Present Moment- A Fly Fishing Short

There's a lot of reasons that people fly fish.  This video does an amazing job of explaining one of these reasons!  All credit to Moldy Chum for posting this first! Hit the water this weekend and catch a few!

Motion Digital YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC538s8RokjWPm1QKSy7sA2A

Boat Ramp Etiquette

Now here's some good advice for using a boat ramp, for driving a car, or just trying to navigate life!

Link to the Huge Fly Fisherman YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX5H2TAWddhGYYcCR5dc3sQ

The Price of Trout Fishing in Missouri is Going Up!

A while back, I posted about how the cost of daily tags at Missouri Trout Parks will rise from $3 to $4 in 2020.  If you want to see that post, just click here.  On August 26 of this year, the Missouri Department of Conservation announced that there will be other changes as well.

Currently, the cost of a state trout permit is $7.  In 2020, that will rise to $10.  In addition to that, Meramec Spring Park will increase their limit from 4 fish to 5.  This is a pilot program and it will collect data on how the new regulation effects angler satisfaction as well as fish size.

Now in the grand scheme of things, these are small changes.  There haven't been changes to any of these costs for a long time and the limit of 4 fish in trout parks has been in effect since 2004.  Some folks will fall on the side of the fence where changes are bad and an increase in cost is unnecessary, others will see the need for price adjustments due to inflation and that additional revenue will only mean good things for the state of Missouri.  I am of the latter persuasion, but I get the other side.  Change is hard and nobody likes to pay more money for something that has had the same cost for so long.  The fact of the matter is that we can't change things back and maybe we reserve judgement until we see if the department is able to show and justify these changes with improvements in the future.  I guess we will see!

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-will-raise-trout-permits-and-tags-starting-2020-start-pilot

Split Bamboo Fly Rods

If you love bamboo rods, then you will be able to relate to this article.  If you are a bamboo novice, then you've got a lot to learn about our bamboo brethren.  If that didn't convice you to check out this article, then let me add that it is written by John Gierach.  If you don't know who John is, then you should check out some of his books on fly fishing!  Seriously, he's my favorite fly fishing author!

Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-08/the-outrageous-irrational-appeal-of-bamboo-fishing-rods

Tying Legs

Seeing as how it is hopper season and the topwater bite of summer should be getting really good, here is a video to help you with tying those pesky legs for hoppers and frogs.  It does a really good job of taking a seemingly complex task and making it easy.  It is a tutorial in working smarter, not harder.  Who doesn't like that?  I think the kids call these "life hacks".  At least they used to say that a few years ago.

Link to Svend Diesel's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClGRo_ST4iwdm0EMBgEP58w

Bugger Box For Sale on Etsy

Wooly buggers are amazing!  They can catch anything that eats baitfish and are incredibly versatile.  I've fished woolies for years and after a lot of testing on the water, I've decided what my favorite color combinations are, and I've decided to sell an assortment of them at my online Etsy store.  I chose two colors for darker water and/or cloudier days and two colors for clearer skies and/or water.  They are all tied on a size six hook with a bead head.  The assortment also comes in a repurposed cigar box that has been lined with foam.  The foam has slits cut in that holds flies with pressure rather than having to tear up the foam by pushing hooks in and ripping them out.  If you like fishing woolies or small streamers, then this assortment might be something you are interested in.  Just click on the link below to check it out at the store.

Wooly Bugger Assorment Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/715027384/wooly-bugger-assortment-bugger-box-wooly

Link to Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShowMeFlyGuy

Knots and Spoons

I ran across a couple of articles on the Field & Stream website that I wanted to pass along.  One contains some useful information about knots while the other describes how to make your own lure out of old spoons.  Both are great reads and I might or might not be headed to a thrift store to pick up a couple of spoons this weekend.

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/tie-the-strongest-fishing-knots/

Link: https://www.fieldandstream.com/how-to-make-easy-diy-spoon-lure/

Restoring Color to Bleached Antlers

No, this is not a fly fishing post, and if that bugs you, I apologize! It’s just that I completed a little project recently and the results are pretty amazing.

