Castafly Outdoors Adventures

Link: https://castaflyoutdoors.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CASTAFLYAdventures

If you need some quality fly fishing content, merchandise, and information, please give the Castafly Outdoor Adventures website a visit!  I haven't known Paul, the founder of Castafly Outdoor Adventures, for very long but I am quickly realizing that he is a darn good guy.  I completed a fly order for Paul recently and he was kind enough to send me a very thoughtful thank you card in the mail.  I have completed over 100 fly orders and this was the first time that I had ever received an actual thank you card in the mail.  That right there gave me a pretty good clue as to what time of person Paul is.  So if you need some fun fly fishing related things to get you excited about fishing this spring, please give his website and YouTube channel.  

Link: https://castaflyoutdoors.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CASTAFLYAdventures

Fly Boxes are Back in Stock!

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

Link to Fly Box: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1088501314/fly-box-streamer-box-show-me-fly-guy-fly

Fly boxes have been restocked in the online store. They are perfect for a few larger streamers, a bunch of medium streamers, or a ton of jigs/nymphs/dries!  The dimensions are approximately t 7 inches wide, 4 inches wide, and 1 inch tall.  Does that make it ergonomic?  Probably!  The box is lined with a slit foam which will make the box last longer since you won't be tearing up foam when you insert of retrieve flies.  This thing will last longer than a Honda Accord!  The box is clear so you can easily view the contents!  No more opening and closing boxes just to finally find that one fly box was at the bottom of the pile.  That kind of move is for suckers and that ain't you!  On top of that, you'll be representing and supporting a small, Missouri-based business.  Each box is blessed with good karma and you know that kind of thing gets passed on to your flies.  If you're interested in purchasing flies as well as the box, I would gladly complete a custom order for you.  Feel free to message me through Etsy or directly at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.

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

Link to Fly Box: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1088501314/fly-box-streamer-box-show-me-fly-guy-fly

 

Good Fly Fishing Reads

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/books-and-literature/5-must-read-fly-fishing-books-to-shake-off-the-winter-blues

If you are a fan of the written word and have a passion for fly fishing, Mark Kenyon (a writer for The Meateater website) has selected a few books to help bridge the gap between less fishing now and more fishing this spring.  While I have not read any of these books, I can vouch for John Giearach.  He is one of my favorite authors and I have read more than one of his books that has fly fishing as the main subject.  So if you need some fishy stuff in your life because you don't have enough fishy stuff going on, you might lean on one of these books for solace.

Link: https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/books-and-literature/5-must-read-fly-fishing-books-to-shake-off-the-winter-blues

Sticker Display

 

Aside from a few boat modifications that I mentioned in yesterday's post, I also repurposed an old boat modification.  The board that you see hanging on the wall of my garage used to be a deck that I used on my small, two-man boat.  It was heavy and cumbersome, so I rarely used it.  It also got really hot on sunny days which made me use it even less.  It sat around for awhile and I thought about just trashing it but I didn't want to see all of those stickers go to waste.  I decided to make it a wall decoration so that I could continue to enjoy the memories and stories that are attached to the stickers.  Each one is unique and while each one does have a story behind it, I will spare you all of the details because there are A LOT of details.  If you take a close look, maybe you can identify a few stickers that we share or have in common.

A Few Boat Customizations

Over the last few days, I have made a few improvements/modifications to my boat.  First, I installed a spare tire mount on the front of the boat.  I know that boat trailers (and all trailers for that matter) have problems with blowouts and flats.  While I already had a spare tire to be prepared for this issue, I didn't want to lug the thing around in the bed of my pickup.  I bought a mount off of Amazon for about $60 and I am really happy with how it mounted and the hardware looks like quality components.

Second, I found a Show Me Fly Guy sticker that fit perfectly on the back of the boat.  I'm not sure if it will be submerged when the boat is in the water but that will be revealed next time I take the boat out.  At least folks that are following me down the road will know who I am.

