How to Make the Twisted Hitch for Rabbit Strip Flies - OPST

This is a really interesting fly tying technique that I had to pass along.  It looks like a great way to attach a stinger hook to flies with rabbit strips.  I can't wait to hit the vice and give this a try and I hope you dig it too.  For more fly tying videos, feel free to check out In The Riffle on YouTube.

Wading Jacket Review

Hank Patterson is back with another one of his hilarious videos.  This time it is a review of an Orvis Wading Jacket.  Nope, it's not a review of the Orvis Helios H3 like he would prefer but he makes the best of a less-than-perfect situation.

Opening Day is on its Way!

In case you needed a reminder, Opening Day at Missouri Trout Parks is this week.  Here's a short description from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-and-anglers-prepare-march-1-trout-opener

Valley of the Kings

I'll be honest, I didn't even know that there king salmon lived in Patagonia until I watched this video.  Enjoy the scenery, hook-ups, and sheer mass of these beautiful creatures.  Come for the salmon, stay for the two-handed rods.  Have a great weekend and hopefully we will be on the water, slinging flies soon (if you're not already).

Link: https://vimeo.com/254277281

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium

Well apparently a little gem (that's sarcasm by the way) located here in the state of Missouri has got the attention of some national media.  The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium opened in 2017 and is affiliated with Johnny Morris as well as Bass Pro Shops.  With that in mind, let's just say that it appears to have the necessary funding and clout to make it a well-known museum on a national level.  Make no mistake about it, if the original Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in our state, then this museum is only going to cement this status and make it a national draw.  Field & Stream would seem to agree because they recently had a really nice write-up on the museum.  This was a great topic for Field & Stream to feature and something for us, as Missourians, to be proud of.

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/step-inside-wonders-wildlife-best-new-museum-in-america

Fouling Flies

My buddy Austin over at Fly Fish KC has written an interesting article about five techniques that you can incorporate into you fly tying to prevent hook fouling.  I'm definitely going to give the mono loop and glue techniques a try.  Feel free to comment on this page or Austin's if you have any other ideas on how to prevent hook fouling on flies with long tails.

Link: https://www.fly-fish-kc.com/posts/2018/2/17/techniques-for-tying-anti-fouling-flies

Backyard Adventures: Asheville, NC

Wanna see some dudes catch brook, brown, and rainbow trout in a pretty place?  This looks like it would be an amazing trip in North Carolina.  I had no idea that part of the country had places that looked like this.  On the other hand, I bet there are plenty of folks that didn't know about Missouri's Ozarks, forests, caves, and lakes.

Link: https://vimeo.com/253482425

So Crazy It Just Might Work

So I ran across this article on the Field & Stream website and found it incredibly interesting.  It involves tying flies with some cheap child's toys and the claims of the action that is produced is pretty lofty.  I'm still going to give these things a shot when I can find the time and I will be sure to follow up this post with my observations and results.

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/how-to-tie-most-lifelike-streamer-flies-ever?loc=thelatest&lnk=how-to-tie-the-most-lifelike-streamers-ever&dom=section-3&xcsMAQWr2C1hKD4V.15

In case you're interest in purchasing some dragon tails that are mentioned in the Field & Stream article, here's a screenshot and link that will give you an idea of what Orvis has to offer.

Link: http://www.orvis.com/p/mangum-s-dragon-tail/2peh

Also, I thought I would include a video of some footage of folks playing around with some dragon tail flies.  It looks like there's some good action that would make a pike, musky, largemouth, or wiper go crazy.

Finally, I know that I have already post this video from The Midwest Drift before, but it is one of the only fly tying videos on YouTube that incorporates a dragon tail into its construction.  

Fly Fishing the Ozarks - Mike Schmidt's Viking Midge

If you're thinking about getting into tying articulated flies, this is a pretty easy pattern to get started with.  The materials are pretty basic and the steps are pretty easy.  With that being said, the biggest piece of advice I can give on tying this particular fly is to take your time trimming the head.  Just like a barber, you can always take more off later but you can't put anything back on.  Also, check out the schlappen on this dude!  I've never seen a fly with that long of a schlappen tail before.