So I found this dead buck on our family farm last winter. It was a decent eight point and I wanted to display it somewhere because for some reason antlers fascinate me. After spending all spring and winter letting nature clean it to the bone. While the hide was gone and the the skull was bleached, so were the antlers. They too lost their color. 

I wanted to bring their natural color back as well as make the skull look a little cleaner. After reading some posts on The Shed Antler Addiction Facebook Page (awesome page of you dig antlers) I had plan. I hit the skull with some white gloss spray paint. I taped off the antlers to keep the paint off them and it worked really well. I wish I would have used a matte finish but the gloss still looks cool. I then rubbed some walnut wood stain on the antlers and let it soak in. After a few minutes I wiped off the excess. The results blew me away. In the future though, I would like to try a stain that has more of a chocolate look. It was cheap, easy, and extremely rewarding. If you have some old antlers laying around, or a trophy that needs to be touched up, then you should give it a shot. The results are amazing.

Bleached, untouched skull and antlers on the left.  Restored skull and antlers on the right.

Bucket Mouth League

Paul Beel over at Frankenfly has a pretty cool program called the Bucket Mouth League.  All you have to do to be a part of the league is to post your largemouth bass pictures to social media and tag your pictures with #bucketmouthleague.  If you do, you might end up on the Frankenfly page when he posts pictures to the site from time to time.  While I am grateful to have my picture published, I'm even happier that they omitted my face!  Nobody wants to see that!  Thanks Paul for promoting our sport and for recognizing those of us that chase swamp donkeys with a fly!

Link: http://www.frankenfly.com/bucket-mouth-league-recent-posts/

I Broke a Fly Rod...Now What?

It was a good weekend! I got to fish on Friday night at Guy B. Park Conservation Area and Sunday at Watkins Mill State Park. My girlfriend outfished me both days, which was fine, and the fishing was pretty good.  However, just as we were getting ready to wrap things up on Sunday, disaster struck in the form of a broken rod. Wendy (the girlfriend), had a tangle around the tip of her brand new Echo four weight. I was having a hard time reaching it and bent the rod a little to get a better angle on the situation. Then, with the subtle ness of a broken shoelace, SNAP!  Regret, guilt, and anger washed over me instantly. Thankfully she wasn’t upset and it was at the end of our fishing anyway, but now starts the task of getting it fixed. I am 99% sure the rod has a warranty on it but I am still in unknown territory. Where do I send it? How long until I get it back? Will it be an entirely new rod or do they just replace the section? How mich will it cost? I’ve never had to do this before but I figure this will be an educational experience that I can share with others in case you encounter similar events. I will keep you posted on how things go...whether good or bad!

Bluff alone Media- Stripers

You know what, here's a second post for the day!  You deserve it because you're awesome readers and because this video by Bluff Line Media is pretty sweet.  I'm counting the minutes until I can get home, load up the fly rods, and hit the water!  Good luck in all of your fishy pursuits this weekend and I hope you catch a big'un. 

Stripers...on the fly...in the Ozarks?  What else do you need?  This is a great little two minute video highlighting some angry, striped buddies on the Arkansas side of the Ozarks.  And was that a Woodard eight weight that I saw?

Link to Bluff Line Media's YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUTPoXFO3uClx0NCQ_ylNUA

Wading the Narrows on Lake Taneycomo

If you've never fly fished Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri, then you are missing out on some amazing fishing!  This lake holds A LOT of fish and some trophy fish as well!  Here is Phil Lilley of Lilley's Landing Resort and Marina with a tutorial.

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

"Cicadafaction"

If you're not kicking the tires (at the very least) on cicada flies, then maybe you should.  Whether it is on moving water or still water, this is the time of year to throw these big, crunchy patterns.  Everything from carp to trout are gobbling up these high-protein meals!

Link to Jensen Fly Fishing's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jensenflyfishing

Wholesale Fly Company

I ran across a link to this company in a comments section on some fly tying Facebook page.  While the site isn't the prettiest thing that I have ever seen (especially on a mobile device), holy cow does it have some cheap hooks and tying materials.  I found 100 saltwater streamer hooks for $12, and 100 brass bead heads for $4.  That is insanely cheap!  I think I'm going to get some hooks that I use a lot and see if the quality matches the price!

