Fly Fishing the North Platte in Wyoming with Cowboy Drifters- The Final Day

Cowboy Drifters: https://wyocowboydrifters.com/

Now it would stand to reason that fishing the same stretch of water, with the same guide, and the same flies would yield similar results.  However, this is fishing that we are talking about.  Nothing is predictable and nothing stays one way for very long!  

Wendy (the wife) and I fished with Dane (the same guide as the previous day) and Mark (Wendy's step dad) fished with Colt (a guide from Cowboy Drifters Outfitters).  We put the boats in near Alcova, Wyoning, and floated all the way to the Cowboy Drifters fly shop/office.  It was the same float as the day before which was on the Grey Reef Section of the North Platte River.  We had nymphed all day on day 1 and that was the plan for day 2.  Tricos, yellow sallies, RS2's, and PMD's were tied onto our lines.  We ran 2 and 3 fly rigs under an indicator at all times with fish hitting different flies in different locations at different times of day.  

Right after we started our drift, Wendy got a bite on her first cast but the fist got off before it could reach the boat.  The same thing happened minutes later.  Unfortunately, that was going to be a trend for Wendy throughout the morning.  The same thing had happened to me on the previous afternoon so I could relate.  It's a rough feeling.  When you're either not getting bites, or losing fish, or if the worst happens and you're doing both, it can really knock down your confidence and make you feel snake bit.  As so often happens though, things turned around for her in the afternoon.  She boated one fish before lunch and then 6 after lunch.  

On the other side of the boat, I came out on fire.  I landed five fish before lunch and only lost one of them.  Most of the fish I landed were in the 18 inch range and were HEALTHY!  Every single one of them pulled like a team of mules.  Jumps and aerial acrobatics were common as well as pulling drag.  This was a heck of a confidence boost and I was in a groove.  

Close to lunchtime, we decided to go down a side channel and then eat lunch near an island.  There was a shallow area with riffles that dumped into a deeper, slower area.  On my second cast into the shallows, my flies made their decent into the depths.  One of them got absolutely trucked by a fish.  When I state that it hit the nymph like a dump druck doing 90 down the interstate, I mean it.  The fish came completely out of the water with it in his mouth before I could even set the hook.  If truth be told, it probably set the hook on itself.  Over the next 5 minutes or so, the fight raged!  He got into moss, got into grass, went under the boat, tried to sit in deep water.  At every turn I thought I was going to lose this fish and if it hadn't been for Dane maneuvering the boat with deftness and precision, I would have lost the fish.  I'll be honest, I didn't know how big the fish really was...until Dane got it in the net. 

You can see the fish at the top of this post.  It was a legit 20 inch fish and thick!  It wasn't one of those long, skinny, mountain stream fish.  This thing was a tank with a Lamborghini motor!  This was the fish that I will remember distinctly for a long, long time.  It was my fish of the trip and the one that didn't get away!

After lunch, Wendy caught fire and things slowed down for me.  We each landed a fish within site of the boat ramp which made it a tough pill to swallow when Dane started rowing towards the bank.  We both love this place.  The fish, the landscape, the wildlife, and the people make us want to move to Wyoming and become permanent residents.  We love Missouri and will stay here, but Wyoming has gotten it's claws deep into us and we have fallen head over heels for this amazing place.  I cannot thank Cowboy Drifters, Dane, Adam, and Colt for their hospitality.  This special place was made even more special by them and everything they did for us.  You cannot go wrong in choosing to stay and fish with them!

Cowboy Drifters: https://wyocowboydrifters.com/

Fly Fishing the North Platte in Wyoming with Cowboy Drifters- Day 1

Cowboy Drifters: https://wyocowboydrifters.com/

Wendy and I recently had the pleasure to fly fish the Grey Reef Section of the North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming.  We visited the same area a couple of years ago.  On that trip, we fished the Miracle Mile of the North Platte and had an amazing experience.  Here are a couple of links if you want to check out posts from that trip.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

This trip was different in a lot of ways but the beauty and the fishing was amazing on both occasions.  We stayed at a cabin that was owned and operated by Cowboy Drifters Outfitters.  We also hired guides from there as well.  We did the same thing a couple of years ago and we are already talking about a return trip in the future.  Both the guides and accommodations have exceeded our wildest expectations on both occasions.  The cabin was clean, neat, and organized on every level.  The scenery from the front porch was beautiful and all you had to do was cross a gravel road to get to the North Platte.