GT's and Sailfish

If you need to fantasize about tropical weather, big fish, and exotic places then let this video be your break for the day. I have never personally fly fished in the salt, but if ever get the chance, this looks like a nice place to go!

Link: https://vimeo.com/249662125

Chandalar

This is the true story (true story) of some inner-city youth, picked to float a river in Alaska, and have their stories taped to find out what happens.  Find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting wild.  (If you got the "Real World" intro joke, congrats and we're in the same age bracket).

Link: https://vimeo.com/250303794

Muffin Top Minnow

Luke, from The Midwest Drift, is back with another innovative and thought provoking pattern. While I can see this fly being fished towards the top of the water column, I bet this fly would be killer on a sinking or sink-tip line.  As usual, Luke provides some new (to me at least) techniques and interesting twists on some old ideas.  Well done buddy and keep up the good work!  Check out The Midwest Drift's channel on YouTube for more:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5EQJVNBFlQOqnFmBWtONg

Matt Heron Reels in a Gigantic Brown Trout

This is a pretty darn cool video.  If you don't watch the entire thing, make sure you at least watch to the see this fish get netted.  It's pretty funny while also showing the dedication I think we would all have for a fish of this magnitude.

Kamchatka

I'm pretty sure that this video depicts what fly fishing for rainbow trout looks like in heaven.  Between being untouched wilderness and the big, gorgeous fish, Kamchatka has it all.  It actually looks a little more "wild" than Alaska.  I especially like the aggressive takes on topwater flies that I think are mouse flies.  Hopefully this will give you a nice break from you workday and let you live vicariously through some folks that are having a lot more fun than we are today...and I'm having a pretty good day!

Link: https://vimeo.com/243371915

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Helps Vets Build Rods and Memories

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Helps Vets Build Rods and Memories

by Jim Kissane

Participant Dan Durgan begins working on his next fly rod creation as part of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing’s annual Rod Building Competition. Durgan’s first rod helped him catch a 5-pound trout.

Dan Durgan already had been enjoying a great morning of winter trout fishing at Fountain Bluff Park, catching fish after fish on a white marabou jig that a fellow angler had shared with him the previous day. Then the day went from great to unforgettable.

“I was fishing with a friend, and got this fish on and I said to him, ‘Jeremiah, this fish is serious, this is a big fish,’” he says. “He had the net, but this fish was so big Jeremiah just grabbed it and throws it on the shore. I only had 2-pound tipped on, so I couldn’t just drag him onto the bank.”

The fish, a winter-stocked rainbow trout, measured 21-1/2” long, with a 15-1/4” girth, and weighed in at 5 pounds. “I was out there the week before and lost a big one in that same hole – might have been the same fish,” Durgan says. “Then I lost another one the day before because I didn’t have a net – shame on me.

“There was another trout fisherman there, another Vet, and he showed me what he was using. I tied a dozen of them that night and went out first thing in the morning. I was slaughtering them, and then I hooked the big one.”

A participant in the Greater Kansas City Program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Durgan is a U.S. Army Veteran, serving from 1967-79 on active duty and until 1984 in the Army Reserves, reaching the rank of Sergeant.

Durgan enjoys fishing the winter trout season, but he also fishes for warm water species. His favorite rod – a 9-foot, 5-weight – is always with him. He built the rod himself, part of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing’s National Rod Building Competition.

“I love it because it feels so good, and because I made it,” he says. “I took it out last year I don’t know how many times, caught probably 200 trout and at least 20 bass. The same rod probably caught a hundred crappie in one day, and 14 bass, including one that went seven, seven and a half pounds.”

Experienced rod builders share their knowledge with newcomers to the craft. Here, David Bagley (center) explains the process of finding the spine of a rod blank to align the pieces properly.

