One CHEAP Fly Fishing Outfit- Conclusion & Video

Last week, I posted about a cheap fly rod combo that I bought last summer.  If you feel the need to get caught up and read some amazing content, just click here.  If not, let me sum things up.  Last summer I bought a fly fishing outfit for $40.  That included a rod, a reel, a case, backing, line, a leader, a fly box, flies, and a reel case.  In this post however, we actually put the rod to work and see how it performs.  The testing grounds were at Roaring River State Park and thankfully the rainbow trout were cooperative.  This gave me the ability to see how the cast as well as how it handled fish.  For your viewing pleasure, I present to you the CHEAP Fly Rod video.  All likes and subscriptions are appreciated!

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

Fly Tying Tips: Articulating Streamers

This is a great, in-depth, and thoughtful video that really looks at different methods of attaching one hook to another in an articulated streamer.  If you don't learn something from this video, then you are a White River guide or you had the sound turned off!

Fly Fishing the Ozarks YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9Ra827nueyjCl3h7aLwvA

Fly Fishing and Spawning Trout

While I don't disagree with anything Ben says in this video, it does make me think about how these ethical issues apply to Missouri's unique geography.  Obviously, if we are talking about Crane Creek or other streams where trout can naturally reproduce, you should probably leave spawners alone.  But what about trout parks, stocked streams, or places that trout will attempt to spawn but the eggs won't take for a variety of reasons.  Does it do any harm to catch spawners that won't successfully spawn?  And that is not a snarky, loaded, or sarcastic question.  It's one I legitimately don't know the answer to.  Feel free to leave a comment below if you have a feeling one way or the other.

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

Simple Little Fly

Who doesn't love simple little fly that will probably be a fish catching machine on a day where nothing else works.  For your viewing pleasure, and tying consideration, I present to you The Glitter Bug.

Andrew Herkes Fly Fishing YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgt4S7dn85lRfXhUhuT9w-A

Christmas Tree Ornaments

With Christmas looming on the horizon, I thought I would remind everyone that I sell a pretty little Christmas tree ornament at my Etsy store.  Inside a glass globe, there is a suspended green and red wooly bugger.  To top things off, the small wire hook has been replaced with an actual fishing hook.  If you would like, I can suspend a different fly, different color combinations, or bump the size of the globe up.  The version that is pictured is about 2 inches across with the larger version being about 3 inches.  Fishermen are hard to buy for and this might make the perfect gift for a person that's as picky as a four pound rainbow trout on a hot and sunny day!  Feel free to visit my store or email me directly at showmeflyguy@gmail.com with an order or with questions.

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

One CHEAP Fly Fishing Outfit- Part 1

Over the summer, I kind of hit the jackpot!  My buddy Cris, of Carpenter Bros. Fly Rods, called me one day and told me that he found an eight foot, four inch, three weight fly rod on sale at Cargo Largo for $40.  He said that it had just come in and was priced at $50 (which is still cheap) but there was a sale going on in sporting goods that dropped the price even more.

I just happened to be on the road and headed that direction anyway so I thought a little pit stop couldn't hurt.  A little further down the road, Cris called me again.  This time he said it wasn't a fly rod for $40.  Instead, he said it was a rod, reel, fly line, leader, backing, a case, a reel cover, a fly box, and a box of flies for $40!  My idea of kicking the tires on a three weight quickly changed to taking some liberties with the speed limit and buying one before they ran out!

Thankfully, I got there in time and grabbed me one before they ran out.  Spoiler alert: they ran out later that day because word got around so fast.  So here's what I got (pictures below).  Part two, which I'm working on as well as an accompanying YouTube video, will come out soon.  For now, here's what I got that fateful day for $40.  Money well spent!

3 D Printed Fish-Mask Update

Disclaimer: I am not selling face mask knock offs and I am not going to profit from this post nor the information that I am giving you.  This post is simply offering a homemade alternative to a product that has been trademarked by Flymen Fishing Company.  I have bought numerous products from this company and to my knowledge, it is a reputable company and in no way am I discouraging you from conducting business with the company.  In other words, I'm trying to not draw the ire of Flymen Fishing Company with this post.  

Awhile back I posted about how I challenged a student of mine with a 3 D printer to try and make some face mask replicas.  To see the post, just click here.  If you don't know what a face mask is, it is an accessory that is a replacement for epoxy resins that are used to complete the head of a fly while allowing the user to attach eyes.  It is also nearly weightless.  This is an advantage if you are tying with synthetic fibers or trying to keep your fly from sinking head first or you're just trying to keep the weight consistent throughout the fly.  It also gives the fly a nice, consistent, and finished look.  Here are a couple of flies that I have used face masks on before.

