Fly Slaps

All credit goes to The Fiberglass Manifesto for bringing this website to my attention and I cannot thank Cameron (website founder) enough. He recently posted about a new site called Fly Slaps.  Yes, it's kind of a funny name that doesn't necessarily tell you what the site is all about, but holy monkey is it cool!  Essentially, it is a one-stop shop for all things fly fishing sticker related.  Admittedly, I am a fly fishing sticker addict and I can't get enough.  I have 6 stickers in the back window of my truck and I'm always on the hunt for number 7.  With this site, not only have I found number 7, but I think I have found numbers 8, 9, and 10.

Link: https://flyslaps.com/

Aside from having an amazing lineup of products, there is a pretty amazing DIY project that I am wanting to undertake.  If there is one thing I can't get enough of (besides stickers), its fly boxes.  While I probably (maybe) have enough smaller, streamside boxes, one thing I can't get enough of are the larger boxes for big streamers.  However, have you ever seen the prices for these boxes?  I kid you not, that one year I got a streamer box from Bass Pro that I later found out cost $60 and didn't even have storage on the lid of the box.  That's why I got pretty excited about a DIY streamer box that doesn't look like garbage and is a fraction of the cost of a commercial box.  If you're looking for a weekend project or just need some additional storage, then do yourself a favor and check out this link!

Link: https://flyslaps.com/fly-fishing-diy-boat-boxes/

Fly Fusion

So here we are.  Its Thursday.  It's not quite the weekend, but at least its within site.  This is usually the time I start to fantasize about the places I'll go and the fish I will go after.  The work week has drug on and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  If you feel the same, and need a fantasy to drool over, then I have the perfect site for you.  Aside from being an outstanding magazine as well as an incredible television series, this site has plenty to keep you thinking about places to travel to and fish to tackle.

Link: https://flyfusionmag.com/

Buy and Selling Flies Online?

A while back, I stumbled across this site.  It peaked my interest because the premise of the site is for outdoorsmen to buy and sell things to one another.  Immediately, my mind went to fly fishing and I started to look into what products they offered.  While they don't have a lot of rods, reels, or combos, their prices are pretty reasonable but that's not where my real interest was.  I was intrigued in the idea of this being a place for fly fishermen to buy and sell flies of their own creation to one another.  The idea that the site could act as a go-between for anglers seems like a viable option.  I'm thinking that this winter would be a good time to whip up some flies and maybe see if I could sell a few.  I'll keep you posted and please do the same if you decide to pursue this option in the future.  Currently, there are no flies on the the "Flies" page so you could always be the first.  Be bold, be a pioneer, be a professional fly tier!

Link: https://www.anythingsportsman.com

Another option might be Etsy.  It seems like they have a community already set up for fly tiers but seems somewhat difficult to navigate. 

Link: https://www.etsy.com/

Disclaimer: I have not done anything with these sites other than make a few searches.  I'm not sure what their policies are or if they would be good/bad to work with. 

American Fishes

It stands to reason that if you like the outdoors and you like to fish, then you appreciate at least SOME of the beauty that can be found in both.  Whether it is a sunset, the spawning colors of a brown trout, or simply the reflection of the sky on water that looks like glass, it is safe to say that we have all had a moment that we wish we could always hold on to.  When a buddy of mine told me about a website from an artist that he had met before, I had to check it out and it was NOT disappointing.  While I am not a big art guru, I greatly appreciate this guy's work and I will own one of this prints one day.  Even if you are not in the market for some wall art, I highly suggest you take a break from what you are doing and appreciate some of the beauty that this guy captures with the skill and craft.  You won't be disappointed and you'll probably see a species or two that you've never heard of before.

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Link: http://www.americanfishes.com

New Wipers

If you frequent this site, you know my affinity for hybrid striped bass or "whipers".  They might be the hardest fighting fish I have ever tied into and can grow up to 20 pounds!  What's not to like about that?  Well it just so happens, there is something else to like as well about these fish...they might be swimming around in a lake near you!  If you click on the link below, you can read about some recent stockings of hybrid striped bass in a number of different lakes around the state.  The goal is to reduce gizzard shad populations and I am pretty confident that is going to happen!  It's a great read so check and see if you have a new species to fish on your "home" lake or one nearby.  As proof that MDC is stocking these, my buddy Ray caught one of the stocked fingerlings at one of the recently stocked lakes?

