Thank You Echo

About a month ago, I wrote a post about how I accidentally broke my girlfriend's Echo four weight.  (Click here to read the post if you need to get caught up to speed).  Please allow me to summarize to catch you up.  The rod was actually a birthday present that I bought for her and specifically, it was an Echo Carbon XL.  It had a really smooth cast and great action while playing a fish.  I accidentally broke the rod when I bent the tip towards me in an effort to untangle a kknot now that...the wind...yeah, the wind caused.  Anyway, I was sure it was under warranty but I had never sent in a rod for repair so I felt nervous about being in uncharted waters.  Here was my initial list of questions:

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 much will it cost?

So allow me to walk you through this.  The first thing I did was access the Echo website.  There, plain as day, in the upper right hand corner was a tab titled "Warranty & Repair".  From there, I clicked on the button that said I needed to send in a repair, that I was a retail customer, and the specifics of the damage.  I then learned that a $35.00 cost was involved.  At first I thought that was a little steep but then realized that this was a rod that cost $150.00 and then it didn't seem so bad.  I then learned that I could either include a check for $35 in the container that I shipped the rod in or I could give written permission for Echo to bill a credit card.  I submitted my warranty and repair info and created my account on August 21 and received two emails from Echo detailing those events.  I then mailed the rod and check a couple of days later.  I then received two emails from Echo on August 29.  The first said that the repair had been received and the second said that the repair was completed.  A few days later I received a long, tubular package in the mail.  I was excited to see what had been done and was pretty surprised by what I found.

The rod hadn't been repaired.  Instead, they sent a brand new rod, tube, and sock!  Now I had heard that this is pretty common with some of the bigger fly rod companies but I was still a little surprised when I got a brand new rod in the mail.  In addition to that, I was also very satisfied with the amount of communication that I received from Echo via email.  This rod is a favorite of my girlfriends (and mine when she doesn't fish with me) and it was a gift on top of that.  In other words, it is special.  So when I received an update with each step of the process, it was reassuring to know that I had followed the procedures and protocol and that they were following their steps as well.  I was also incredibly happy with the quick turnaround time.  We didn't have any upcoming trips and it wasn't a time sensitive situation, but it was nice to see Echo move quickly and efficiently.

In closing, I am incredibly happy with Echo's communication and customer service.  I am also appreciative of their warranty plan and process.  I'm not getting paid or anything for this post, in case you were wondering.  This is an unbiased look at the program and process that I hope you find educational and maybe useful in the future.  With that being said, I give Echo my full endorsement of their products, customer service, and warranty plan.  Thank you Echo and keep up the good work!

Show Me Fish

I am so sorry for the late post, but hopefully late is better than not at all.  To say that I have a lot of stress in my life right now is an understatement, but I still wanted to get a post up today. 

Today's post is something that I haven't updated in a long time and that is the "Show Me Fish" tab at the top of the homepage.  Or you can click here for a shortcut.  This tab is reserved for folks that want to show off pictures of fish they catch in Missouri and I would really like to add some more pictures to the gallery.  All you have to do is email me a pictures at showmeflyguy@gmail.com, give me your name, the species of fish, and where you caught it.  You don't have to get really specific and give away your favorite fishing spot, just something like "Smithville Lake" or Private Pond is fine.  So dig through your phone or cloud storage and show off a catch you are proud of.  I'll keep you posted if I get some pictures and will update the page ASAP as pictures start rolling in.  

If you're not interested in sending in a picture, that's fine, but you might want to click on the tab anyway.  To say there is some variety is an understatement.

Sea Run Brown Trout

These fish are just STUPID huge and angry!  I've only recently started to learn about sea run brown trout but this video is pushing me to learn more.  I can't get over hwo big they are and how acrobatic they are.  However, if you're looking to knock them off their pedestal (which would need to be big), then you can be a little disappointed in their color but that's about it.  Also, to avoid any confusion, the Rio Grande that is the setting for the video, is not the same Rio Grande that creates a natural border of the United States and Mexico.  It took me awhile to figure that out.  I probably would have taken you less time, but a friendly heads up never hurts.

Catch Magazine Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHUXPkQosjVxl8rt8hzbTNw

One Tough Four Year Old!

Meet Cody.  He's four years old, has A LOT of energy, and acts like his dad from time to time.  In regards to that last fact, that's sometimes good and sometimes bad because I'm his dad.  Anyway, he's got a little bit of a wild side.  If you couple this with the fact that he's incredibly competitive and not scared of a challenge, then you have the making for a little guy that doesn't have fear when it comes to a contest.  With that in mind, I shouldn't have been surprised when he said he wanted to fish in the annual Jesse James Festival Youth Fishing Tournament.  Yes, it was pouring rain last Sunday morning in the Kansas City area but there were still trophies to compete for a free goodie bags to claim.  While he didn't win a trophy (he vows that he will next year), I saw a pretty amazing side of my son last Sunday.  A side that showed his resiliency, toughness, and inherent drive.  He can be a handful sometimes, but he's also pretty amazing too!

