Frankie & Carl

Apparently Frank (the state record brown trout) has some pretty good size hang arounds.  Holy cow!  Can you imagine hooking into either of these?!?!

Link to Phil Lilley's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/phillilley

Tips for More Smallmouth on a Fly

For those of you that like to catch smallies on the fly, this article has some great tips and insight.

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/3-fly-fishing-tricks-to-catch-more-smallmouth

Merch Store!

Over the last few weeks I have been working on an online store with some different designs.  They all follow a theme and I tried to make them have some different fishing variations.  There are lots of different colors, sizes, and styles so I hope you find something that you like and maybe even make a purchase.  There are a few examples below but there is LOTS more to browse through and I am adding new items frequently.  There will always be a link on the left side of this site as well so if you ever want to revisit the store, just click on the link.  There are some stickers available too!  I'm working on a few other ideas and I will let you know when those become available.

Link: https://teespring.com/stores/the-show-me-fly-guy

Link: https://teespring.com/stores/the-show-me-fly-guy

Learn to Fly Fish

Do you want to learn how to fly fish in one of the best trout fisheries in the Midwest?  If so, the Missouri Department of Conservation is hosting a seminar on May 11 in Branson on Lake Taneycomo.  Click on the link for more details but the bottom line is that you will be learning from some experts, for free, and have a great chance at catching a big trout.  If I could only fish one place for the rest of my life, it would be Taneycomo right below the dam and that is exactly where you will cut your teeth while being spoiled in the process.

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-invites-public-learn-about-fly-fishing-may-11-near-branson

Steve Dally's 2019 Winter

Well it sure looks like Steve Dally and his buddies had a good winter.  I've been fortunate enough to fish the White River once and I cannot wait to get back down there.  That place, simply put, is a big brown trout factory!  Don't believe me?  Check out the highlight reel.

Steve Dally's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKaf3icS3MLyCs5Af0-9U7w

Sunglasses

If you're curious about what type of eye protection is best for you, let Ben help you put the puzzle together.  Hopefully you learn as much about sunglasses as I did.  Good stuff!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX5H2TAWddhGYYcCR5dc3sQ

Foundry Fishing

As the weather starts to warm and you find yourself needing new clothing for when you're on the water or when you are missing being on the water, you should check out the Foundry Fishing homepage.  They are a great Tennessee-based company that is grass roots and family owned.  I own a few of their products and really, really like them.  Just click on the link below and take a look around.  If you see something that you want, don't forget to enter the code FOUNDRYTD15 for a 15 percent discount at checkout.

Link:  https://foundryfishing.com/

A Contest Starting on the YouTube Channel

If you want to win a couple of stickers, a free fly, and maybe have a little fun while watching fishing videos, then check out the new video that was recently posted on the channel.  It is a really simple contest that only requires you to pay close attention, identify a (hopefully well-known) song, and leave something in the comment section.  As always, please like and subscribe!

Link to the Show Me Fly Guy Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIE8TFKdv5ivGRG8IwS6IDA?view_as=subscriber

Frank (the Brown Trout) is Back

Well it looks like our favorite Missouri State Record Brown Trout is back and this time he's ready for his close up video footage.  Apparently his left side is is best side.  This footage was provided by Phil Lilley of Lilley's Landing.  If you haven't subscribed to his YouTube Channel, you're missing out.  It is full of amazing footage, info, tips, and an in-depth knowledge of Lake Taneycomo.

Phil Lilley's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgMZDVIVeWj22d0y2RNvQA

A Small Thank You to Veterans

On April 27, Bennett Spring State Park is holding a free fishing event for United States Military Veterans.  Daily tags will be given out for free to veterans and no license required.  On top of that, there will be a special area reserved for veterans as well as fly tying demos and casting instruction.  Click on the link below for more information if you are a veteran or forward it to a veteran you know!

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-invites-veterans-fish-free-bennett-spring

Clouser Minnow, You're Not So Bad After All

It seems like when it comes to fly tying, everyone has a fly or material that they don't like to work with.  For me, and this is probably going to make you laugh, it's deer hair or any kind.  Spinning hair, stacking hair, or even bucktail seem to befuddle me.  I can't seem to make it flair when I want and/or I can't get the proportions right.  If you didn't laugh earlier, you're going to really laugh now: I used to hate to tie clouser minnows...until recently.

