Mark Your Calendars

How would you like some fun things to look forward to on this fabulous Monday morning?  Well you're in luck because I have some good stuff to pass along to you!

Sunday, March 6

I have been invited back to Diddy's Kitchen, BBQ, and Brewery to host another event!  We will be tying John Deere jigs and customizing fly boxes.  We don't have a set time for this yet, but I will let you know more specifics when we get closer.  For a small cost (in the $10-$15), you can choose either activity to participate in.  I'm including some pictures to give you a visual of what you can choose to make.

Saturday, April 9

The Tri Lakes Fly Fishers are holding a fly fishing expo at the Benson Convention Center in Clinton, Missouri from 9-4.  Admission is free and this looks like a great time.  I have never attended this show before but it looks like a lot of fun!  Not only will I be attending this year, but I will be an exhibitor.  So if you want to hang out with me (not the best selling point), get some casting instruction, enter to win fishing gear and trips, and see some amazing fly tyers then I would love to see you there.  There will also be guest speakers.  Bill Butts and Walt Fulps can both be found on social media and are, in my opinion, Missouri-famous anglers.  I'm excited to meet them in person and hear what they have to say about fishing in Missouri.

The aforementioned John Deere.

The blank box that will be given out.

First, you will select and image to transfer to the box.  I will have plenty of and a variety of images on hand.

I will also have precut foam to line your box with.

Finally, you will use a wood burning tool to make the image both permanent and beautiful!

I won't have stain available (don't want to have any accidents and the smell might not drive food sales for Diddy's), but doing that at home would be easy.

An Amazing Gift From a Good Friend

Good friends are what make life better.  I don't know where I would be in this world without my friends.  Friends help us when we need it.  They teach us new things.  They just make life better.

It can be tough to make friends though.  Friends should share common values and interests or you don't have enough in common to do together or talk about.  On the other hand, if someone is too much like yourself, that could drive you crazy.  Friends compliment who you currently are but also help you grow.

Take my buddy Corey.  We have a lot in common.  We care about other people.  We like to take ideas in our heads and watch them come to life with our skills.  We are also givers.  We like to make people happy and sometimes generous gifts make that happen.  When Corey gave me a leather can koozie, it reminded me why we are friends.

I didn't ask him to make this.  He just knew that he wanted to make something that would make me happy and knew he could use his skills to do just that.  I was blown away by his kindness as well as thoughtfulness and I am still in awe of his skills.  Like I said, friends make our lives better.  All we can do is try to return the favor!

New YouTube Video- How to Tie a Jig

Link: https://youtu.be/uQc1bv-oxD0

About a week ago, I published a YouTube video about how to tie a jig.  I'll be honest, it's not my best work.  The footage is a little blurry at times and the transitions could have been a little better.  However, this video highlights all of the important parts of tying a jig.  These concepts can be applied to larger or smaller jigs and of course the colors can be varied as well.  Feel free to also incorporate some hackle, a little flash in the tail, or even a collar.  The possibilities are endless!  Good luck with all of your creations and I hope this video helps!

Link: https://youtu.be/uQc1bv-oxD0

Mousing for Trout

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/fish/fly/4-misconceptions-about-mousing-for-trout

Mousing for trout sounds awesome!  It is also something that I have never done before.  I've read about it, seen the pictures, and watched the videos.  What is keeping me from actually doing it, is twofold.  One, I live over 100 miles from trout water.  Two, I feel like you need to REALLY know a river well to fish it at night.  While I LOVE Lake Taneycomo, I just don't know it like the back of my hand yet.  One day, I'm going to do it and hopefully land a trout on a mouse.

Part of the allure of catching trout on mouse flies, to me, is to see a trout acting aggressively.  The experience of catching a trout that wanted to swim down a mouse fly and inhale it sounds exhilarating.  This is mostly due to the fact that most of the life of a trout is dedicated to consuming small, unassuming aquatic insects.  To observe a seemingly docile fish flip a switch and go into Shark Week mode sounds like an encounter that would be pretty memorable.

If you have done some mousing for trout or are thinking about it, Joe Cermele (one of my favorite writers and social media personalities) is here with some info to help.  I feel like it is always good to have more than enough information rather than not enough information before you try something new so I help this is beneficial.