Finally, I installed another decal on the port side of the boat.  I bought the decal from a store called LetterQuote.  This store has all kinds of stickers and decals and you can view the store and its contents by clicking here or on the link below.  I chose a Kingfisher for a few reasons.  1. My grandpa Mason used to call me Kingfish.  I'm not really sure why.  He gave everyone he knew nicknames and that's what I was dubbed with for most of my childhood.  2. I also chose this image because Kingfishers are, well, birds that catch and eat fish.  3. Finally, whenever I see a Kingfisher while I am on the water, I marvel at its fishing ability while also thinking about my grandpa.  He was maybe nicest human being that I have ever encountered in my life and holds a special place in my heart.  It reminds me that while he passed away when I was a junior in high school, he will always be special to me.  Now I get to take his memory out on my boat with me every time I hit the water.

Link to LetterQuote Store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetterQuote

Shed Hunting Trip

Yesterday, my two sons and I got to do a little shed hunting and while we didn't find any monsters or matched pairs, we didn't get skunked either.  While walking through some thick grass, my youngest son, Cody, yelled "Hey!  I found an antler!"  Truth be told, he actually stepped on it and thought it was a leg bone like he had found earlier in the day.  He was pretty pumped and I was extremely happy for him.  This is the second shed he has found in two years of shed hunting and probably the fourth or fifth we have found together.  It was a fun and exciting moment that I will always remember.

While all three of us were hunting, we also did something else.  Now please understand that I'm not trying to come off and grandiose or sanctimonious.  This is not some sort of humble brag.  I'm just passing along an idea that my buddy Pat gave to me.  While we were hunting, we picked up trash.  The reasoning is two-fold.  Number one, it feels wrong to walk by trash and not do something about it.  Number two, it keeps your eyes sharp and keeps your attention from getting lackadaisical.  What was humorous about our trash picking up endeavor, was that we forgot to bring trash bags to collect the refuse.  Either by luck or some sort of intervention on nature's part, we found some bags while we were walking and used those.  We all laughed and joked about how nature seemed to say "Oh, you want to pick up trash and need a bag?  Well here you go, boys!"

There was a social media movement last year where anglers were encouraged to pack out a net full of trash while on the water and I dig that idea too.  I think I am going to participate in that as well and make it a tradition.  And just like Pat passed the shed hunting/trash pick up idea to me, (and here comes the potential for sanctimony) if you would like to start a similar tradition of your own, by all means, feel free to get your hands dirty.  

 

New Bait and Tackle Store

I love small businesses!  To me, the embody the vision of The American Dream.  They represent individuals that believe that they can achieve their goals by betting on themselves and providing a good/service that others want and will benefit from.  That's why I got pretty excited when I found out that a bait and tackle store was opening close to my hometown.  While I grew up in Kearney, Missouri, I had a lot of friends and spent a lot of time in Holt, Missouri, which is located just to the north of Kearney.  

Holt is a small town that is seeing a revitalization in it's business district.  A winery opened within the last year, a donut store is set to open soon, and other businesses are trying to ride the wave of momentum!  J & R Bait and Tackle has it's grand opening today and I know they would appreciate your business whether it is today or in the future.  While the store itself is small, it is clean and the products are new with many of them being made by local makers.  You might even see some of my own lures and flies in there soon as well.  

So if you find yourself in the Holt area, please give them a visit.  Their address is 550 Main Street and their phone number is 816-632-0127.  You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as well!

Link to Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088432350118&mibextid=LQQJ4d

A Golden Largemouth Bass

Link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/angler-practicing-tournament-virginia-catches-174105168.html

While a golden bass is strange enough, it might be equally as strange that almost exactly one year ago, I posted about a golden crappie.  To see that post, click here.  While this condition is genetic and has nothing to do with time of year or water conditions, it is so odd that these both happened in February!  To read the full story, just click on the link above or below.  If you do, you'll learn what xanthism is and will look really intelligent in front of your fishing friends!

Effective Flies!

The Lunch Money caught some nice, river smallmouth lately.

