An Early Wedding Gift

A package came in the mail the other day from Wendy's dad and it turned out to be an early wedding gift.  We are getting married in a couple of weeks so a gift wasn't a complete surprise, but the gift itself was an absolute shocker!  Wendy and I are currently deciding where to hang this beauty, but I will be sure to publish a follow up post when we do.  If you're reading this Marcus, thank you so much for your generosity and thoughtfulness.  This is one of the coolest fishing decorations that I have ever seen and it will make Wendy and I smile every time we look at this amazing piece of craftsmanship!

The MeatEater: Nymphing for Trout

Nymphing.  It's not flashy.  It isn't as exciting as watching a trout take a fly or watching a brown chase down a streamer.  It does work however and works really well.  If you are new to nymphing or just need to tune up your skills, check out this article from The MeatEater.

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/fish/fly/how-to-nymph-for-trout

The Standard Putting in Work in Idaho

 

My buddy Jordan sent me some pictures recently of some trout that he has been catching near his home in Idaho.  While he is new to fly fishing, he is picking things up really quickly.  He has been catching rainbow trout and a brown trout on a fly called The Standard.  This is a 1/80 ounce jig that when fished under an indicator is a really productive fly.  While I have caught carp, largemouth, bluegill, trout, and catfish on this fly here in Missouri, it was pretty to see it work out west.  Feel free to check this fly out at the Etsy store to get a better look.  Feel free to use it as a guide to tie your own or place an order.  I would be happy to send you some of your own to experiment with!

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/768151207/the-standard-trout-fly-bluegill-fly?ref=shop_home_active_5

Stripping Bucket

I didn't get to fish a whole lot over the weekend but I did manage to hit up a pond on Friday night.  I was excited to try out a new idea for fly line management which is nothing more than a five gallon bucket.  I have always had problems with fly line getting snagged on my shoes and vegetation but with the addition of my dog. Waylon, as a fishing partner...well, it just means that there are more things for the line to get wrapped around.  My observation has been that if fly line can get caught on something, it will.  I was hopeful that my bucket would solve the problem.

I am excited to announce that it really did the trick.  It made life so much easier and allowed me to cast and strip line with minimal frustrations.  I learned that not only does the line fall into the bucket easily, but wet fly line wants to stick to the sides of the bucket!  Since water has some adhesive properties (yes, that sounds like a nerdy science teacher because I am one), it clings to the bucket which draws even more line to do the same thing.  In other words, water is sticky and this was helpful.  

The only drawback was that the bucket fell over a few times which was a bit of a pain.  Waylon would knock it over at times.  If the bucket was on uneven grout, it was also apt to tip.  If the bucket has a little weight at the bottom (water maybe?) then this problem could easily be solved.  With that being said, this might be the best $5 that I have even spend on fly fishing equipment!

License Plate Fish Silhouette Update

So I have started working on my license plate fish silhouette and things are coming along slowly.  If you would like to read the previous post, just click here.  I decided to mock the project up by taping some plates to a piece of plywood.  I then took the board to school and projected the image that I want onto the plates.  I chose a bass because I have some brown trout and rainbow trout already hanging on the wall.  I also catch more bass per year than any other species too.  

Next, I really had to play around with the image.  I plan on bolting the plates to the board so I had to work around the holes in the plates.  I also didn't want to waste any plates by just using a small piece of one so that made things trickier as well.  I finally ended up with something that I was happy with and removed the plates from the board.  I then traced out the image onto the wood.  I have included images of each step in case you want to complete a similar project or just need a visual example.

My next steps will include cutting out the wooden silhouette, attaching the plates, and then cutting them just a little bigger than the board so that I can hammer the plates around the edges.  My hope it is give it a wrapped appearance, but we will see how that turns out!  Stay tuned for more posts.

A "Big" Fish is a Relative Term

Earlier this week I was able to fish an HOA pond near my house that I have frequented for the last couple of years.  It can be good in the spring and fall but it can get slow in the summer.  It appears that the action is picking up as fall is starting to creep in.  I ended up catching about 6 bass and one crappie.  The largest bass was about a pound and the crappie pushed 12 inches.  For this lake, those aren't bad fish.  That got me thinking about how using the term "big fish" is a relative term.

One of the reasons that my mind went to this topic was due to a conversation that I had with a couple students earlier in the day.  I overheard two young men arguing and before I could hear what was going on, I overheard one of the young men say, "Well let's ask Mr. Dykes!  Mr. Dykes, is a 20 pound fish big?"  My response was, "Well, that depends.  A 20 pound flathead catfish on the Missouri River isn't big but a 20 pound largemouth is close to world record status."  After thinking about it a little more, I realized that an 18 inch rainbow at a Missouri trout park is big, but it isn't considered big on Lake Taneycomo.  I informed them that big is a relative term and it is relative to the species and body of water.  I found it apropos that I caught, what I would call, a nice bass and crappie for the lake that I was on. 

This principle is important to keep in mind when weighing the amount of success you have on the water.  It feels safe to say that most anglers reflect on their time on the water and somehow judge their level of success.  So when it comes to whether a specific fish could be classified as "big," don't forget that term is relative and is flexible.  That just might be the difference between making a good day feel like a great day!