Link: http://www.wholesaleflycompany.com/

The Pros and Cons of Tying with Monofilament Thread

I have never tied with monofilament before but I've always been a little curious about it.  This short video (1:37) does an excellent job of outlining the benefits and drawbacks of tying with this material.  On top of that, it gives detail into different types of mono as well as how tying mono is different that fishing mono.  I hope you learn as much as I did.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Rainbow Fly Shop to by some monofilament tying material!

Tightline YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIdIkp_uBiYEw-Pb4-BDBjw

Fly Fishing Alpine Lakes

What's wrong fella?  Missing the weekend already?  Well let's take a little break and live vicariously through Ben...he's a Huge Fly Fisherman.  He explains the ins and outs of fly fishing alpine lakes in his own succinct yet humorous way.  And let's be honest, wouldn't we all rather be there right now anyway?

On a personal note, I have had the fortune to fish exactly one alpine lake.  It was in Rocky Mountain National Park and was an experience I will never forget.  I caught the only two brook trout of my life there, saw a young moose, and almost got trampled by a mother elk because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time!  Obviously, it was an experience I will never forget.  If you ever get the chance to fish an alpine lake, I hope you jump at the opportunity.  Chances are, you will end up with a pretty amazing memory of your own!

Link to the Huge Fly Fisherman YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX5H2TAWddhGYYcCR5dc3sQ

Wallace State Park Fishing Video

Last week I posted about fishing Lake Allaman for the first time.  This lake is located at Wallace State Park near Cameron, Missouri.  Here is the video recap of the day.  I caught all my fish on a wooly bugger with a flashy body, a black tail, and black hackle.  The fly and the lake DID NOT disappoint and I WILL be going back!

YouTube Channel Link Here: https://www.youtube.com/theshowmeflyguy

Upcoming Fly Fishing Tournament

Here's a question for you: how good of a fly fisherman are you?  No, seriously.  Think about it for a minute.  Are you better than average?  Are you the best in your circle of friends?  Have you ever felt the need to measure your skills against the skills of others.  Or maybe you just enjoy the camaraderie that comes with sharing similar experiences with other good, like-minded folks.  Well then you should consider entering the First Annual Fly Fishers International Southern Council Catch and Release Tournament in Mountain Home, Arkansas, on October 4 and 5.  Click on the link below for more details.

Link: http://ffisoc.org/

A New Flybrary Goes Up!

Earlier this summer I wrote about The Flybrary Project.  You can click here if you want to read the post.  If you don't want to, here the gist: A flybrary is sign/display that is posted somewhere and it allows you to share flies with other anglers and borrow flies from other anglers as well.  You can also follow the progress and locations of flybraries on Instagram using #flybraryproject or you can follow the account @flybraryproject.  Castaway Customs is given credit for this idea and you can go to their website to order a free starter kit.  You can click here to get a kit of your own and to learn a little bit more if you want.  I ordered my own kit and recently found the perfect place to display it!

I kicked around the idea of putting it in a public location but to be honest, I didn't want to get in trouble for defacing public property or vandalism.  Then one day, when I was scrolling through my Instagram feed, I ran across a post where a guy hung a Flybrary in a fly shop!  It was like a great big neon light flashing on and off in my brain saying "Here is your solution!"  So after a short conversation and a little thinking, the owner of Rainbow Fly Shop (Matt) in Independence, Missouri, and I put a flybrary up for display.  Feel free to stop by his store to swap some flies, donate some flies, or buy some new ones.  Here is a link to Rainbow Fly Shop if you need hours and/or directions: https://www.kcflyshop.com/.  I am also going to send the location of the flybrary to Castaway Customs to plot on an online map and tag them in an Instagram post as well.  

New State Record Black Bullhead Catfish

Imagine yourself out on the water, just enjoying a nice day on the water and maybe catching a few fish.  Nothing crazy, just enough to keep your attention and make you a little happier.  Then BOOM!  All heck breaks loose and you've got a big fish on the line that you weren't expecting.  You land the fish and instantly know that this thing needs to go on a scale.  Then, you start to research what the state record is and low and behold, it could be you.  It's not that uncommon folks.  It happens.  It has actually happened eight times this year in Missouri so far.  Now it is likely that none of those fishermen/fisherwomen expected to go out and catch a state record.  What is reasonable to assume is that they either knew or quickly learned the process for getting a state record verified.  Look at it this way, would you rather know what to do with a potential state record fish or would you rather miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime due to ignorance?  I, for one, wouldn't want to miss out on such an incredible honor and recognition.

