Fall Hybrids from The Midwest Drift

Recently a blog post went up on The Midwest Drift website and I wanted to pass it along.  It's short and to the point but might just make you want to get out and chase some hybrid stripers and/or white bass if you get the chance!  In my opinion, I have never encountered a stronger, harder fighting fish on a fly than a big hybrid and if I knew how to fish for them all year long with a fly rod, it would be the species that I target more than any other.

Link: http://www.themidwest-drift.com/blog-1/

Nightmare Musky Flies

If you don't follow Nightmare Musky Flies on Instagram or haven't checked out the website, get ready to be impressed.  I have been following Tony's work (he's the owner) for quite a while and this guy is an artist behind the vise!  Not only that, but he catches some BIG fish which aren't only limited to musky! 

Link: https://www.nightmaremuskyflies.com

Instagram: @nightmaremuskyflies

Fly Tying: Beginner Predator Flies - Part 2: BULKHead Deceiver

Recently there was a post from Gunnar Brammer which was part one of Beginner Predator Flies.  This is part two and is really, really interesting.  I've never seen someone trim bucktail the way he does or describe pushing water with such detail.  This is a great tutorial and I hope you get as much out of it as I did!

Deplorable Poaching of a Calf Elk

Brace yourself, because this is one sad story that has happened in our backyard.  I actually had to calm down a little before I wrote this post because the first draft of this was pretty angry and curt. Let’s spread the word and see if we can’t bring this person or people to justice.

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-seeks-information-elk-calf-poached-weeks-after-birth

Orvis Presents: Save Bristol Bay

No, this video doesn't pertain directly to Missouri or its citizens, but let's put the shoe on the other foot for a moment.  If someone wanted to mine, develop, pollute, or destroy Bennett Spring, the Current River, the Buffalo, the Meramec, the Gasconade, or any other beautiful waterway here in Missouri, wouldn't we want the help of others to combat that threat!  If nothing else, let's ban together help protect the way of life for OTHERS in Bristol Bay.

Link: http://www.savebristolbay.org/

Fly Tying: Cheech Pierce's Articulated Slider

Yet again, Brian Wise of Fly Fishing the Ozarks has created another fly tying masterpiece.

Link to Fly Fishing the Ozarks Site: http://www.flyfishingtheozarks.com/

Link to Fly Fishing the Ozarks YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/flyfishingtheozarks

Steel Bunny - UNDERWATER FOOTAGE - Baitfish Streamer - McFly Angler Fly ...

I absolutely love this pattern!  The blending of synthetics and natural materials is well done and the weighted head gets it down in a hurry.  Tying season is almost upon us so you might want to file this pattern away in your memory bank!  Bulk this puppy up a little and you have a killer largemouth, white bass, and hybrid fly!

Feel free to subscribe to McFly Angler on YouTube as well: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC88cGtLpHiHEXhyUGiXFP7g

Fly Fishing the Ozarks Shirts

There are some pretty cool fly fishing t-shirts up at teespring.com right now.  They are all from Fly Fishing the Ozarks and two are a collaboration with Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher.  You can customize sizes and colors to make your own unique fit and look!  Check them out if you have time and remember, it's never too early to start Christmas shopping.  I can think of a few folks that might dig one of these including myself!

Link: https://teespring.com/shop/dally-s-lap-dancer

Link: https://teespring.com/shop/fly-fishing-the-ozarks-hero-o?aid=marketplace&tsmac=marketplace&tsmic=campaign#pid=2&cid=2122&sid=front

Link: https://teespring.com/shop/mike-schmidt-s-double-deceiver?aid=marketplace&tsmac=marketplace&tsmic=campaign#pid=211&cid=5291&sid=front

“Healing Saturday” Activities Promote and Support Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Healing Saturday will be Nov. 3 at K&K Fly Fishers at 8643 Grant St. in Overland Park, KS. A day full of fun will begin at 10 a.m., with fly tying and fly casting demonstrations, product representatives, raffles and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will go to the Greater Kansas City Program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

by Jim Kissane

Assistant Program Lead

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing - Greater Kansas City

Area fly fishers owe it to themselves to find their way to K&K Flyfishers in Overland Park on Nov. 3 to take part in a growing event called “Healing Saturday.” The activities will begin at 10 a.m. and will wrap up around 3 p.m., with a full day of fly casting and fly tying clinics, barbecue, auctions, raffles and other treats.