My Buddy Corey's New Boat

My buddy Corey just got a brand new boat and my goodness is it a beauty.  Lowe really produced a quality watercraft here and I'll be honest, this is the most beautiful Lowe I have ever seen.  It has plenty or room and space for add-on's and extras.  From the graphics on the side to the seats, it is thoughtful quality that was worth the wait.  It took a couple of months for Corey to get it from the factory because so many things are in short supply because of the pandemic.  There is also the fact that more people are spending time on the water and buying boats.  Corey has wanted something like this for years and his reasons are very thoughtful.

First, Corey wants to be able to spend time on the water with friends and family.  He wants to take kids tubing as well as friends fishing.  One could say that it is a vessel for sharing.  Pun intended.  He also told me that while he is paying the bill for the boat, he wants others to enjoy it as much as he will.  Second, Corey wanted a tool that could perform multiple functions.  He wants to catfish, crappie fish, and yes, even fly fish out of the boat...which brings me to a final point.  Yes, you can fly fish out of a boat.  This is one of the most commonly asked questions that I received in regards to fly fishing and yes, you can absolutely do that!  You might not look like a guy wading in a Rocky Mountain trout stream, but you can pull it off.  My only caution to those attempting to fly fish out of a boat like this is be prepared for your fly line to catch on EVERYTHING because it will!

You will definitely be reading more about Corey's boat in the future.  I am extremely happy for him and glad that he has something that he was wanted for a long time.  The fact that he wants to share it with others so badly only makes him more deserving of such a fine piece of engineering.  

That's a BIG Carp!

My buddy Bruce Storts (and fellow Frontline Fly Fishing member) caught a monster carp recently and the stats are about as impressive as the fish itself.  He caught this sucker on a four weight fly rod and on four pout tippet!  The fish weighed a whopping 40 pounds as well!  Congratulations Bruce on an incredible fish and amazing memory!

On a separate note, this catch motivated me to create a photo gallery for the Frontline Fly Fishing website.  Not everyone is on Facebook and Instagram so I wanted to create a location to share memorable catches.  Feel free to check out the links below to see the photo gallery or check out other information on the Frontline Fly Fishing website as well.

Links: 

https://www.frontlineflyfishing.org/

https://www.frontlineflyfishing.org/photo-gallery

Hit Up Fall Festivals for Stickers!

While I didn't get a chance to hit the water this weekend, I struck sticker gold at the Jesse James Festival in my hometown of Kearney, Missouri.  If you like slapping stickers on your fly fishing gear, don't forget that there are plenty of free stickers to be found at the booths and tents that are set up to promote different groups/organizations.  It is also an honor to display my support of the armed services like the United States Marines and Missouri National Guard.  So stop by a booth, thank some men in uniform for their service, and grab a sticker for your cooler/fridge/vehicle along the way!

 

Upcoming Holland Trout Derby at Bennett Spring State Park

The Holland Trout Derby at Bennett Spring State Park is coming up on October 9 and 10.  If you have never heard of this event, it is a benefit for The American Cancer Society.  Participants can donate any amount they like and will attempt to catch tagged fish that have been stocked in the stream.  Anglers then turn their tags in at the park store.  On Sunday (usually around noon) near the restaurant, names are drawn at random to win prizes such as spinning rods, fly rods, vests, fly line, clothing, and other fishing-related items.  This is an event that is A LOT of fun and every fish you catch is made a little more exciting because of the derby.  I have caught a few tagged fish over the years and have friends that have done the same as well.  I actually won a fly rod one time and that rod has become my oldest son's first rod.  We appropriately named it "Lucky".  Also, this isn't something that is publicized, but I think they actually start putting tagged fish in the water on the Friday before the derby.  Things might have changed for this year, but consider that an inside tip that you can attempt to use to your advantage if you would like.  For official information though, feel free to click on the link below.

Link: http://www.bennettspringstatepark.org/bennettspring/event.jsp?id=138

One Weird Fishing Lure!

As I mentioned in Monday's post, Wendy and I made it down to the Lake of the Ozarks last weekend.  If there is one thing that I can safely say about the Lake of the Ozarks, it is that you will see the unexpected down there.  In two days, I saw two pirate ships, million dollar boats, and a mansion that had three rock climbing walls in the backyard.  I also so a pretty strange fishing lure.  The place where we rented a pontoon was selling them at the cash register and they caught by eye.  I noticed that the lure was a clear, topwater lure.  I also noticed that it was called The Lightning Bug.

My first assumption was that this little devil was battery powered and gave off a glow.  While I'm not in the market for such a thing, I still decided to take a closer look.  I found out that my preconceived notion was wrong.

Nope, no batteries needed.  However, you are going to need a few fireflies to stuff down into the lure.  I'm thinking about 10 would do it, but then again, I'm not a Lightning Bug lure expert.  Oh the things you see at the Lake of the Ozarks.  