Fly Tying: Brian Wise's Knucklehead

Running super late with the post today and I'm slammed at work.  Here's a Brian Wise fly tying video.  Hope it's good.  Haven't even watched it yet.

A Tour of My Boat

My boat gets a lot of curious looks and I get a lot of interesting questions when people pass by.  Since there seems to be interest in the topic, I decided to make a short video about my baby!  For your viewing pleasure, I present to you...a tour of my boat.

Link to The Show Me Fly Guy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/theshowmeflyguy

Missouri & Fish Wall Art Project- Part 1

So I had a half sheet of plywood laying around, and collecting dust.  In a future post, I'll explain why it was only a half sheet.  Anyway, it was laying around and I decided to try and make something out of it.  At first I wanted a HUGE 4 feet by 4 feet state of Missouri cutout, but then I couldn't get the digital projector at my school to zoom out that far.  That was the trick by the way.  I projected the image onto the wood and traced it in pencil because I have ZERO artistic ability.  Instead of 4 X 4, I decided to make it as big as I could.  In all honesty, it turned out better than I thought it was going to.  I hadn't used a jigsaw in years and I don't think it looks too bad.  I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do with it, but I have no doubt that something will come to me.  Feel free to leave a comment below if you have a good idea though.

After I was done cutting out Missouri, I realized I still had a little bit of wood left over.  Seeing as how I am not one to let...well pretty much anything go to waste, I decided to try a few more cutouts.  This time I focused on some fish.  I first traced a big male brown trout, then a female rainbow, and finally a trout jumping out of the water.  We will see if my jigsaw skills are up to the test for some things a little smaller and a little more intricate.  I'll post an update after I complete phase two.  

Streamer Tactics

Streamer action is either in full swing for you or getting ready to heat up depending on where you live.  Here's a video to help you brush up or introduce you to the streamer game.

Link to The New Fly Fisher YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk2DJldSE7hhQTU8rjNHeYw

J. Stockard

Let me start with, I buy local every chance I get.  Rainbow Fly Shop is my closest, locally owned shop and I buy from Matt (the owner) every time I can.  With that being said, sometimes I need a specialty item that Matt doesn't carry.  When that happens, I go to one place, and one place only: J.Stockard Fly Fishing.  I actually can't believe that I haven't written about J. Stockard before.  Oh, and by the way, I'm not getting paid, or a discount, or free stuff to write about their site.  It's just so good that I had to share it with you.

I've been buying from J. Stockard for a few years now and I have nothing but good things to say about the company.  Their prices are usually on par or cheaper than other places.  However, if you can catch a sale on the site, then you're going to be in even better shape.  I know that goes without saying but if you buy during the sales rather then when you need the items, you're going to be better off.  As far as selection goes, if they don't have it then you don't need it.  And finally, they run some good promotions.  On my last order, I received a free hoo rag (a buff/face mask type thing) and a few stickers.  Again, you usually get a lot for your money.  The only down side, and I can't fault them for this, is the shipping.  That's where you end up spending more than you usually would at Rainbow or other fly shops.  With that being said, if you need your materials quickly or you just can't find them anywhere else, then the additional cost is justifiable.  

Even if you're remotely curious, click the link below and browse a little.  Work can wait, and so can making dinner, going to bed, and any other responsibility that might looming!  All joking aside, it's a good site and I think you'll dig it!

Link: https://www.jsflyfishing.com/

Tying the Near Deere

Last week I received an inquiry from a couple of gentlemen in regards to whether I could tie up some Near Deere's for them.  While I had heard of the fly before, I really had no idea how to tie one or what one looked like.  One of the guys sent me a YouTube video of the fly and we were off and running.  After picking up a few materials from Rainbow Fly Shop and with a couple of tweaks, I was ready to start cranking out Near Deere's.  Here's the video I was referencing.

Basically, its a small wooly bugger tied on a jig head hook.  They were fun to tie and didn't take long to crank out while I was watching some football yesterday.  They are going in the mail today and I hope these guys are able to land some fish on this "new to me" fly.  If you've never tied a Near Deere, why not give it a shot?  I tied up a few extras for myself and plan on giving them a try at an HOA pond later on tonight.  Also, if you ever wan to place a custom order of flies, please feel free to email me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  I promise to give you a fair price and be honest with how long my turnaround time is.