As for the guides, Wendy's step dad, Mark, fished with a guide named Adam on the first day.  Mark had nothing but great things to say about Adam at the end of the day.  He said Adam was extremely helpful, patient, and relaxed the entire time.  Mark ended up boating more fish than Wendy or I and he hasn't fly fished in over a year!  I believe that is a testament to Mark but Adam deserves a lot of the credit too!  Fly fishing this river is NOT easy.  It isn't like Lake Taneycomo or a Missouri Trout Park.  The fish are more sparse and a little smarter in my opinion.  That can make for tough conditions but Adam and Mark really worked well together.  I wish I had some pictures from their trip to share but Mark isn't big on taking photographs.

As for Wendy and I, we fished with Dane Szalwinski.  We fished with him a couple of years ago and we hit it off right from the introduction.  Dane is a young, hard working, and upbeat guy.  His passion for fly fishing as well as the North Platte comes through in everything he says and does.  We have stayed in touch since we met because Dane is the type of person you want to be around.  Sharing a boat with him has brought us lifelong memories and experiences.  We were extremely happy to find out that he was available to fish with on our first day on the river.

Aside from being a great person, Dane has guiding skills that are the gold standard that I hold other guides to!  His fly selection, techniques, and boat maneuvering put us on fish and kept us on fish.  He also worked his rear off on both occasions.  If we found fish that were feeding, we would drift the area and then he would row us back upstream to hit the spot again.  This was not an easy task but it's what he did to give us as many chances to catch fish as possible.  The other guides from Cowboy Drifters do the same thing as well!  They are all amazing, but we are a little partial to Dane.  

As for the fishing, it was great however, let me define great as that can mean a lot of things to different people.  Mark ended up boating 11 fish, Wendy caught about 10 and I landed about 7.  While those numbers might seem low to some, the Grey Reef is more about quality than quantity at least in our experiences.  We didn't catch many fish under 15-16 inches and most fish were in the 17-19 inch range.  Every single fish that hit a fly did it with the strength of a freight train too!  They made prolific runs, and bent the heck out of a five weight.  We had to use the drag on our reels on every fish but thankfully we were able to use 4 pound test leader.  I liked that a lot more than the 2 pound test that you have to usually use here in Missouri.  

Mark and Wendy landed most of the fish that he hooked but I struggled some.  We were fishing with hooks that were in the size 20 range and I lost some fish as a result.  Dane told me that I didn't do anything wrong and that it just comes with using small flies on aggressive, strong fish.  That made me feel a little better about my abilities as well as my confidence.  Day 2 was a different experience but you will have to wait until tomorrow to read about that!

Cowboy Drifters: https://wyocowboydrifters.com/

A New Fly in the Fly Shop & Vacation Mode is Off!

If you have stopped by the online fly shop recently, you probably saw that it was in "Vacation Mode".  I have been on a little trip that you will read about later.  The most important takeaway is that the store is back open and I am ready to start mailing out flies as of today!  Below is a link to the store:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShowMeFlyGuy

The other item that I wanted to bring to your attention is that there is a new fly available in the store.  As you have probably guessed, it is the fly that is pictured above and below.  It is a variation of the clouser minnow which is also currently available in the online store.  All I did was replace the upper section of bucktail with an olive rabbit strip that features black bars.  I try to utilize natural colors like black, olive, and white to match what lives in most environments.  Most fish in Missouri (and many other places) have white bellies and dark backs.  While chartreuse, yellow, pink, and purple are great attractor colors, I like to stick to colors that fish are used to seeing and predating.  

The fly is a streamer and could catch anything that eats minnows.  As far as the action of the fly, it rises through the water column when stripped and dives when paused.  A faster retrieve would have a less up and down motion but more flutter and wiggle.  The white bucktail flutters and the rabbit strip has a good wiggle to it.  The fly has a long, slender profile like most minnows.  Whether you are fishing for largemouth, smallmouth, trout, white bass, or any other minnow eater (occasional catfish for example), this fly is going to tempt them.  This fly is tied on a size 2, B10S Gamakatsu hook and is SHARP!  

I am releasing a limited quantity of them to see if there is a market for these flies so come and get them if you want them.  If I sell out quickly, I promise that I will tie some more up and make them available in the store as soon as I can!  Below is a link directly to this fly if you want to check it out a little more!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1272048415/bunny-clouser-minnow

Cheyenne Frontier Days was AWESOME!!!!!