I sat down with a young man a few weeks ago that wanted to learn a baitfish pattern for bass.  We settled on a clouser but I gave him the disclaimer that I didn't like to tie, or subsequently, tie the fly.  He inquired as to why and the rant was on!  The hair falls out, it twists around the shank, I put in hair that's too short or too long or too thick or too sparse, dumbbell eyes seem to move too much, I make the noses to thick, I clog up the eye, and I don't particularly care for the action.  With all the being said, we sat down to tie a clouser and for some reason, it all came together on that day.

Maybe I slowed down.  Maybe I paid better attention to details.  Maybe I just gave more attention to the things that made me mad in the past.  Regardless, my fly turned out pretty good.  Now fast forward a few weeks.

I was fishing with this particular student the other day and he started talking about how he was a better caster than me.  Then he accepted my challenge for a little contest.  Then he had the gall to say he was going to beat me and cast three times further!  And that was the time I went and got my eight weight from my truck.  For fun, I tied on a clouser just to mess with him.  This was the very clouser that I had tied with him and he indeed remembered it.  After a thorough whooping, I was about to put the rod away but had to make one more cast.  As my line neared the bank, my fly got hammered by a bass.  I'm not sure which one of us was more surprised and it ended up weighing close to a pound.  It was the biggest fish that either of us had caught that day and I started thinking that maybe I was one to something.  After we released the fish, I headed to some water that had some cover and structure.  It just looked bassy.  I ended up catching four more bass and that was four more than I had ever caught on a clouser.  It was something that I didn't see coming and a really pleasant surprise.  So of course, only one thing can happen at this point...I am clouser tying freak that can't wait to tie on another clouser and chase some largemouth/white bass/hybrids.  Life's funny sometimes I guess and not lacking in irony.  Now if I could only figure out how to spin deer hair!

Upcoming Contest

I apologize for the vague and cryptic post today, but I am working on a few new YouTube videos as well as a contest that will be starting in the next few days.  The idea is to make the videos more fun and interesting while giving away a small prize with each video.  You're going to need to watch, pay attention, catch the clues, and participate to win.  We're going to start off with giving away a few stickers and flies, but my hope is that this turns into something bigger in the future.  More to come soon, but wanted to tease the contest a little big.

My New Stripping Basket/Livewell

The other day when I was out on the water absolutely slaying 8 inch bass, I tried out a new contraption.  The wind was down on this particular day and I decided I was going to live or die by a fly rod.  I admit that I will sometimes pick up a spinning rod and throw a spinnerbait or plastic worm (please don't judge) but when I can fly fish for bass, I do!  Over the winter I saw an apparatus that served two purposes.  1. It was a stripping basket that kept your fly line from wrapping around your feet, twigs, and everything else that can snag line.  2.  It served as a livewell for fish that you caught.  I really liked how it kept fish in the type of water and temperature of water that they are used to and decided to construct my own device.  A couple of pool noodles and one laundry basket later and I was done.  After using the my multi tool the  other day, I thought I would share my findings.

First off, it worked pretty well.  It did a good job managing my fly line and also helped me lug fly boxes and other gear around from pond to pond.  Second, it was just fun to watch the fish behavior and color changes after they had been caught.  I think kids or photographers could get a lot of use with something like this.

On the other hand, it wasn't perfect.  I lost a few fish that simply jumped out or swam through the openings that are the handles.  I also had one fish die from stress I assume.  It wasn't a big deal because this was a pond that was overpopulated with bass but if these were trout or something on public water, I'm not sure I would use this.  So aside from losing a fish and killing one, it was a lot of fun and I plan on using it in similar situations in the future.  If you bank fish or want to introduce kids to how interesting fish are, I highly suggest you make one and give it a shot.  It's cheap, easy, and has a lot of functionality!

Here is a video that shows how to make a floating livewell in case you couldn't figure out how to split a pool noodle or work a zip tie.

Link to the Rated Red YouTube Channel where I found this video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSiTS5Fg9Cl6T5t_EPDFLFw

Orvis Fly Fishing 101

Fly fishing newbies, this is for you!  The Orvis YouTube channel has a wealth of information if you need some help getting started with this beloved, frustrating, impassioned, complex, and sometimes fun sport.