I extended the body a little bit and thinned it down a little so it will allow for a better hook-set.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a representative of Project Healing Waters- Greater Kansas City.  I was flattered by the notion that they wanted me to a guest fly tyer at one of their annual meetings.  When I say that I was flattered, that is an understatement.  For so many reasons, I was honored by this request.  First, I couldn't believe that a group of retired service members (which are basically the toughest and bravest men I can think of) wanted ME to do something for THEM.  The irony was not lost on me and I immediately said yes when asked.  I didn't even look at my schedule because there was just no way I was going to turn this down.  Second, I was in shock that there were people that thought my flying skills were strong enough to actually help others learn new patterns and techniques.  In all honesty, most of my flies are pretty quick and easy and I didn't think anyone would be interested in my skills.  But I guess there's no accounting for taste.  I mean for Pete's sake, folks are buying my flies through my Etsy store.  Either my flies aren't too bad after all or people feel sorry for me.  Either way is fine.  Anyway, moving on.

During my preparation, the group notified me that they wanted some largemouth and hybrid/striper flies.  I settled on my favorite streamer (The Brave), a mouse fly, and a gurgler.  All of those flies are really versatile and are applicable for both species as well as big trout and smallmouth.  So after gathering some materials and writing up a little description of each, the big day came.

When I arrived, there were already some members of the organization gathering materials, swapping stories, and setting up their tying areas.  They gave me a VERY gracious welcome and introduction and I was grateful for the chance to thank them for their years of service and sacrifice.  After everyone got settled in, I gave a little background on the first fly and then we were off and running.  For the next two and a half hours we joked, laughed, and told more stories than you could have shaken a fly rod at.  We talked about fishing spots that most folks were familiar with (like Bennett Spring) and other spots that were new to me (I guess Drexel, Missouri, has a pretty good public lake).  At the end of the night, I think we all walked away with a little more fishing knowledge than what we started with.  Those are the details and specs of the evening and while those were great, they are only half of the story.

What I experienced that night was enlightening to say the least.  First of all, these folks (mostly gentlemen) were some of the most polite, most respectful, and most enthusiastic fishermen that I have ever had the pleasure to be around.  It was obvious that each and every one of them was as passionate about fly fishing as I am and oh my goodness did that feel good.  To share time and experiences with other folks that get as excited about fishing as me...well it kind of restored my soul a little bit and I didn't even know that it needed restoring.  There is something special about being with people that are like-minded as well as polite and considerate.  The fact that many of these individuals struggle with hidden issues was almost completely lost until the end of the evening when I got a chance to talk privately with a few guys and organization facilitators.  I heard stories of tragedy and pain and loss that snapped me back to the reality of what some of these amazing people are dealing with.  The things that these people have seen and experienced are hard for people outside of the military to even comprehend and they sacrificed a great deal for those same people.  They went through these things so normal, everyday folks like me didn't have to.  Things like PTSD are wounds that cannot be seen with the naked eye but cause just as much pain or sometimes more than any physical ailment.  That isn't to take away from the people that suffered from physical injuries because I saw that as well that evening...it's just different and harder to identify.

It was an honor and a privilege to spend an evening with these amazing service members and the pleasure was all mine.  When they thanked me for being there and gifted me a Project Healing Waters hat, it got me a little emotional and I wanted to thank them in return one hundred fold for what they had done for me.  This was a drop in the bucket compared to how much I wish I could actually thank them and give them in return.  I am very hopeful that I will get to work with this group more in the future and that I can continue to help those that benefit from fly fishing and fly tying.  I would encourage you to do the same in any way you can because isn't it the least we can do for people that sacrificed part of their lives for us.  For that matter, shouldn't we all help out folks that need it!  The world needs more of that!  If you're interested in getting involved or finding a way to give of goods, services, or monetary donations, just click the link below.

Link to Get Involved and Learn More: https://projecthealingwaters.org/

A Small Fly that Catches Lots of Fish...and Big Ones Sometimes Too!

A few weeks ago my girlfriend Wendy and I went fishing at Watkins Mill State Park.  To make a long story short, SHE did really well.  Aside from out-fishing me (I was running the motor in the BACK of the boat by the way) she caught some really nice fish.  She caught bluegill, redear and largemouth.  What was most surprising on this particular day was that the same fly caught all of these fish.  It's nothing groundbreaking and nothing fancy but holy cow is it effective.  Fishing this fly under an indicator is deadly on warm lakes, cool streams, moving water or still flat out catches fish.  I just tied up a whole bunch of these and if you're interested in the big reveal or purchasing some, just click here.  