Tying Flies with Frontline Fly Fishing

Last night I had the absolute pleasure to lead a fly tying presentation for Frontline Fly Fishing.  These are good folks that have served their country and communities and unfortunately carry around a burden as a result.  However, fly fishing and fly tying can offer a respite from their memories.  We tied Bennett's Lunch Money together and it was pretty amazing to watch them learn a new fly pattern.  If you or someone you know in the Kansas City area would benefit from experiences such as last night's as well as some time on the water with like-minded folks, please click on the link below and read a little bit more about the organization.  It is full of kind and thoughtful people that are willing to help frontline workers to the best of their abilities.  Speaking of thoughtful, at the end of the night they presented me with a fly ox that has their logo on the front of the box.  I could not be more grateful and this box will be put into use immediately!

Link: https://www.frontlineflyfishing.org/

Fishing at the Lake of the Ozarks

Last weekend, Wendy, myself, and some of our good friends went down to the Lake of the Ozarks for a gathering to celebrate our upcoming nuptials.  Since there was a very large lake located directly out of the back door of where we stayed, I felt inclined to bring a few rods along.  Wendy and I caught some bluegill on fly rods and she managed a small channel cat as well.  I was also able to land a small largemouth and white bass as well.  It was a fun weekend with friends and lots of laughter with a few fish sprinkled in there as well.  The bluegill were caught on small jigs under indicators and the others were caught on medium running crankbaits in a sexy shad color combo.  

DOA

If you like good looking, complex flies that require a lot of skill and materials, this is right up your alley!  I don't way that in a snarky or sarcastic way either!  This is a great looking fly that could be a challenge to tie but I think the end-product would be worth it.  If you're going to take this monster on, I would suggest slowing the video down or watching it in small sections and definitely tying along with the video.  Taking your time and going slow would also be to your benefit.  It looks a little intimidating but that's how you learn and grow!  If you end up giving this fly a try, be sure to post it to social media and tag @showmeflyguy and @flyfishingtheozarks.  I would love to see what you come up with and it would be even better to see what you catch with the fly!

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

I’m Going to Make a License Plate Fish Silhouette!

I want to make one of these!  I have seen some variations types of license plate fish on social media and at fly shops, and I have decided that I am going to try to make my own.  Of course, with my creation I am planning on going a slightly different route with a heavy...let's just say...Missouri influence.  What I am struggling with is the methods that I will employ to make my creation.

I did what many logical thinkers would do in a situation like this where I need a plan for something and I don't know where to start.  I went to YouTube.  This is what I found. 

Alley Picked YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnS-JZR34mTY4MrHTKgJFBw

That was pretty darn helpful and I am definitely going to use some of the ideas.  However, I am leaning towards using a digital projector to shoot the image onto the wood and license plates.  This way, I can make my fish any species or size that I want.  Another obstacle that I have is that I have NEVER worked with metal before.  Cutting, filing, and potentially shaping metal is all foreign to me.  I ended up buying some metal snips that I am hoping can cut through a license plate.  I'm also thinking about having the wood cut out behind the license plates slightly smaller so it cannot be seen which will hopefully make the license plates stand out more.  I will post again in the coming weeks and share how things went....for the better or worse!

Stripping Buckets

 

Most problems can be solved by visiting a home improvement store!  Sometimes, you can find solutions to problems that you didn't even know you needed to solve!  For example, I have recently been fighting a battle with managing loose fly line in my small boat.  It gets wrapped around everything from shoes to paddles and with Waylon joining me on most outings, it is inevitable that he is going to get tangled in it too.  Well enter a couple of $5 Lower's buckets to solve the problem.  I think the small bucket will work well to strip line into while I am seated and the larger bucket will work well for when I am standing.  I think I can also place it on my seat and strip line into it depending on the angles of where I am casting and where other obstacles are in the boat.  

Please do not take this as an original idea.  I saw some guy using a 5 gallon bucket on Instagram the other day and stripping fly line into it.  I just borrowed the idea.  However, I have to say that the addition of some pretty sweet stickers have changed these buckets from just being buckets into fly fishing equipment.  I also think the buckets will help in other capacities as well.  Trash, tackle, and gear can easily fit into them and will allow for easy transport from my truck to the boat.  Also, the smaller bucket fits into the bigger one which will take up less space.  I will let you know how they work in the coming weeks, but I am optimistic that these will be useful beyond the task of just gathering excess fly line.

Farm Pond Fishing with the Boys

Following Saturday night's excursion to Watkin's Mill, I took the boys and Waylon up to a family friend's pond on Sunday.  This is a beautiful place that I have had the pleasure to visit for over a decade now and it is a pleasure to share it with those that I love.  The boys had as much fun playing in the water as Waylon and we caught a few fish as well.  The fishing was a little slower than it usually is, but we still caught a few.  They were all caught on pumpkin and chartreuse soft plastic worms.  Cody even caught his second fish of his life without any help.  The funny thing was, his first fish that he caught independently came from the same lake, on the same lure, along the same shore a year ago.  I threw some woolies and poppers but didn't have any takers.  I ended up boating about 6 bass but watching my dog and sons enjoy the outdoors was the real highlight of the day!