Area fly tyers will give demonstrations throughout the day, including Mike George of Olathe, a world-wide gold medal winner for his deer hair fly creations. We will also have games, raffles and a silent auction. Factory reps from various manufacturers will be on hand to offer demonstrations and instruction on their products, including fly rods and reels, lines and other gear.

Proceeds from the day’s events will benefit our Greater Kansas City Program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, giving us the resources to provide program services to our Veterans community and outreach to bring those benefits to more Veterans who need them.

“Healing Saturday is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Bob Barnett, director of the Greater Kansas City Program. “Over the years, it has grown into an important event in the fly fishing community in Kansas City.

In addition to the “Healing Saturday” raffles and auctions, K&K Fly Fishers will have factory reps from various fly fishing manufacturers on hand for casting clinics and product demonstrations.

“Kevin and Kathy and their staff at K&K Flyfishing do a wonderful job of organizing the event, and I can’t tell you how much we appreciate their support of our program. There really is something for everyone during the day’s activities. We always look forward to this event.”

In a circle-of-life kind of synergy, many of our participants and their spouses are craftsmen and artists, and they have donated items such as woodworking pieces or hand-painted art works for auction. It’s their way of saying “Thank you” for the Project Healing Waters programs; the thing is, Project Healing Waters is a program that says “Thank you” to the Veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much to sustain our country and our freedom.

Mike Davis, for example, is an expert woodworker. “It was a form of therapy to help me with my brain injury before Healing Waters came along,” says Davis, who serves as the Outreach Coordinator for our Program. “I enjoy doing it. Most of my experience is in wood turning. Lately I’ve been branching out into flat work, things like cutting boards and fly boxes. I also do leatherwork.”

He enjoys putting his personal touch on his pieces, such as an inlaid mayfly, which makes every project unique.

“I’ve also started making fishing nets as a way of expanding my skills,” he says. “Whether it’s fly tying or woodworking, I have to keep challenging myself, learning new things. Fishing nets are a way of challenging myself, laminating the wood and bending the wood. I personalize each piece, either with turquoise rock, an inlaid fly, stuff like that.”

Look for a fishing net with such a pattern on the auction table on Healing Saturday.

Similarly, Dave Frank took up painting as an activity during his recuperation from a heart attack. He donated a beautiful water color painting of a rainbow trout to last year’s “Healing Saturday” and I was fortunate enough to be the high bidder on it. The painting now hangs proudly in my “man cave.” I can’t wait to see what these talented artists have in store for us on Nov. 3.

Mike Davis, Outreach Coordinator of our Greater Kansas City program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, is also a woodworker. Among his recent projects are fishing nets like this one, with a mayfly pattern inlaid in the handle, which will be on the “Healing Saturday” auction table.

Our program utilizes the proceeds of “Healing Saturday” to provide fly tying classes, equipment and materials for our participants, who have grown in number from some 20-25 regulars to an average turnout from 30-35. We also teach a fly tying class ever three weeks in at the Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center. Funding also supports our fly fishing outings, including our annual trip to Rockbridge Trout Resort in Southern Missouri, as well as trips to Bennett Spring and Roaring River State Trout Parks.

In addition, we are looking forward to expanding our program to reach the residents of the Veterans Community Project, the “tiny homes” neighborhood at 89^th and Troost in South Kansas City, and elsewhere in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. With thousands of Veterans returning stateside from the Middle East each year, 10-20% of whom with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress and other combat wounds, expanding the scope of our Veterans programs must be an ongoing priority.

Deer hair creations by Mike George of Olathe, an internationally renowned fly tyer, will be on display at “Healing Saturday” at K&K Fly Fishers.

The idea of a “Healing Saturday” event actually originated in Missouri, with programs in St. Louis and Kansas City fostering the idea of such an event, occurring close to Veterans Day, to generate support and raise funds for Veteran programs across the country. The event is reaching nationwide proportion, with most Project Healing Waters programs targeting the last weekend in September. Missouri programs continue to focus on the weekend before Veterans Day, which follows the close of the fishing season in Missouri’s Trout Parks.