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

Last weekend, I received a couple of messages from some very thoughtful and happy customers of mine.  They both informed me that the flies I sent them were working well and that they were very happy with the results.  I cannot express how happy this makes me on so many levels.  I got into selling flies for three reasons.  1. I wanted to help folks catch more fish on patterns that have been productive for me.  2. I wanted a reason to keep tying.  I could probably fill all of my fly boxes in a couple of months, but after that, why would I keep tying?  Running an online store keeps me working and keeps my skills sharp.  3. Finally, I would be dishonest if I didn't mention that the income is a factor.  I don't make a huge amount of money but currently, it's helping me pay for my new boat and it's nice to have some emergency money to use in case an unforeseen emergency were to present itself.  

I believe that win-win situations where both parties are happy with an outcome are ideal.  I'm glad to help other anglers and I'm glad for the positive feedback that makes me so happy.  If I could provide you with some flies, I sure would be happy to send some your way.  Feel free to check out my store on Etsy or request a custom order by emailing me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  Thank you for visiting my little slice of the internet today and thank you for your support whether it is an order or just a visit to this site!

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

This is a rainbow trout from the White River in Arkansas and that is a size 6 wooly bugger in it's mouth.  I guess the trout are on the baitfish bite right now!

Maiden Voyage

The Kingfisher (that's what I named my little boat) made its maiden voyage yesterday and things could not have gone better.  All credit for the results go to my buddies Corey and Chris.  These buys are pretty mechanically inclined and have boating experience and I appreciated both.  The process of unloading, running the trolling motor/main motor, and loading the boat was flawlessly.  As another bonus, I didn't notice any leaks.  While I am apprehensive about doing this on my own, I feel like I learned a lot and got my first experience out of the way!  

From here, I'm not exactly sure where to go.  I know that I want to start fishing Smithville Lake and really patterning/targeting white bass, but I don't know when to start or where to focus...but that's the fun part!  Now that the boat is purchased and I know it is operational, the fun can begin!

 

Song of the Week- Hurricane - Week 16

If you follow the website Moldy Chum, you will recognize where the idea comes from.  If you don't follow the site, they have a post every Sunday called "Sunday Toona".  Essentially, the post contains a song of the week.  I liked that idea so much that I decided to start a similar tradition.  I plan on posting a YouTube video every Sunday and this post is the first of many more to follow.

I wouldn't blame you if you wonder how music connects to a fly fishing blog.  Well, the bottom line is that it really doesn't, at least on the surface.  However, if you fish, then you probably listen to music.  Maybe you listen to some tunes in your boat.  Maybe you slip in some earbuds and listen to jams while you fish.  Most of us probably listen to music on the way to go fishing.  So there is a connection between fishing and music, albeit a small connection.

The other reason that I want to start this routine is that I really enjoy music.  I have ZERO musical talent and that might be the reasoning that I appreciate the talents that other musicians have.  I don't like all music though.  I like music that has heart.  I like music that tells a story.  Most of all, I like music that I can relate to on some level.  For those reasons, the music that I share might not be to your liking...and that's ok!  I listen to a lot of music that you won't find on radio stations and that's why I want to share it with others.  

I started this blog cause I wanted to share my experiences with others in the hopes that others might learn and benefit from what I do.  Sharing music that touches my heart, or makes me laugh, or brings a tear to my eye falls in line with the aforementioned ideal.  I hope you dig what I share and I hope you find something that you can connect with.  For the first Song of the Week post, I present to you "Hurricane" by The Band of Heathens.

Link to Band if Heathens YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCreQfmi70xWwMflguZcWrOw

I Bought a Boat!!!

If you frequent this blog, you probably saw this coming.  A couple of weeks ago, I posted about looking at a boat at Angler's Port Marine.  What I didn't mention was that I put a deposit down on a boat that day.  I didn't want to mention anything at the time because I was nervous that the deal might fall through and then I would have to explain why it didn't work out.  Last Saturday, I picked up my boat!