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/fish/fly/4-misconceptions-about-mousing-for-trout

T-Shirts are Available on the Etsy Store

Long Sleeve T-Shirt: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1166603859/show-me-fly-guy-long-sleeve-t-shirt

Short Sleeve T-Shirt: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1166598987/show-me-fly-guy-short-sleeve-t-shirt

There has been an overwhelming response to the new shirts that have come in and they are now available at the online store.  I sold a few at the jig tying event at Diddy's but you can find what is left in stock by clicking here or on the links above and below.  Thank you for your support in advance and I don't just mean folks that buy a shirt.  Thank you for visiting this blog, for the social media follows, and yes, for any purchases I can send your way!

Long Sleeve T-Shirt: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1166603859/show-me-fly-guy-long-sleeve-t-shirt

Short Sleeve T-Shirt: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1166598987/show-me-fly-guy-short-sleeve-t-shirt

A Lot of Fun at Diddy’s!

Wow!  I am still in a little shock in regards to how many people showed up and how much fun we had yesterday at Diddy's Kitchen, BBQ, and Brewery in Kearney, Missouri.  I'm not sure how many people were actually there but I think it was in the 20-30 range.  Everyone took home a few jigs, shared some stories, and learned a new skill in the process.  If you attended, I would love to hear your feedback!  What went well, what would you like to see different, and/or what would you like to do next?  Thank you again to Diddy's for allowing me to use their space, thank you to everyone that came out, and thank you to everyone for their support!  I'm excited to do something like this again!

Also, I want to especially thank my buddy Corey, my stepson Collin, and my wife Wendy for all of their help.  I could not have pulled this off without you!  Because of you, this was a successful event and I cannot express my appreciation enough!

New T-Shirts Are In!!!!

That's right!  New t-shirts have arrived and they look pretty darn good in my opinion!  As you can see, they have the Show Me Fly Guy logo on the front and a quote on the back.  The quote comes was inspired by one of my favorite poems.  In Testament of a Fisherman by Robert Traver, the poet states, "Because in the woods I can find solitude without loneliness."  I changed a couple of words but the point is the same.  

These shirts will be available for purchase at the jig tying event this Sunday at Diddy's Kitchen, BBQ and Brewery from 2-4 in Kearney, Missouri.  See the image below for more details or click here for yesterday's post.  I am planning on placing shirts that didn't sell at the event in my Etsy store next week in case you are interested.  I owe a huge thanks to my wife, Wendy, for helping out with the design and Happy Times T-Shirts for making a product that I am extremely proud of.  As always, thank you for all of the support.

Tying Jigs, Brews, and BBQ

 Tying Jigs, Brews, and BBQ

Diddy's Kitchen, BBQ, and Brewery in Kearney, Missouri

Sunday, January 23

Presented by Tyler Dykes aka The Show Me Fly Guy

What: Tying 1/32 ounce jigs!  You will be tying 1-3 flies that will become fish catching machines!

Who: Anyone!  Literally, anyone!

When: 2-3 groups will receive instruction with each group working for 40-60 minutes.

Why: Fishing is fun!  Catching fish on a lure that you created is funner…or more fun…it’s awesome!

If you have ever fish, chances are, you have used a jig.  Jigs can catch almost any species of fish in Missouri from bass to carp to trout to crappie.  Jigs can be fished on fly rods and spinning rods in a variety of colors and sizes.  Today, you will learn to attach yarn and feathers to hooks with thread which will also put fish on the end of your line.

Cost: $10 per person either cash or credit card.

How: All tools, materials, and hooks will be provided.  You will take home whatever you create.  You will create up to 3 jigs.  You can either follow along with step-by-step instruction or learn at your own pace by following along with a prepared YouTube video. 

Who: My name is Tyler Dykes and I have fished since I can remember.  I have been tying jigs and flies for almost 20 years.  I also sponsor an after school middle school fly fishing club that has helped young people tie flies for 10 years.  Fishing is my passion and I love to share it with others.  It would be my pleasure to help you learn something new and to find something that might make your fishing experience more memorable.  Like the hokey pokey, that’s what it’s all about!