A Cool Little Gift From a Student

If you don't know, my full time job is being a teacher.  I teach middle school science and sponsor an after school fly fishing club.  I love my job and every day is different.  I get to work some pretty amazing kids as well.  One of these thoughtful kids in particular gave me a pretty cool present the other day.  Her family has a 3D printer and she made me a small, jointed fish.  It was a very thoughtful gift from a very thoughtful young lady.  Below is a picture of said present.

My third thought (after surprise and gratefulness) was "I wonder if I could attach a hook to this thing and make it into a lure.  As I continued to mull this over, I started to think of other practical uses and applications of a 3D printer as it pertains to fly fishing.  That's when it dawned on me.  Fish masks are made of plastic!  As luck would have it, I ran into the young lady this morning at school.  I told her about my idea and she is willing to take on the task of making some fish masks based on the example that I am going to give her.  I will keep you posted on the progress of this little endeavor but I'm thinking about how this might work out.  She can print in different colors, sizes, etc., but I'm getting a little ahead of myself.  I'm excited to see her prototype and whip up some flies with some homemade fish masks.

Three d printed fish

Fly Tying Tips: Dubbing

If you ever thought that you could use some tips on dubbing, then Brian Wise is here to help!

Fly Fishing the Ozarks Channel: https://www.youtube.com/flyfishingtheozarks

Official State Record Brown Trout Press Release

This will be the last post about the state record brown trout that was caught last week, but I'm posting about it one more time because it is a pretty big deal.  This is the official press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation about the record, the angler, and the fish. 

Link: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-confirms-new-state-record-brown-trout-caught-lake-taneycomo

Big bass hopper! A grasshopper fly for large fish.

Boys and girls, grasshoppers aren't going to get much bigger than they are right now.  Nature knows it, you know it, and fish know it.  Here's a tying tutorial for tying big hoppers that most bass would gladly drag down to the dark depths.  Have a great weekend and hopefully you get to hit the water a little bit!

McFly Angler YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC88cGtLpHiHEXhyUGiXFP7g

New State Record Brown Trout!

In case you haven't heard, a new state record Brown Trout was caught yesterday on Lake Taneycomo.  It was also just a little shy of being the new world record!  Below are some links from a variety of different sources.  Readying about this 40 pound monster is pretty amazing on a variety of levels.

From the man himself!
Link: http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/topic/67475-big-fish/?tab=comments#comment-586175

From Lilley's Landing with lots of pictures, video, and details
Link: https://www.facebook.com/LilleysLandingMarinaBranson/

From the Springfield News Leader
Link: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2019/09/04/40-pound-taneycomo-brown-trout-just-shy-new-zealand-world-record/2208277001/?fbclid=IwAR0TZiFqteYJFT0XbJdRRlrjocMlDlK4WdzN3yxuhC0Be4yUHXt8bMIwUI0

The 1,000th Post!

Today is a milestone day!  This post is the 1,000th post to come from this blog that has been running for over four years now!  It's hard to believe that a little website that was intended to replace my fishing journal that I was keeping on paper has become this encompassing!  In honor of the 1,000th post, I thought I would share some data with you.  Please do not take this as some sore of bragging session because none of these stats would be possible without you the reader and others that follow the different social media platforms.  Thank you so much for bringing me so much joy and for giving me the purpose to continue to provide information, tips, and stories!

This data is current at the time the post was published.

This website has been viewed 79,988 times all time and averages about 2,000 views per month.

The YouTube Channel has 488 subscribers.

The Instagram Account has 609 followers.

The Etsy Store/Online Fly Shop has 11 listings currently.

Those numbers still blow me away and the fact that they are all still growing makes me happier than I can put into words.  Thank you again for the support.  It means a lot!

Bass and BLUEGILL on Mouse Flies and Streamers

Wow!  What a weekend!  Wendy and I got to hit a farm pond that is by far our favorite pond to fish together and this was a rare instance where everything aligned perfectly.  The weather was great and the fish were hungry.  We've always caught bass there that average between 14-17 inches and between 1-2 pounds and they were biting as usual.  However, what surprised us were the HUGE bluegill that were biting.  I had never fished for bluegill here before so when I caught the first one on a mouse fly, I decided to target them a little more.  What was also noteworthy was the fact that I don't think we caught a bluegill under 8 inches with many of them being 9 inches long and close to 3/4 of a pound.  These suckers were hitting woolies, mice, zonkers, and small jigs.  It seemed like if you put the fly in the right place, you were going to get bit and you could almost call your shots.  The bass were fun too and we caught them on the same flies.  We threw the mice on 8 weights, the zonkers on 6 weights, and even got into a few with a wooly on a 4 weight!  We appreciated every moment because, as I mentioned earlier, it was the perfect combination of (no) wind, perfect temperatures, and aggressive fish!