I recently had the absolute pleasure to attend Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  It is the world's largest outdoor rodeo and it was amazing.  I haven't attended a rodeo in years but have become more interested because my father-in-law absolutely loves it.  Our seats were right behind the chutes and we were so close that we actually got hit with dirt that was kicked up by the bulls and horses.  I have a huge amount of respect for all of the cowboys and cowgirls that participated.  They are tough, brave, and strong.  They are everything that I wanted to be when I was a kid and wanted to grow up to be a cowboy.  If you ever get the chance to attend, I believe you would come away with a strong respect for these individuals and the strong pride in city, state, and nation that was on display at the rodeo as well.

Here is a link to one of the wilder rides we saw: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CgdelFDIx7P/?igshid=YzAyZWRlMzg=

Here is another link of you prefer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRAW4AC5/?k=1

Finally, if you prefer the YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/zXBRz4T_1Sw?feature=share

Fly Tester Day!

Notice: I have a lot going on tomorrow so I am posting Monday's post today.  I will try to be back to a normal routine on Tuesday but didn't want to miss a day.

Link; https://youtube.com/shorts/bzaUQ7b3S5Y?feature=share

It dawned on me the other day that I had some old and new flies that I had never put in the Flymen Fishing Company Fly Tester.  I updated the Etsy store with some new videos for the listings and have some video available on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube now as well.  You can click here to see the video on YouTube. A couple of things that I would like to state about the videos and tester itself.  

1. This is a good, not great tool in terms of showing how a fly behaves in the water.  It does not show how a fly behaves when it is retrieved with different motions all the time.  For example, wooly buggers and braves look great in the tester.  Lunch moneys and baitfish poppers just don't show how they wiggle in the water with strips and pauses.  

2. The hydrology of the tester is touchy.  The user can adjust the speed of the water coming out of the pump as well as the height of the pump.  The line that leads to the fly is held close to the bottom of tank with a hook that is attached to suction cup.  This too can be manipulated by the user but you have to find the "sweet spot" for some flies just like you have to with the pump.  Again, it's good but not perfect.  If you tie a lot, sell flies at expos, or just have some extra money and like to play around with flies then you will probably like the tester.  If you tie wester flies, stick to certain patterns, or would rather spend your money on actual fly tying materials, you might not benefit from this tool.

Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/bzaUQ7b3S5Y?feature=share

New YouTube Video

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/OWOx-7-u6Xo

Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance: https://www.facebook.com/Ozarkssmallmouth

I finally got around to editing the video that I shot while fly fishing for smallmouth bass in southern Missouri.  Ryan Walker of Ozark Smallmouth Alliance was our guide and did an amazing job putting us on and keeping us on fish that day.  Aside from being one of my favorite guides that I have ever fished with, he is a true steward of the rivers and streams that he guides on.  You will not find a more passionate angler and conservationist anywhere.  If you want to see some beautiful scenery as well as catch wild and native Missouri smallmouth, I highly recommend that you contact Ryan.  I hope you enjoy the video and maybe have a couple of laughs.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/OWOx-7-u6Xo

Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance: https://www.facebook.com/Ozarkssmallmouth

Redemption and Reassurance on the Water

I'll be honest, fishing has been slow for me lately.  I have experimented with some things that haven't gone very well and have struggled to adapt to fish behavior.  I've missed some good bites and lost some decent fish at the boat.  I'm not complaining by any means, just stating facts to explain why my confidence was knocked down a couple of rungs recently.  My confidence has always been shaky at best and it is something that I have struggled with since grade school.  So when I decided to go to Rocky Hollow Park in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, with a spinning rod and soft plastic baits, it was partially to get a little confidence back.

Aside from the confidence factor, I also knew that I needed to adapt more to the summer pattern.  Bass seem less likely to hit a big streamer right now.  They are hot and lethargic.  It can also be a little tricky to get a fly in front of them as well.  Some of them are suspended in 6-8 feet of water and getting a fly to that depth requires patience.  I've tried that very thing lately and my patience was running on empty.  Thus, a lead weight and a plastic worm.  

Please don't think of me as some sort of heathen.  Fly fishing is my passion and always will be.  On the other hand, I believe a well-rounded angler needs to be able to read the writing on the wall and adjust to the conditions/patterns.  I enjoy throwing soft plastics on spinning gear in the heat of the summer, in part, because it works.  Believe me, if I knew how to catch these fish on fly tackle, I would be doing that very thing.