The Greater Kansas City Program’s annual trip to Rockbridge Trout Resort is another of Durgan’s favorite outings. He enjoys tying his own flies as well as building his own rods. The feeling of accomplishment makes the fishing that much more special to him. He is grateful to Hook & Hackle for their support of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and their sponsorship of the rod building competition.

“I appreciate them donating the rods and allowing me to build one, and to meet these guys here,” he says. “It’s been good for me, it got me out doing things again.”

Durgan began working on his next creation with the opening of the 2018 Rod Building Competition, which kicked off in January with arrival of rod blanks from Hook & Hackle. The Greater Kansas City Program will hold rod building sessions at Fleming Hall every Monday evening through February and into March to ensure that participants will be able to submit their finished rods by the contest deadline April 13. Our local program has a record number of participants this year – 18, including seven first-time entrants.

The categories of this year’s competition will differ from previous years’ contests. There will still be three classifications of competition, but this year the groups are based on rod-building experience. Category One – Beginner is for entrants building their first fly rod ever. Category Two – Intermediate is for contestants building their second or third rods. Those who have build four or more rods will compete in Category Three – Advanced. 

Rods will be judged on neatness, functionality and creativity. There will be three prizes awarded in each category. 

Deadbeat Dad 2018

My buddy Luke from The Midwest Drift has put out another video.  This time he ties the Deadbeat Dad and as usual, it is a well done and fast-paced video.  So go buy some tying materials and get ready to hunker down if you have snow headed your way.  What better way to spend time trapped indoors by inclement weather than to say, "Hey, Mother Nature, you might keep me inside but this just gives me time to figure out how to give your precious fish a proper thumpin' this spring!"  Check out Luke's YouTube Channel for more tying videos!

YouTube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5EQJVNBFlQOqnFmBWtONg

25 inch Brown trout on a hares ear with a 3wt

Do you need to live vicariously through someone else because you don't want to be at work and wish last weekend didn't have to end?  Me too.  As a distraction from your first day of a 5 day work week, I present to you a guy catching a big, beautiful brown trout on a small stream with a lightweight rod.  Enjoy and feel free to pretend you're the guy in the video...I did!

Missouri Fly Life- Part 2

Underrated Quarry (part 2)

by Augustus Knickmeyer

Not only is it great that bluegill ponds, or smallmouth streams are close to home and easy to make a run down to homewaters in order to catch the evening bite; it brings back lots of great memories. Going through the woods to secluded bluegill ponds has a certain nostalgia that I have to admit, I love revisiting from time to time. It does not hurt that I do not have to feel bad about bringing home a stringer of fish for the pan, a pleasure I do not normally experience, as I release all smallmouth and other stream bred fish, as I feel they’re pressured too heavily to sustain one more person bringing them home; not to mention the increase in size and quality of fish that results from catch and release fishing.

The sporting qualities of many of our lesser known sport fish are very much underrated, and most definitely my favorite reason for targeting them. Shortly after becoming a fly fishing fanatic, I got a job near one of Missouri’s best trout streams, the Eleven Point River. I resided there for a year and a half and made it my goal to learn that river as best as I could. Now although I loved targeting the wild rainbows inhabiting “The Point” I could not help but find other, species, those less targeted, and techniques, in order to mix it up and make new learning experiences for my new found passion. The local smallmouth bass and chain pickerel population were where I turned most often when I needed something different from the standard Eleven Point ‘bow. The strong fight of a smallmouth, and absolutely smashing takes from the pickerel were a refreshing break from watching Thing-A-Ma-Bobbers suspending nymphs and maribou jigs. After catching a raft of smaller trout, I began to dabble in the world of big streamers. It did not take long for myself to become what I would describe as an all out, big streamer junkie.
All I think about is tying and throwing big meaty flies, all day long, until my knuckles swell and my fingers bleed, just at the prospect of seeing aggressive, predatory fish trash my offering. Now at first, like many other fly fisherman, this tactic is a great way to target, most obviously, large dominant brown trout. However, it does not take long for one to begin applying these techniques to other species. And what better than my old standby, the smallmouth bass? They hide in cover, they love streams, and killing anything they can fit in their mouths. As I have been transferring these big trout tactics over to warmwater species, it seems as though they match bass and others, quite possibly even better than they do the trout. And not just smallmouth, the largemouth, among many others. The past couple years I have been focusing on smallmouth through the summer, however I am planning on breaking out the meat flies in many other locations this coming year. Here in Missouri, we have Chain pickerel, bowfin, landlocked stripers, hybrids, muskie, and many others at our disposal, all of which I know are hiding out under a log somewhere, waiting to trash an oversized streamer.