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-stocks-hybrid-striped-bass-new-waters

The aforementioned fingerling.

Funny Fishing Memes

I love memes and I just had to share these.  Have a great weekend and get out on the water if you can!

Podcasts

Admittedly, while I operate a small website, I am not the most up to date guy on technology.  However, I know that some readers of this site (including my buddy Busch) are big fans of podcasts as well as other blogs (Pat, I'm looking at you).  I have just barely scratched the surface of this site, but it looks like it has A LOT of potential for some amazing content!

Link: http://www.remotenopressure.com/

Why Wild Trout Matter

While this article is centered around streams and rivers in Pennsylvania, it is still pretty thought provoking. While I am admittedly a fan of Missouri trout parks, there is indeed something special about wild trout.  This article explores that uniqueness and makes a strong case for conserving wild trout when possible. Sometimes deep, at other times economic, and at other times existential, the article offers some interesting perspectives.

Link: https://troutbitten.com/2017/08/23/why-wild-trout-matter/

Smallmouth Fly Fishing

There are A LOT of things that I have not experienced with a fly rod, and there are A LOT of things that I still want to get after with a wind stick before my days on earth are over.  Smallmouth bass fishing is definitely one of those things and this article is a great place to start.  This is from our good friends over at The Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance and it is a great read!

Link: http://ozarkssmallmouthalliance.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-life-well-waded-guide-to-small-stream.html?m=1

Tying Videos

A couple of fly tying videos to kick the week off.  Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!

The Color Black & The Three-Eyed Raven

The Color Black

The other day, I spent some at the fly tying vice and played around some some double barrel popper bodies.  I haven't had any experience using these on the water yet, but hopefully I'm going to right that wrong today.  Anywho, all I really did was use some marabou for a tail, some webby hackle between the bou and the body, and some rubber legs where I whip finished.  I also went with an all black construction because I am starting to have a belief about topwater fishing for bass.  Before we go down this rabbit hole, let me just say that I would love to hear what people have to say on this topic.  Am I crazy?  Does this make sense?  Are you of the same belief?  Do you have information that disputes my belief?  I would love to hear what others think about this topic as I am certainly not an expert here...just a guy with a vice and a computer.  Feel free to leave a comment below or on the Facebook page.

So here's my thought: I might not ever fish a topwater lure for bass again (when the water is stained) that is any color but black.  Here's my reasoning.  Most fish, frogs, snakes, mice, etc. have what's called countershading.  If you don't know what that is, that's alright.  I had never heard the term until about a year ago.  It is something that we have probably all noticed but maybe never known what it is called.  It basically means that some animals are darker colored on their backs and sides so they are harder to see from above because they blend in to their surroundings really well.  It also means that their bellies or undersides are lighter and sometimes white because if a predator is looking up at them, then they will blend into the sky and/or sunlight.  It's the reason why a great white shark has a dark blue-gray colored back and a white belly.  It blends into the water and rocks when you look at it from above and with sunlight if you are below it and looking up.  It makes sense why critters do this and is an excellent example of science, nature, and evolution.  

Now let me ask you this, why would we as fishermen ever use a lure with a white belly or any other light color for that matter?  If we are using light colored lures, aren't we using a lure that blends in to its surroundings and is hard to see?  Sure, I get that sometimes we try to "match the hatch" and make things look realistic, but it would seem that we are working against ourselves and making things harder.  Shouldn't we use a color that stands out and gets the fish's attention?  Wouldn't black stand out against a light colored sky as well as provide a visible profile in stained water?  It seems like a black silhouette would be an ideal target for fish to zero in on.  I swear that this isn't some "let's only fish black topwater" pep rally.  I'm just thinking out loud here and trying to think through this but the logic seems to make sense in my convoluted mind.

The Three Eyed Raven

I am certain that this is not an original creation, but I felt inclined to give my creation a name.  Now if you are a follower of Game of Thrones, you are probably familiar with the phenomenon of the Three Eyed Raven.  I don't want to spoil anything so I will stop with my description for those just getting into the show and getting caught up.  That's why after my musing on the color black, topwater, and a little GoT reflection, I decided to name this puppy the Three Eyed Raven.  I even put a third eye on top for good measure.  The fish will never see this but I will laugh every time I use it and laugh harder if I catch a fish on it.