In short, the pumpkin (punkin if you prefer) and chartreuse worm got the job done.  I caught 4-5 bass on this little lake and was extremely satisfied by the end of the morning.  I felt like I got some confidence back and returned to using a tactic that has worked for me in the past.  I would also like to give a special acknowledgement to 816 Baits.  This is a small business that a former student of my started and the lure I used came from his store.  His products are great and he is a passionate, well rounded angler.  You can find him on Instagram or Facebook by searching 816 baits or just click here to go to the Facebook page!

Airbrushing Popper Heads

I ran across this post and video the other day and thought it was interesting enough to share.  If you like throwing poppers for largemough, smallmouth, and bluegill, making your own poppers could be pretty rewarding.  I have spray painted heads and even used sharpies on a few but airbrush looks like it is the way to go.  The color combinations and textures would be fun to play around with and the experimentation on the water would be a lot of fun too.  So if you think this might be something that you would be interested in, just give the link below a little clicky click!

Link: https://www.moldychum.com/diy-airbrushing-popper-heads-fly-tying-tips-by-charlie-craven/

What a Difference a Set of Eyes Makes!

I had been waiting for an online order of fly tying supplies to come in and yesterday they arrived.  Within the contents of the order were some Dragon Eyes from Flymen Fishing Company.  I was excited to put them on my newly developed baitfish poppers but I was not ready for the difference they would make.  Even Wendy was impressed by the difference.  It just brings them to life.  The question that came to me after adding the eyes is "Will this catch more fly anglers or fish?"  More field testing will answer this question but until then, the jury is out.

 

So Which Type are You?

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/fish/fly/7-types-of-fly-anglers-youll-meet-on-the-water

This was too funny to keep to myself.  I find myself fitting into a few different categories but I can definitely relate to a lot of things that the author wrote.  I hope this article makes you laugh as hard as I did!

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/fish/fly/7-types-of-fly-anglers-youll-meet-on-the-water

A Wide Range of Information

Lunch Moneys in The Boogeyman color combo!

While contemplating what to post today, it dawned on me that I have a lot of things to share.  Let's get right to a little information about a bunch of things.

1. Fishing Conditions- If you fish impoundments in the Midwest, a lot of fish (bass, bluegill, etc.) are being caught off the bank and away from cover right now.  Find drop offs and transition zones to throw your fly into.  It feels weird to fish what feels like open water but it is producing.  I have witnessed it myself and I am hearing similar stories from my buddies.

2. Southern Missouri River Flows- I was watching a Facebook Live video last night that Ryan Walker was conducting and he said that rivers and streams in southern Missouri are REALLY low right now.  If you are planning on floating or fishing a river in this area, you might do a little research to learn about conditions before you go.  It would be awful if you had a trip that you were excited about and realized when you arrived at the river that you would be dragging a vessel as much as paddling it.

3. James River Basin Partnership- Speaking of Ryan Walker and southern Missouri, the purpose of the aforementioned video was to announce some things that can be done to benefit the James River Basin Partnership.  There are some pretty cool ways that you can help and maybe get something out of it as well.  Click the link and watch the video for more information.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/1201068465/videos/1015273585837679/

You can also visit the James River Basin Partnership webpage to learn more as well.  There is currently a stand up paddleboard raffle going on right now too!

Link: https://www.jamesriverbasin.com/

4. TikTok- I am proud to announce that I received my 1,000th follower on TikTok yesterday.  If you don't have the app, there is some really good fly fishing, conventional fishing, and saltwater fishing content.  The app contains short videos for folks with short attention spans...like me!  Feel free to follow as well.  My username is @showmeflyguy.  Some of the content is informative, some of it is an attempt at humor, and some of it is just nonsense.

5. Etsy Store- The Etsy store is pretty well stocked up and orders are going out regularly.  Feel free to pick up some flies if you need small jigs, streamers, boxes, or assortments.  Here is a link:

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

6. Truck Update- This is not a rant, I promise, but I wanted to let everyone know about the catalytic converter issue that is present in our society.  Apparently these things are getting stolen more and more and Kansas City (where I live) ranks towards the top of the list in terms of cities that have converters stolen.  I was informed on Wednesday that there is an 8 month estimate on getting the parts in for my 2021 Toyota Tundra.  Please be aware of this problem and the ramifications that exist if you have yours stolen.  I sincerely hope that this problem does not affect you!