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-announces-new-state-record-black-bullhead-catfish

A Couple of New Videos From Brian Wise

Here's Brian Wise's version of Blane Checklett's Polar Game Changer.  If you have all the materials, the time, the skills, (and frankly the money to buy all the materials...geez Louise these things aren't even cheap to tie), then go get em' cowboy/cowgirl.  Like most things in life that require time, patience, and a little money, they are usually worth it!  When YOU make something, you feel more pride in the end-product and you can make things come out the way YOU want them!

Also, if you're struggling with getting eyes to set up correctly on streamers, or have trouble with them coming off, then check this out!

Link to Brian's YouTube Channel, Fly Fishing the Ozarks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9Ra827nueyjCl3h7aLwvA

The Bead Chain Bugger is Now FOR SALE!

After having so much success with this pattern this summer, I have decided to add it to the catalog at the online fly shop.  Granted, it's an easy pattern to tie and if you would rather tie it yourself, just click here to see the video.  However, I know that not all fly fishers are fly tiers, so I would be happy to wrap up some of these bad boys if you would like to add them to a fly box!  Have a great weekend and I hope you are able to hit the water with some of YOUR favorite flies.

Etsy Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/724302221/bead-chain-wooly-bugger-wooly-bugger

Wallace State Park

Last Monday I got to hit the water with my long-time friend Jim and fish some water that I've never hit up before.  The location was Lake Allaman at Wallace State Park near Cameron, Missouri.  First off, this place is BEAUTIFUL!  It's located about two miles off of Interstate 35 and easy to get to.  Second, this place is pretty small.  The park isn't very big and the lake itself is somewhere between five and six acres.  However, it just looks fishy and my hope was that maybe it was some sort of under appreciated fishery.  That ended up being somewhat true!

We hit the water a little later in the morning that the conditions were not ideal.  The clouds were gone and it had rained earlier that morning.  The sky was blue, the sun was out, and temperatures were rising.  However, we still saw fish working in the middle of the lake and in the vegetation near the shore.  My hope was to coax some (hopefully big) bass or (maybe monster) bluegill out of the cabbage.  I didn't know if those things were there but the optimism (and a little intimidation) you feel on a new body of water can only be compared to the feeling you get when you are on the road traveling to said location.

To make a long story short, things were slow!  I only caught a six inch bluegill and a small green sunfish.  I missed quite a few other fish but they were sips and spits that you would expect from smaller fish so I wasn't exactly heart broken.  We were about to call it quits.  Jim reminded me a little later that my exact words were "Shut 'er down boys and let's get out of here."  But that reminder came after the unexpected took place.

I decided to give it a couple more casts before taking the boat out.  I was still shocked that I wasn't getting more hits by dragging my wooly in front of the vegetation.  Then, out of nowhere, I felt a solid thud!  At first, I thought I was snagged on a log but then the "log" started to swim across the lake.  I quickly realized that I finally had a decent fish on the line as my 6 weight goose-necked.  The fish spun my boat around and then pulled us across the lake.  I thought that it might have been a really nice bass but then when it didn't come to the surface and seemed to hug the bottom instead, I knew what I had on the line.  The undeniable sight of a forked tail confirmed what I thought I had hooked.  After about five minutes of me hoping that the fish wouldn't come unhooked, I finally got the 2-3 pound channel cat up to the surface.  It wasn't a monster but holy cow was it fun to hook, fight, and finally land.  The fact that it came on a new body of water, especially one that I thought had some promise, was rewarding.  Couple that with the fact that a technique that I had so much faith in finally paid off in the end and well, those are the ingredients of a good fish story in my opinion.

Thanks Jimbo for running the boat, snapping some pictures, and all of the words of encouragement buddy.  That's why you're my brother and a few of the reasons we are lifelong friends.  And thank you Lake Allaman at Wallace State Park.  Just as that catfish was returned to the water to fight another day, so will I!