You Better Get On The Water!

I mean this in the nicest way...you better get yourself on the water!  Besides obvious reasons like memories are made on the water, it's good for your spirit to be outdoors, and fish can't be caught from the couch, there are other reasons.  Please do me the honor of allowing me to give you a few other reasons to go fishing this weekend/today/tomorrow/etc.

Life is Short

Will you remember the days you watched movies and played video games or the time you had an epic day on the water?!?!  I remember days that I almost sunk boats, got skunked, lost the big one, and landed a fish that I had already caught once on that particular day. I cannot remember an average day at work.  Don't put off good times until tomorrow that you could be having today!

Winter is Coming

Our days are numbered friends.  Bad weather, short days, and slow bites are headed our way.  For now though, the water is calling and you should go.  There will plenty of days to watch football, nap, and mess around on your phone.  That time is not now though!

Why Not?

We spend way too much of our lives doing things that we don't want to do.  Things like careers and housework are necessary but they sure can get in the way of a good time.  In today's fast-paced and high demand society, we need to remember to take time for ourselves.  Time on the water is your time.  It renews your energy and calms your mind.  That makes you a better person for yourself and puts you in a better frame of mind to help others.

Video Footage From Last Weekend

In case you wanted to see what the fish were hitting last weekend...or wanted to see Waylon lick fish...or you enjoy seeing my ugly mug get excited about 15 inch bass, this video is for you.  All fish were caught on a streamer that I refer to as the Chartreuse Caboose which can be found by clicking here or on the link below.  It's a bulked up wooly bugger that has a complex twist which works to give it a bigger profile.  I'm running a little low on these but I'm trying to squeeze in some time to crank out a few flies for the shop when I can.  I hope you enjoy the video and I apologize for the annoying sound of the wind.

Chartreuse Caboose Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1220312174/the-chartreuse-caboose-white-chartreuse

A Few Videos Are Better Than Nothing?!?!

I apologize for not posting yesterday.  If truth be told, I am in the middle of my biggest assignment of the semester in my toughest graduate class.  It's a research class and I am writing the most important part of my 25-30 page research paper.  It's a bear but I wanted to get some content up.  I apologize that I took the easy way out by posting a few videos but I wanted to at least publish something today.  Enjoy the videos and have a great day.  I've got to get back to writing in-text citations and making sure my APA references are formatted correctly.

Link to Aura Studios YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZs1z-0k9PPDHwSQv35Q9Ng

Link to Orvis YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/orvis

Good, Not Great

I had been looking forward to Sunday afternoon all week.  I cannot tell you how excited I was to hit some farm ponds, catch a bunch of bass, and spend time with my wife and dog.  Three of those things happened and I shouldn't complain.  It was a beautiful day in a beautiful place that I love with company that I love with all of my heart.  The fishing was subpar however.

I ended up catching four bass and none of them were tiny.  I didn't get skunked and I ended up landing a few fish that fought really hard.  I am, however, left scratching my head at what caused the numbers to be lower than usual.  Typically, the spots I fish will end up providing 20-30 fish in a day.  For some reason, that didn't happen.

Whenever this happens to me, I always try to dissect the day.  Did the recent shift in barometric pressure have something to do with their desire to eat?  Was I throwing a fly that moved too fast or moved through the wrong part of the water column?  Maybe the gusting wind moved the fish to places that I couldn't access.  It is possible that I was fishing too shallow or it that I was on the water at the wrong time of day when fish were less active.  Maybe it was all of these things or none of them.  I look at these things not as excuses of why I wasn't as successful as I usually am, but rather a way to analyze my errors and hone my skills.  

It is also important to note that most of the time I don't get to fish when conditions are optimal.  I get to fish when my schedule opens up and allows it.  For me, that means I better be on top of my game in any condition because I don't get to order up perfect situations.  Maybe this wasn't the best day and time to be on the water but it was still a learning experience and a good time.  No complaining here, just pondering and analysis.

This is a different fish, I promise, it just looks a lot like the other one.

 

Clearing Brush

For those that don't know, I have a small cabin on our family farm about an hour northwest of Kansas City, Missouri.  The farmland has been in our family for over 100 years and the cabin has been mine for about a decade.  To call it a cabin is a bit of a stretch.  It doesn't have runny water or electricity and it isn't very big.  It has a mattress, a couch, a kitchen table, and a wood burning stove.  It's a comfortable place when it is cold or rainy.

Up until recently, my neighbor down the road had always mowed around my cabin for me.  For some reason, he quit doing the job and I was surprised to find a ridiculous amount of overgrowth around my cabin a few weeks ago.  I wasn't really sure how to tackle such a bi job with limited tools and equipment.  In other words, I didn't have a brush hog.  What I did have, was a John Deere lawnmower, a borrowed Husqvarna weed whacker, an old school weed scythe, and a desire to clean the place up.  