K&K Fly Fishers is locate at 87^th and Grant (8643 Grant St.) in Overland Park. For more information, contact them at  913-341-8118, website www.kkflyfisher.com, email sales@kkflyfisher.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kkflyfisher/ .

Fishing Report- Bennett Springs & The Holland Trout Derby from Oct. 12-14

Wendy and I got to head down to Bennett Spring last weekend and the fish were definitely biting.  They seemed to be in a prespawn mode (if that's a thing with trout) and seemed to be both hungry and aggressive.  They were also full of sperm and eggs as were evidenced when you would catch a fish occasionally or when we cleaned a few.  We didn't manage to catch any tagged fish but probably caught close to 100 fish between Friday morning and Sunday at noon. 

Fly Tying: Beginner Predator Flies - Part 1: Bucktail Deceiver

Sorry for the late post.  Here's a cool fly tying video to hold you over to the post I am working on for tomorrow!

The Norrby Stream

Here's your minute of trout fishing zen for the day.  Hopefully it takes you to your happy place for awhile!  The video comes from the YouTube channel Carpe Diem.  Feel free to click on the link below to see more and to subscribe.

Carpe Diem YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhPO99nSs9HXhS5KOKHJlw

The Driftless

This is a very interesting article about a (what seems like, never been there) pretty amazing place here in the Midwest.  This region is definitely on my list of places to fish and just climbed a few spots on the list after reading this article.

Link: https://www.outdoorlife.com/trout-fishing-driftless-area-midwest

Aniak Mousing *TRAILER* - Alaska Fly Fishing by Todd Moen

I just got done watching this trailer and on at least 3 occasions I caught myself say out loud "Wow!" or "Oooooooooooooooh!"  This video has some amazing footage that will not disappoint!  I never get tired of seeing calm, docile trout getting incredibly aggressive and absolutely hammering mouse flies!  I can't wait to see the full length video!  Have a good weekend and go throw a mouse fly if you can!

Catch Magazine youTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CatchMagazine

Fishpond Sushi Roll Fly Storage - Fishpond USA

This sure beats carrying around a big suitcase-looking fly box!  Also, in an effort to be transparent, Fishpond is giving me a boatload of money to write this post.  Like, an embarrassing amount.  Like, as much as I make in a year with my other full time job of teaching.  In case my sarcasm somehow got trapped by a filter or firewall, I'm being as sarcastic as the internet will allow.  I'm not getting paid to write about this product, nor do I own one but I think there is some serious practicality here. I lug around a BIG streamer box/crate and I love it but I hate it.  I love it because it can hold all of my favorite streamer patterns...half of which I actually use on the water.  I hate it because it takes up so much darn space and isn't exactly easy to pack in and out of farm ponds and lake dams.  This little darling might just simplify and minimize these problems.  You could attach it to a backpack, put it in a cup holder, or use it to swat skeeters on those hot,calm summer evenings.  Overall, I think its a cool idea even if it looks a little goofy.

Link to purchase your very own sushi roll on Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/Fishpond-Fishing-Streamers-Saltwater-Storage/dp/B011CFVB2W?crid=17M1QR3YQ20U4&keywords=fishpond+sushi+roll&qid=1539200886&sprefix=fishpond+sush%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-2-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2

Catching Fish for Prizes

I'm not sure if this website's footprint reaches the boot heel or not, but here's an interesting program that the Missouri Department of Conservation is putting on in Cape Girardeau.  Bass, bluegill, red ear, and catfish have been tagged and released at Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.  They are in a pond that is exclusively for youngsters and removed tags can be redeemed at the nature center for a variety of prizes.  I'm all for things that get kids outdoors and gets them engaged in fishing and I applaud the MDC's attempt to make that happen.  After all, the world needs fewer XBoxes and more tackle boxes.

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-cape-nature-center%E2%80%99s-kid%E2%80%99s-fishing-pond-stocked-tagged-fish-prizes

Charlie Reading’s Philosophy of Fly Fishing

Charlie Reading of Reading's Fly Shop has had some pretty high profile screen time lately!  Here's another video that I saw on Moldy Chum and it is pretty inspirational and definitely from the heart.  If you have ever met Charlie, you have probably seen that he is a knowledgeable, friendly, and compassionate advocate for our sport.  If you haven't ever met him, you can find him at his fly shop near Bennett Spring and meet him for yourself. 