The Tandem Rig is Still Slaying!

Wendy pushed me out front door yesterday and made me go fishing!  No, seriously, that's how it happened.  We were lucky enough to have a vehicle that her step dad loaned us which helped me get to a local fishing spot that I love.  It almost always produces a few bites and yesterday was no different.  I was a little surprised at the fact that I caught 5-7 fish in the middle of the afternoon on a bright summer day.  I also caught a bigger-than-average bass for this lake as well.  What did the trick was a tandem wooly bugger rig.  I used an olive and white wooly as well as a wooly that was completely white except for some grizzly hackle.  It seemed like the bass wanted the white one and the bluegill wanted the olive and white one.  They all came from slightly deeper water and were not held up in cover in the shallows.  

I'm not kidding when I say that I might not ever throw a single wooly bugger ever again!  The casting is easy and knots are uncommon.  It is also important to note that I don't consider myself some sort of fly casting guru.  I'm average at best and if I can do this, you can too!  I also really like the ability to not have to only throw one color of fly.  I could throw an all black one and all white one if I felt completely lost in a situation.  Finally, I like the idea that the first fly might get a fish's attention and that the second fly that comes along might be enough to get the fish to bite as it might already be keyed up to bite.

As for specifics of the rig, I use a 6 foot leader to the first fly.  I use 6-10 pound fluorocarbon that is right off a spool.  From there, I tie an improved clinch knot on the bend of the hook of the first fly.  I then run about 16 inches of line to the next wooly.  It takes a little time but it isn't difficult by any means.  Again, if I can do it, you can do it.  I hope you give this rig a shot and I hope it helps you put more fish in your hands.

To pick up your own woolies, feel free to visit my online fly shop.  Just click on the link below and thank you for any support that you are willing to send my way.  All purchases are greatly appreciated and I promise that I tie these flies to the best of my abilities!

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

 

I Dig This Popper!

This little devil is impressive!  I wrote about the Surface Seducer Howitzer Baitfish Popping Heads extensively last week.  I settled on a couple of designs and got to do a little field testing with them both yesterday.  The first was an articulated fly and the second was a smaller version.  While the articulated version was good, I like the smaller version that is pictured much better.  

First off, it floats really well.  I was nervous that the gamchanger chenille might absorb too much water and make it sink but it did not.  It sits high in the water which gives it a great popping sound and helps it to move some water as well as spit some water as well.  I also really like the profile.  It has a definite taper to the body just like a baitfish would have.  

The next question is will it catch fish.  I don't have that answer...yet.  I'm thinking that largemouth, smallmouth, white, and hybrid striped bass would eat this.  If these species are feeding on baitfish, I cannot see a reason for them to pass up on this fly.  I can also see a saltwater application for this fly as well.  I've been watching a lot of videos lately that show fish, like tuna, crushing schooling baitfish that have been chased to the surface.  This thing looks like it would be tempting to a fish like that AND it is tied on a big saltwater hook already.  

Obviously, the next step is to catch some fish on this thing.  I hope to try it on some low pressure farm pond bass first and then take it somewhere like Truman Lake to see what smarter fish thing about it.  I will keep you posted on future field tests, but if you would like to order some of your own while they are in the prototype phase, feel free to shoot me an email and I can get a few to you.  My email is showmeflyguy@gmail.com.

No More Complaining & Time to Get to Work!

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

Alright, while I am without a vehicle at the moment, no more complaining about my truck theft, I promise.  I guess if I were going to be without a fishing rig, this is as good of a time as ever.  Fishing is a little slow right now, at least where I live, and I wouldn't be on the water much as it is.  So that means, it's time to get on the vise!  I have flies to tie to replenish the Etsy store.  I also have some patterns to keep working on like the baitfish poppers, dragon tail gurglers, and other things that I have been eyeballing for awhile now.  If you have any patterns that you would like to see in the store or just want to see me attempt a fly, leave a comment and I'll give it a shot.  I am currently caught up on house chores and I have a feeling that cabin fever is going to set in soon so I need to keep my hands busy.  I would be happy to send you some flies as well (I CAN get to the post office, which is nice) so feel free to submit an order.  All proceeds will go towards the unexpected deductible for two new catalytic converters and car rental that will be necessary when school starts up again.  That's not a joke either!  

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