Let me start off by heaping as much praise on Angler's Port Marine as I possibly can.  My salesman, Cory, was funny, professional, and incredibly helpful.  The dealership was flexible with their time and did not pressure me at all.  Maybe most importantly, they worked to rectify any problems that the boat had before I could even inquire about them.  While Angler's Port is a 2 hour drive from my house, it was worth it and they have a customer for life.  No, they did not give me a price break or pay me to give them a positive review.  Everything I said is from the heart and is as honest as the day is long!

As for the boat, it's nothing flashy or fancy and that's exactly what I wanted.  I had been looking at boats for over a month now and I had a ballpark idea of what I wanted to purchase.  I wanted an aluminum boat and a bow mounted trolling motor.  I wanted a boat that was built in Missouri, if possible, and a tiller motor.  I ended up with a G3 (built in Missouri) with a 20 horse Yamaha motor (a tiller), a Minn Kota trolling motor, and aluminum (and in green which is what I REALLY wanted).  The trailer matches the boat as well which looks pretty cool.  This is a simple boat that I feel will help me dip my toe into the world of boat ownership.

To say I am excited to put this thing on the water is an understatement.  I paid my sales tax and got everything registered and licensed yesterday so I am ready to hit the water on Sunday before the super bowl.  I am hoping that I don't discover any leaks and that the motor works the way it is supposed to, but I am bracing myself for issues because, well, it's a boat and boats have issues routinely.  I will keep everyone updated on how things go but for now, I'm just excited to own a boat that is going to open up a lot of fishing possibilities for me.  Maybe I'll even do a little guiding out of it at some point as well.

I also want to thank my wife for putting up with all of the recent boat talk and for allowing me to take up so much of our garage space with the new purchase.  I know what I can be a handful sometimes and I wanted to say thank you to her for always being supportive of my endeavors.  Thank you Wendy for supporting me and putting up with all of the things that I pursue.  

Black SBS Variant is For Sale!

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1412608035/smallmouth-bass-streamer-black

Come and get your black SBS streamers while you can!  These little devils are ready to be fished in flooded, murky water which is right around the corner.  You can fish them on floating, sink-tip, and sinking line.  Trout, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass will find this fella hard to resist.  It is tied on a 1/0 hook so hookups with dinks should be minimal and lip piercings should be reserved for substantial fish.  This fly has a marabou tail, a complex twist body, a laser dub head, and large dumbbell eyes.  It will ride with the point up which should help it skate over submerged rocks and timber.  If you think this thing could be useful this spring, head on over to the Etsy store and pick yourself up a few.  The pattern also comes in olive and white as well.  As always, thanks for reading and all of your support!

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1412608035/smallmouth-bass-streamer-black

For Sale!

If you live in the Kansas City area and have a desire for a kayak, I am selling mine and wanted to give the readers of this blog first dibs.  It is a Field and Stream Eagle Run 12.  It comes with an anchor trolley system, a matching paddle, and straps that can be used to hang the kayak on a wall.  It has always been stored indoors but has a few scratches from being used.  It has modified rod holders that will fit fly rods, spinning rods, and baitcasters.  While it is a sit-in style of kayak, there are movable foot rests inside the kayak.  I have enjoyed using this...a few times...and would like to pass it along to someone that will enjoy its use.  It is big enough to fit anyone from 5'4'' to 6'2''.  I know that because my youngest son used this kayak a few years ago (5'4") and so have I (6'2").  It doesn't take much effort to get this thing moving and moving fast.  The tracking is a little rough but that's what you have to give up in return for speed.  The kayak is 12 feet long and 28" wide in the middle.  I'm asking for $400 for all of it and you can email me at showmeflyguy@gmail.com if you are interested.

I'm also selling my master chef mini fridge which is covered in some pretty fantastic stickers.  I don't know how old it is, but it works fine.  The dimensions on this puppy are 34" X 19" X 21".  I'll even through in a few more stickers if you want them.  $30 and it is yours.  Again, hit me up at showmeflyguy@gmail.com if you want it.

If you are wondering why I gave a boat to a cousin, why I am selling a kayak, and why I am getting rid of a mini fridge, please don't worry.  I'm not in financial trouble, so no need to worry.  I just need a little space in my garage.  Trust me.  This is a sale that I happy to be running.