Missouri Fly Life- Part 1

Meet Augustus Knickmeyer, a heck of a fly fisherman and Missouri resident.  He grew up fishing rivers and streams in Jefferson County and honed his skills on the Eleven Point River.  To see a little proof of this guy's skills, feel free to follow him on Instagram at missouri_fly_life.  Now that you know a little about Augustus, I am proud to announce that he has written a guest post that will be up on this site today and concluded tomorrow.  I hope you like his stories as they are unique to fly fishing and our fine state.  If you should feel inspired to type up some words or you just have a story to tell, please feel free to email me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com. I would LOVE to have more posts like this as I am sure there are lots more stories like this to be told about fly fishing and calling Missouri home!

Underrated Quarry
by Augustus Knickmeyer

Having grown up in the rural midwest, my first ever fish on the fly was pretty standard, the beginner fish, and ubiquitous, bluegill. In preparation for a family vacation to Colorado, Dad, who had previously, and now once again, been a fly fishing fanatic, walked me to the neighbors pond for a casting lesson. This was to help prevent my becoming an utter disaster, streamside at our fishing destination. A couple hours of awful timing, bird’s nests, and missed eats ensued, however, it was a great time, and as the sun set I was plopping hopper imitations over nearby cover and watching bull ‘gills collide, blasting through the lake’s surface to suck down flies. A matter of weeks later, wet wading the Tailor River I landed my first trout ever, one of several gorgeous little brown trout we fooled on blue winged olives; catching these prestigious fish was amplifying, but by this time, I was well decided, on the fly was how I liked to fish. I wanted to take it further, and I needed to fish! I was not going to wait around for a couple destination fishing trips every year. To fuel my new addiction, I needed water I could hit regularly, the nearby rivers my Dad grew up on were teeming with smallmouth, ever willing to crush streamers, so as a way to fill in the time between making longer drives to catch trout, we hit the smallie streams.
Fishing the nearby smallmouth streams was a great way to stay on the water between longer trips, but it was here that I learned more about the sporting qualities of fish, other than trout. Despite the fact they lack an adipose fin, a very picky appetite, and strict habitat requirements, the smallmouth I began targeting regularly, along with the many other unsung heroes of the game fish world; provide willingness to eat, and pound for pound fighting ability that meet and exceed their coldwater counterparts. Do not get me wrong, I love trout fishing; particularly where crumpling giant streamers and sipping dries is concerned. I have to say, however, that I am just as much a fan of the accessibility of many of the other fish species, along with those fond memories on the shores of farm ponds, and the tenacious strikes and fights of many of the other fish we have in the shoals and sloughs of North America, and abound.

When it comes to accessibility, it really is hard to beat many of our humbler species. It is great that so many anglers have access to public and private ponds and lakes that are loaded with warm water species such as bluegill, crappie, largemouth, and others. I really enjoy many of the more glamorous species, but I have to admit, it really is hard to beat a short trek to a local pond with some friends family and have an evening dry fly fishing for willing bluegill, or using large poppers and big meaty streamers to entice aggressive takes from largemouth. Many people just do not have the option, based on timeframe, or cost to get in the car and drive for several days, or the better part of a day, just for a day of fishing.