Link: http://www.moldychum.com/charlie-readings-philosophy-of-fly-fishing/

Fly Tying: 239flies.com DLP Minnow

This is a follow up to the DL3 Minnow from a couple of weeks ago.  There are a few similarities that follows some of the same principals, but still a pattern worth sharing.

Link to the 239 Flies YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/239flies

Veterans Compete for First Project Healing Waters Fly Casting Championship

Attendees at the Fly Fishers International Fair at Boise, ID, last month were in for a treat: the National Finals of the first ever Project Healing Waters Fly Casting Competition. Twelve Veterans from across the country participated in the event, each of them winners of their Regional Cast-Offs. Scoring was based on distance, accuracy and the ability to cast around obstacles.

Lawrence Diggins, of the Long Beach, CA, Program in the Southwest Region, won the competition with 2740 points. Second place went to Henry Stockman of the Tennessee Valley Region, with 2620 points. Val Roberts of the Rocky Mountain South Region placed third with 2280 points.

Steve Licata of our Greater Kansas City Program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing finished close behind, with 2200 points. His 72-foot cast was just short of Stockman’s 75-foot effort in the longest-cast competition.

While he would like to have fared better, Licata was far from disappointed. “I tried. It just wasn’t enough,” he said. “I had a great time, though. I met a lot of nice people.”

The casting competition came shortly after Licata placed third in the National PHWFF Rod Building Competition, so it has been an eventful year for him.

He said the hospitality at the Fly Fishers International Fair was first rate, with a wide range of educational and tactical exhibitions and some great food. He also met Dr. Meg Harrell and Samuel Holmes of the Bob Woodward Foundation, a major sponsor of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

“Man they had some good food there,” he said. “They feed you really well. I got to meet some of the people who sponsor us – the Bob Woodward Foundation – they spent a lot of time with us, really nice people.”

As with time on the water, the time at the FFI Fair passed too quickly. Licata wished he had been able to spend a few days fishing the trout streams around Boise. Even the time spent with various exhibitors and guests seemed to fly by.

“I was talking with one of the fly tyers there, Gene, and he showed me a different way to tie with a bead head,” Licata said. “Next thing I know I’m looking at my watch and it’s time for supper. We’d been talking for two and a half hours!”

The Fair included a number of clinics and exhibitions, as well as events specifically for Project Healing Waters participants. Medal of Honor recipient Col. Don “Doc” Ballard, another Greater Kansas City participant, was selected to give a keynote address. While there, Ballard met Mike Escarcida, a participant in the Long Beach program in a heartwarming reunion – the two served together in Vietnam some 50 years ago.

Many of the participants made a pact to hone their casting skills and challenged each other to meet again in next year’s competition.

The Heartland Region was represented by Steve Licata of the Greater Kansas City Program. Licata won the Heartland Regional Cast-Off at Lake Quivira Country Club to advance to the national finals. 

The national finals of the PHWFF Fly Casting Competition were the scene of a warm reunion between Mike Escarcida (left), a participant in the Long Beach, CA, Program, and keynote speaker Donald “Doc” Ballard, of the Greater Kansas City Program. The two served in Vietnam “back in the day” some 50 years ago.

The Baby Fat MINNOW

This looks like a killer little minnow pattern!  What doesn't eat little minnows?  EVERYTHING eats little minnows so by way of the transitive property, everything should eat this right?

#NOSERVICE Episode One ( Miami's Canal System )

If you follow this site, you have probably picked up on my affinity for peacock bass.  This is a cool little video that stars  one of my favorite freshwater characters.  It also looks like this YouTube channel has a plethora of videos that feature a wide variety of species.

Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsV5agubd_m9DOoHoF4idrw/videos

2018 Orvis MCM 14 15 16 Jig Head Streamers

I don't think I have ever watched a video and flipped from thinking "That is the dumbest thing I have ever seen" to "That is genius and why didn't I think of that!"  Sure these flies look kind of ugly but I bet they get the job done.

McFly Beard Video

Hopefully you get a pretty good chuckle out of this video and it makes your Monday a little more bearable.