This situation reminded me of something that was instilled in me by my dad and grandpas.  They taught me that most problems can be solved with hard work.  I would add to that ideal that a well thought out plan also helps.  I'm proud to say that the place looks a lot better.  I don't think that this is the job that Mr. Deere had in mind when he designed a riding lawnmower, but it sure tackled a big job!  Now the place is ready for some overnight hunting and fishing trips.

Is Florida an Alternative to an Amazon Trip?

Link: https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/fishing-florida-exotic-species/

Florida is...unique.  From the people that live there, to the stories that come from there, to the fish that can be caught there.  It is getting even more...unique as well.  I follow some south Florida Facebook groups and there are some non-native fish being pulled out by bait, lure, and fly fishers.  

While perusing my usual websites, which is a part of my lunchtime routine, I ran across this article by Joe Cermele.  I love his attitude and enthusiasm and will read anything he writes.  When the topic is peacock bass, pacu, snakeheads, and knifefish, then I will clear my schedule to read his article.  This is indeed a good read and it just might make you want to plan a trip to Florida to chase some exotic species.

About 4 years ago, I had the chance to do some fishing around the Ft. Lauderdale area and I was fortunate enough to catch a few of these critters.  I landed a peacock bass, a tilapia, and a Mayan cichlid on that trip.  I used tactics that were really no different than what I do here in Missouri and had an amazing experience.  

I would love to take a couple of weeks and just explore the waterways and see what I could catch and maybe someday I will.  What I will probably never be able to do is afford a trip to the Amazon.  Settling for Florida isn't a bad option that I can afford and isn't as treacherous of a journey.  If you don't know about the exotic species in Florida, this article is worth a read.  If you do know about them, there is some current information that you might not be aware of and it still might be worth a read!

Link: https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/fishing-florida-exotic-species/

Flies are...flying...out of the Etsy store. Thank you everyone!

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

Apparently, the increased fish activity that most folks should be experiencing is resulting in more folks fishing and needing flies as well.  I have been spending a lot of time whipping up custom orders and taking care of orders that have come in through the Etsy store.  Folks have been buying jigs, small streamers and bigger streamers and I could not be more grateful.  Thank you to everyone that has checked out the store and thank you to everyone that has made a purchase.  I'm working on some special assortments for the holiday season so be on the lookout for those.  I'm also taking custom orders as well!  Feel free to email me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com if you want something specific.  I promise that I will be honest in regards to whether I have the materials and/or skills to tie what you want.  

I believe in being transparent with customers because I think you deserve to know where your money goes.  I take all of the profit made off my flies and I put it into an account.  While I take some money out of that account from time to time to partially pay for some fishing trips and some fly fishing equipment, most of it gets saved.  I'm trying to save up for a boat like the one I posted about yesterday.  My dad taught me that I should plan to finance a house and a vehicle.  Beyond that, he taught me that if I want something, I need to work and save for it.  That's exactly what I am trying to do.  I mow yards and do some other odd jobs that puts money in that account as well.  I call it the "boat fund" and one day, I will have what I need to reach my goal.  So if it makes you feel good to know that you are helping to fund a start-up business by purchasing some flies, then that's a good thing too!

Below is a link to my store.  I would be happy to complete an order for you.  I have fished all of these flies and I can vouch for them.  I only sell flies that I have full faith in and I have fished them all with success.  I believe that they can work for you too.  I tie these flies with the idea that they need to meet my highest standards.  I want these flies to look BETTER than the ones that are in my fly boxes because if someone is going to pay their hard earned money, they deserve my absolute best effort.  You get the best of my abilities, I promise.  Whether you buy flies or not, hank you again for reading this post and visiting this blog!  Your support is appreciated more than I can describe!

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

I Found the Boat I Want

I want, nay, I need a boat. If a guy is going to be a fishing guide, a guy needs a boat to take clients out. Thus, I need a boat.  This is the boat I need.  I need a shovel...

...because I can dig it!  I like the fact that this boat is made in Missouri.  I like the army green.  I like the aluminum, welded construction.  I like the tiller motor.  I like that there is a deck to cast off and a shallow area for little kids to stand in and not risk falling out of.  This boat is simple, but that's like me.  I don't need a lot of bells and whistles.  I don't need the top of the line equipment.  I won't spend money beyond my means and I'm not flashy by nature.

This is not THE boat.  This is the boat that gets me to THE boat.  THE boat will a higher maximum persons capacity.  This boat is a bridge.  Maybe I don't buy this exact boat, but this boat is the type that will get me to where I want to go.

I watched a documentary about Kid Rock quite a while ago.  Whether you like the guy or not, I appreciated his passion and desire.  When he released his most popular album, Devil Without a Cause, he declared that he would settle for nothing less that going platinum which means selling one million albums.  That drive and ambition is admirable.  That "nothing can stop me or hold me back" attitude is what this country was founded on and what drives people toward reaching goals.