Orvis YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGOi5_3PkvM1FLHR_jXM7MQ

Fishing So Far This Spring

Like most springs here in Missouri, it has been full of ups and downs, warmth and cold, and good fishing as well as bad.  I have concentrated most of my efforts on bass fishing and haven't been down to southern Missouri yet.  So far, my best day of fishing was with my two boys in late March.  We had a great day on the water and my oldest son that is nine years old caught his personal best bass that went 2 pounds.  Since then, I have either been skunked or caught dinks on the farm ponds that I fish.  I've also caught a few stocker rainbows around the Kansas City area as well.  While they have been pretty and fun to catch, they're just stockers but it's better than nothing.  I'm still chasing a big bass and I know where she lives but I haven't got her to bite yet.  Hopefully that changes this weekend but with a cold front moving in on Friday, I'm a little concerned about how the fish are going to respond.

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New State Record Shad

That's a big shad!

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/augusta-angler-snags-state-record-gizzard-shad

Fly Fusion Cast Like a Pro Series: #2 Distance Casting

Unless you fish three-hundred days out of the year or have a casting contest trophy, it probably wouldn't hurt you to brush up on your casting technique.  It sure helps me and reminds me of a few things that I have forgot and helps me to break some bad habits that I have developed over time.

White Jigs! Lake Taneycomo

If you have any plans to fish Lake Taneycomo in the near or distant future, you should check out both this video as well as Phil Lilley's YouTube channel.  He does a great job showing techniques while sharing general as well as time senstitive information.  He's also the owner of Lilley's Landing which is my preferred accommodations when I am in Branson!

Phil' YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgMZDVIVeWj22d0y2RNvQA

HiVis Shiner - Streamer Pattern

This would be a GREAT smallmout or largemouth pattern to use this weekend!  Just sayin'. The best largemouth fishing of the year is either going on right now or coming really fast!  Make sure you have enough streamers in your boxes!

Link to Nomad Anglers YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCanCgfp1ogJHQacdQSof3nw

Year-Round Smallmouth

If this article doesn't make you want to find a smallmouth bass stream in the ozarks and go on a float & fish trip, then I don't know what will!  I'm ready to load up my yak, grab a 6 weight, throw some streamers in a fly box, and hit the road!!!  Let's go catch (and release) some smallies!!!

Article Link: https://riverkingfishing.com/how-the-missouri-bronzeback-opportunity-is-golden-year-round/

On another note, you should really check out other info on the River King Fishing page!  There's A LOT of information and a wide variety of pages to look at.  Link:  https://riverkingfishing.com/

My First Game Changer

To follow up from yesterday, I present to you my very first game changer.  Tada!!!

So no, it is not perfect by any means but for my first take on this fly, I'm alright with it.  However, here's what I don't like: the back end.  I have four shanks between the B10S hook and small octopus hook in the back.  The front two shanks and the front hook all have complex twists of schlappen, medium chenille, and longer but thinner strands of UV polar chenille.  The back two shanks are tied in a wooly worm style with only chenille and hackle.  I don't like this part and I wish I would have used a complex twist on those parts as well.

The reason I went this route was because I didn't have the right chenille that yesterday's post/video contained.  I with with a complex twist out of necessity as well as creativity.  I felt like it was a good approach and thought that I had stumbled on a little piece of brilliance...until I saw this video.  It's basically the same thing.  A creative genius I apparently am not since it had already been done.  All that is left to do is see how it looks in the water and maybe make a few tweaks before I start catching whoppers on this monster.  That's how it works right? 

Link to Montana Troutfitters YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAamauSZryuF-cMKCEJJUQ

Finesse Game Changer

Yesterday I attempted to tie this fly.  It is one of the simpler game changer patterns that I have ran across but I didn't have all of the necessary materials.  I took a few creative liberties as well as put my own twist on it and will reveal my creation tomorrow.  I'm proud but not satisfied if that makes any sense.  If you're going to attempt your first game changer as well, I would recommend allotting about an hour for your first one and budget for patience.  First flies are always a little tricky and this one is no different.

Link to Nomad Anglers YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCanCgfp1ogJHQacdQSof3nw