Face masks are part of the Fish Skull line from Flymen Fishing Company.  This particular size of mask comes with 8 per package and has a price tag of $5.50.  If you do the math, you realize that each face mask costs $0.69.  Opinions will differ here on whether that is a cost effective approach to the flies you are tying.  Some folks won't care because they like the way the finished product looks.  Others will see it as cleaner and less cumbersome than the epoxy alternative.  Others will see it as overpriced and not worth the cost.  However, if you're alright with sacrificing some quality and have the means to make your own, you can make them for less than a nickle.  This is what my student came up with.  It's the white one.  She can't 3 D print in clear.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't spot on and you sacrifice the clear appearance.  It also has some burrs.  However, I will be whipping up some flies with these and seeing how they look.  Also, it looks like this homemade version could be painted or even colored with a sharpie if so desired.  Is it the same?  Obviously not.  Is it an alternative that has its pros and cons.  You bet!  Is it worth the time and materials to make your own?  Only you can be the judge of that!

It's Back! The Rivalry is BACK!

No, this does not have anything to do with fly fishing, but it has everything to do with the great state of Missouri!  It's time to start sharpening some tiger claws and get ready to go hunting Jayhawks starting December 12, 2020! 

Link to Fox 4 Kansas City: https://fox4kc.com/2019/10/21/mu-and-ku-renew-border-showdown-rivalry-for-mens-basketball-starting-in-2020/

Boat Platform

By now, most of you have seen the small two-man boat that I fish out of.  Recently, I made a little upgrade to the boat by adding a small platform to stand on.  It gets me higher above the water as well as more surface area to stand on.  It's really stable and a great place to display my growing sticker collection.

Pro Staff Idea- Part 1

Recently I had an idea.  An epiphany really.  But before we get to that, we need to delve into the idea of what a Pro Staff is.  

To be honest, I don't know the specifics of what is required to be a Pro Staffer.  It probably varies from company to company.  I know big fly fishing companies have what is called a Pro Staff.  I know these folks are pretty knowledgeable about the products of the company.  I've seen guys that promote the idea that they are on the Pro Staff for Echo, or Orvvis, or Rio.  I'm not sure if these folks get paid, get discounts, or what their real benefit is for that matter.  I also know that I have tried to become one.  It didn't work.  I also know that there are many Pro Staffers (not all, not judging, and not even being negative about this) that like to promote the idea that they are Pro Staffers.  Which makes sense.  That's probably part of the job.  

So even if I don't know what being a Pro Staffer is, it sounds like a pretty cool title.  With that in mind, I am starting a Pro Staff!  Here's where MY Pro Staff is going to be different.  Rather than being exclusive and exclusionary, THIS Pro Staff is going to inclusionary and everyone is welcome to join!  That's right!  EVERYONE!  Do you like to fish?  You're in!  Do you like tying flies?  Well tie the name Pro Staff to the end of your name.  Are you a novice at fly fishing?  Not anymore buddy, you're a Pro Staffer!

Now, I'm still working on the benefits and I'll be honest, aside from a SWEET title, I'm working on business cards and stickers.  Be on the lookout for future posts and how you can be a Show Me Fly Guy Pro Staff member.  More information to come, I promise!

Fly Tying: Gunnar Brammer's Con Man

Part articulated tail, park zonker, part EP fibers...and all streamer!

Fly Fishing the Ozarks YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9Ra827nueyjCl3h7aLwvA

Flashy Bunny Strip- Part 1

Sometimes in life, it doesn't matter what you know but who you know.  With that in mind, it is a good thing that I know Matt, the owner of Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri.  I was in his store the other day and he knows my affinity for all things rabbit strip related.  He tossed me a sample pack of the new Bling Rabbit Strips from Hareline and said "You wanna blog about that?"  

Obviously, the first thing that caught my eye was the strip of reflective material that is at the bottom of the rabbit strip.  Now anyone that knows me is well aware that I like to fish rabbit strip zonkers, so while this product might only have one application (the tail of a fly), it seems like a pretty interesting application.  In other words, it's a one trick pony but that trick is pretty good.  The second thing I noticed is that the strip is pretty rigid.  It doesn't have the flexibility of a normal rabbit strip and that could be a good thing or a bad thing.  The positive is that with this stiffness might keep the strip from fouling around the bend of the hook.  The negative is that it might take away from the action/motion of the strip.  The streamers that I tie that have rabbit strip tails have a very natural, side-to-side motion in the water and that's exactly why I use them.  If this strip adds flash but has no action, I'm not sure if it is worth the sacrifice.  

I plan on tying up a few of these really soon, and testing them out over the next couple of weeks.  I'll let you know how they work...for the better or worse!

Last Weekend at Bennett Spring

Last weekend was the annual Holland Fishing Derby at Bennett Spring and while my girlfriend and I didn't catch any tagged fish, we did get into some really nice sized ones!  I won't bore you with the details but essentially if you were fishing something white and near the banks, you were going to get bites.  By no means am I saying that was ALL that worked, but that's what worked for us.  I'll stop typing now and let the pictures speak for themselves.