I have goals.  I have a lot of things that I want to do during my time on this earth.  Showing people the beauty of the outdoors, the serenity that comes from nature, and the adventure that is available to all of us if we seek it are just a few.  I've been lucky enough during my life to create some amazing memories and many of them have come in the great outdoors.  As our society becomes more sedentary, we need to be reminded that true excitement comes from real world experiences.  The snap of a twig when you're in a deer stand and the tug of a fishing line is what will make your heart race more than any video game or movie.  

This boat will help me reach my goal of being a fishing guide.  The grad classes that I am taking right now will afford me the raise that I need to be able to purchase said boat.  It's all connected and all part of a bigger plan.  To reach my big goal of being a guide, there are a bunch of little goals that have to be reached in order to get to the big one.  I'll get there one day, but until then, I'm just going to keep getting better as an angler, cranking out grad class assignments, and keep my eye on the prize.

My 8 Weight Just Got a Little More Versatile

It's time to get down boys and girls!  Thanks to my good buddy Matt at Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri, I too can get down at a rate of 6 inches per second.  I have never owned a spare spool for a fly reel and I've never owned a sink tip line.  The game has changed now!  I'm thinking that this is going to come in handy chasing smallmouth in the heat of summer, hybrid striped bass pretty much all the time, and lethargic post spawn largemouth.  Watch out Missouri fishies!  This guy just became a little more agile, mobile, and hostile.  I've got a new weapon to throw and it is ready to hand out free lip piercings.  

If my excitement isn't coming through, I hope these Ric Flair speeches and “Wooo” montages accurately communicate my enthusiasm. Woooo!  

My Stickers Arrived!

Thank you very much Slayfest Fishing for the outstanding stickers.  My only problem is figuring out where to display them so that I can enjoy them all the time.  If you need some stickers, just give a click on the link below.  

Link: https://slayfest-fishing.square.site/

A Bigfoot Encounter with a Fisherman in Missouri?

If you fish the Meramec River near the Riverview Access boat ramp in Missouri, please be on the lookout for a large, hairy primate.  You might also be looking out for tossed boulders as well.  If you're into cryptids and mysterious stuff, this post is for you.  Is it possible for bigfoot to exist, especially in Missouri?  Could a creature that doesn't want to be found by humans possibly hide from them without detection?  Is there another explanation for why rocks fly through the air?  I don't know the answers to these questions, but it sure is something to ponder!

Link: https://khmoradio.com/missouri-fisherman-claims-bigfoot-threw-a-huge-boulder-at-him/

Testing Shannon’s Minnow- a Review

After landing the flathead catfish that I mentioned in yesterday's post, I decided to toss around my version of Shannon's Minnow that I tied last week.  While I didn't catch anything on it, nothing was really biting on this particular day so it was more of an experimental session than an actual field test.  The first thing that stood out was exactly what my buddy Ryan Walker mentioned to me and that is the fact that this thing is designed to have a fluke-like pattern.  While it has a subtle wiggle to it when slowly retrieved, the fly also has a side to side twitch when stripped more erratically.  Ryan also mentioned to get rid of the dumbbell eyes.  I appreciate what he meant because I have a feeling that he is fishing shallower water for smallmouth than I sometimes do for largemouth.  However, I can see additional weight on this fly having an application.  As a result, this fly has a popping up to the surface motion when stripped and then a dying motion when paused.  

In my opinion, I say that this was a great test.  I'm going to tie some unweighted versions of this fly and play around with them as well.  I would like to have some of each (weighted and unweighted) for different situations.  I can see this fly eliciting bites from largemouth, smallmouth, white, and hybrid striped bass if used in the right place and at the right time.  This fly has serious protentional but don't ever overlook the idea that potential simply means that something hasn't achieve anything yet!

Finally, This Species Fell to the Fly Rod

That face right there is a face that I have wanted to see for years!  If truth be told, I've never even caught one on a rod and reel.  I hauled in a big old 45 pound biggun on the Missouri River a few years ago with a former student and his grandpa, but that was on a bank line.  Of course, I am talking about the flathead catfish.

What I am about to state is the honest truth, I swear!  On my way to Watkins Mill State Park on Sunday afternoon, I actually thought to myself that I had a chance to catch some catfish on a fly.  I learned from the aforementioned student and grandpa that flatheads become more active around the full moon.  It just so happens that we had a full moon recently.  Yep, I'm on that kind of nerd level where I monitor moon phases.  I even have a moon phase app on my phone.  Anyway, aside from the full moon, I recently learned that there are flathead catfish in the lake at Watkins Mill.  Those two things gave me a glimmer of hope, but that's all it was...hope.

