weeks earlier in the same spot. At least I'm consistent right?"

What is one place that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before?   
"I would like to try Bennett Springs once I think. I've been there to sen people fish but I've never fished it myself."

Cool New Fly Tying Technique?

Now I am usually the last person to find out about certain things, so admittedly, I might be a little late to the party here.  With that being said, I have either stumbled on a new and innovative tying technique or something that has been around since the dawn of time.

If you watch between :30 and 1:30 of the video below, you will see what I am talking about.  The tyer, Matt Ebbers I assume since his name is on the account, seems to be marrying or blending some shorter fiber chenille, schlappen, and some longer fiber chenille. What is produced is extremely interesting looking and might be a go-to technique for me for a while.  It seems so simple but really effective and THAT is how I like my fly tying to be!  I hope you find it as interesting as me and find a way to use it at your vise.  Also, this fly turns out pretty cool too!

Below is my humble attempt at tying the Broke Neck.

So I wanted to give this technique a shot with some different materials that i commonly use in my own flies.  I made a video of my own and put my own "spin" on this technique.  In my video, I am combining a medium pearl olive chenille, black schlappen, and UV chenille from Hareline.  The UV chenille has some sparse but long fibers and I wouldn't use it alone so it is perfectly suited for this application.  I am also tying it on a size 6 hook with a zonker strip pulled over it.  The results are pretty interesting.

Finally, this page has been cataloged on the Fly Tying page for future reference.

Two New Tabs

Over the weekend, I was able to create two new tabs at the top of the pages on the site.  One is titled "Original Writings" and the other is "Projects".  These pages catalog some of the posts that have gone up with their respective subjects.  If you're looking for something to read or do, then feel free to check them out.  I hope that you find the content useful or at the least, interesting.  I will continue to catalog future posts under their corresponding headings to make navigating this site and finding past content easier and faster.  Please know that I try to never forget that this site was made for you and to promote our beloved sport as well as our fine state!

Pond Management Workshop

Have you ever wondered how to grow more fish, bigger fish, or how to get rid of nuisance plant life in a pond?  This workshop might just have the answers you are looking for.  The Missouri Department of Conservation is holding some pond management workshops around the central Missouri region.  Other topics include pond site selection, pond construction, and stocking information.  To find dates, locations, times, and other information, head to the link located below.  Who knows, I might even see you there!

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-offers-pond-management-workshops-landowners-mid-missouri