Selecting Feathers from a Hen Pheasant & Preparing Pheasant 3 Ways

Last week, I posted about a pheasant hunt that I went on with some friends.  To view that post, just click here.  To make a long story short, we shared some laughs, shot some birds, and made some good memories.  After the hunt, the task of what to do next presented itself.  If you've ever been on a successful hunt, you know what I am referring to.  If you haven't ever been on a hunt that ended in a harvest, let me explain.  After an animal is harvested, a hunter is charged with the duty of selecting the parts of the animal that will be consumed.  When I harvest an animal, I also try to utilize other parts of the animal if possible.  It seemed apropos to take some feathers to use for fly tying. 

In terms of the feathers, there was not a lot of variety with these particular birds.  Since these pheasants were hens, they were pretty drab and uniform in color.  My options were rigid wing feathers and fluffier body feathers.  I took a few of each although I'm not exactly sure how I am going to use them just yet.  I think the fluffier stuff would make good fins on a sculpin fly.

As for the meat, I wanted to prepare a few birds in a variety of ways.  I salted and peppered a couple of breasts and threw them on the grill.  I did this because I wanted to experience what they really tasted like with just a little seasoning.  I overcooked these and they ended up a little dry.  However, I dipped them in a little ranch and that helped.  I also pan fried the legs and thighs.  I didn't cook these all the way through and some ended up undercooked.  However, what I ate was really good.  Then I decided to BBQ a couple of breasts.  I don't know if this is common practice with upland bird hunters, but I'm from Kansas City and we BBQ everything.  Not surprisingly, this was my favorite.  

If I had this to do over again, I would remove the breast meat from the bone to cook them.  I think leaving them on the bone lead to them cooking unevenly and I don't want to do that again.  I would also check the internal temperature of the meat when I had them in the fryer.  As for the taste, yes, the texture was similar to chicken or turkey.  They should be because they are closely related.  However, the grilled and BBQ pheasant that I ate had a little tang to it.  It wasn't a "gamey" or "wild" tang to it, but there was a little extra flavor present which helped to separate it from chicken and turkey.  I hope my experiences help you if you go on a hunt yourself.  As usual, feel free to leave a comment or email me with any questions or ideas.

Under the Weather

Sorry for the lack of content yesterday and today.  I'm feeling under the weather (pretty sure it isn't COVID) but I'm on the rebound.  There will be more fishy stuff coming out tomorrow, I promise.  I just didn't want two days to go by without any info.  Please come back with a better post tomorrow, but for now, I'm going to eat an orange and take a nap.

A Banner for Some Upcoming Events

With a couple of events coming up, it feel appropriate to have a banner made to help promote the brand as well as some of my buddies.  I will be at Diddy's Kitchen, BBQ and Brewery next weekend to help folks tie crappie jigs.  I will also be at the Tri-Lakes Fly Fishing Expo on April 9 at the Benson Convention Center in Clinton, Missouri on April 9.  I cannot thank Liddle Sports and Apparel in Lee's Summit for the great work they did to make the banner look amazing!  Besides hopefully seeing you at those events, please consider supporting the businesses that my good buddies operate.  They are good folks that I cannot thank enough for their support.

Black Fly Creations- https://www.facebook.com/diddyskitchenbbqandbrewery/

Rainbow Fly Shop- https://www.kcflyshop.com/

J & S Pizza- https://www.jspizzaliberty.com/

 

My Furry Fishing Buddy is 1 Year Old!

This is Waylon and he is my favorite furry fishing buddy.  He just turned one year old yesterday and we had a little party for him last night (all credit goes to Wendy on this by the way).  I hadn't owned a dog since I was in middle school and never really planned on owning one.  However, a little less than a year ago, we were asked to take Waylon.  Our friends had bred two German Shorthaired Pointers and wanted Waylon to go to a good home.  Neither Wendy or I were sure about taking him but we ultimately decided to become dog owners.  Almost one year later, I can't imagine life without him.  Sure he's chewed some things up and I have to scoop dog droppings up from time to time.  And he wakes up to go potty in the middle of the night on top of the fact that we can't leave him alone for days at a time.  However, he makes everyone in the family smile, makes good times even more fun, and I love the time I get to spend with him on the water or in the field.  He's a good boy!