Hope was extremely important on this particular day because I was fishing post front conditions.  A cold front moved through on Saturday with some rain.  Fishing on the front end of a cold front can be great!  My dad has always told me that the best time to catch catfish is when the water is rising.  Well, the water wasn't rising and the front has passed through.  This did NOT give me hope.  I'm also not very good at understanding fall patters for fish, so there's that too.

I managed to catch two fish on Sunday.  One was a small redear sunfish that Waylon yanked off the hook and dropped into the water before I could even touch it.  The second fish was a dream come true though!  I had seen small shad jumping in the shallows and had seen some baitfish getting chased so throwing a tandem bugger rig made sense.  The water was murky so I threw an olive one to match the water and a white one to match the hatch.  

The fish hit the white wooly like a freight train.  I was throwing my flies on a four weight and I quickly realized that this was not a bluegill or redear.  When I finally got the fish to the surface, I just about came unglued.  If you would like to see video footage, just check out the YouTube channel or TikTok account.  I recognized it right off the bat but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that a green and black fish with whiskers in Missouri is a flathead.  

This fish is such a cool critter.  The shape of the body, the coloring on a juvenile, and the fin proportions are unlike anything else that swims in North America.  Alright, fine, it's a catfish but the details set it apart from blues and channels.  Anyway, I really appreciated catching this rare (to me) and unique fish that I had never caught on a fly before.  Now it's time to move onto my next goal.  I need to catch a gar!

An Elk, a Good Bird (Fishing) Dog, and The Family Farm

My great grandfather settled in an area near the Ray County and Carrol County border.  He was a farmer and a minister.  My grandpa, his brother, and my mom's brother farmed together from for years and watching them work were some of my first memories.  My mom grew up on that farm as well.  I grew up going to farm on weekends and during the summer when I was a kid.  It was a little slice of heaven to have the freedom to ride my four wheeler and shoot my bb gun.  It is also where I learned to fish.  

My grandma taught me how to catfish with a nightcrawler.  My dad taught me how to throw lures on a spinning rod for largemouth.  It seemed like there were ponds everywhere at the farm.  When we got bored with the ponds on the farm, we went to the ponds that were owned by friends of our family.  There was never a shortage of fishing opportunities and plenty of fish in each body of water.  I am still fortunate enough have access to a lot of bodies of water at our farm and I never take that for granted.  Some ponds are overpopulated with smaller fish.  Some hold fewer but bigger fish.  All of them are unique in their own ways.

A trip to the farm and the time spent in secluded locations always ushers a sense of adventure.  For example, I drove by an elk farm on the way to the farm recently and saw a pretty nice bull.  Things like that just tend to happen when you start to get away from bigger cities.  

Waylon also a fondness for the farm.  He knows that it affords him freedoms that he cannot get at home.  He notices different smells.  Spaces are wide open where he can run like the wind in almost any direction.  He can explore timber, frolic in pasture, and play in ponds.  Not only does he remind me of me when I was younger, but we both feel a certain sense of autonomy.  

It wasn't until I was a lot older when I realized how fortunate I was to spend time on that farm and other properties in the area.  I thought everyone had the chance to partially grow up on a farm.  It just felt normal.  I have also come to hold the farm with a sort of reverence.  It's deeper than an appreciation.  It's where my family is from and where our roots run deep.  It's wild, rugged, and untamed.  It's hotter in the summer and colder in the winters.  It feels untouched by people in some places.  

It offers solitude without loneliness.  I enjoy every moment I get to spend there because it is so special for so many reasons.  One of those reasons is that not everyone gets to enjoy a place like this, and I know that now, and that makes me love it even more.

 

My Attempt at Shannon's Minnow

Last week, I posted about a fly called Shannon's Minnow.  You can find that link by clicking here.  To summarize, this is a baitfish pattern that includes an extended body, marabou, and baby blanket yarn.  I decided to give it a try (in my living room while watching television) and I have to say, I am surprised with the end product.  Specifically, I am surprised at how easy it was to tie an extended body as I had never done that before.  I was also surprised at how the extended boy was rigid and didn't have much wiggle to it.  That could be good or bad depending on your perspective or desire.

You might notice a couple of differences in my fly as well.  I decided to use dumbbell eyes because I want this fly to get down and to ride point up.  I also decided to not trim the body.  That is not a strength of mine and I decided to avoid a possible blunder by leaving the scissors on the desk.  I think it still has a decent taper to it as well and to me, it is good enough.  If I tie more of this pattern, I plan on wrapping tighter when I do a figure 8 around the eyes.  You can see in the last picture that the material bulges out a little.  If tighter wraps don't fix it, I might have to take the scissors to the material around the eyes but as I said earlier, that's not something I want to do.

So now it is time for field testing!  I'll keep you posted on how this fly casts, behaves, and catches fish.  Hopefully it will find a place in the fly box like the dragon tail gurgler was able to accomplish recently!