Mouse Flies for Trout During The Day!

Orvis YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@orvis

The thought of watching trout smash a mouse fly is really exciting to me.  The thought of enjoying this experience in the daylight as opposed to moonlight is something that I can only dream of.  While I have never thrown mouse flies for trout at all (that will hopefully change in 2026), I have caught a few of largemouth on mouse flies.  The memory of watching a farm pond bass hit a mouse fly like a great white on shark week is a memory that will never leave me.  This video gives some good tips and pointers about how to fish a mouse fly for trout in current and only makes the venture look more adventurous.

Orvis YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@orvis

Cranking Out A LOT of 1/80 Ounce Jigs

Link to Online Fly Shop: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com

I don't know about everybody else, but for me, when crummy winter weather appears in the form of cold temperatures, snow, or both, I hop on my fly tying vise and start cranking out flies.  For the last few days, I have been cranking out 1/80 ounce jigs with a few wooly buggers mixed in as well.  The jigs work great for trout, bluegill, small bass, crappie, and even white bass.  These jigs work especially well for stocked trout in both lakes and streams.  I fish them under a strike indicator and the patterns that I tie are proven.  As for the wooly buggers, these too are patterns that have been field tested and have caught a lot of fish.  I mainly throw the buggers that are shown on floating line and chase bigger bluegill, smaller bass, white bass, and channel cats.  I don't throw these buggers for trout because they are pretty decent size (size 6) but bigger trout could be tempted by them.  

So if you are in the need for some jigs, woolies, or bigger streamers, feel free to swing by my online fly shop.  I'm going to keep cranking out flies and I'll keep you updated in regards to updated inventory and/or new products in the shop.  Every purchase is greatly appreciated and I try to treat each customer accordingly.  Money that I make off of fly sales is currently being put towards upgrades for my raft, a trailer for the raft, and new oars for the raft.  I have big plans for this raft, which I am not currently willing to share, but that news will be coming in 2026!  Thank you for reading this post, thank you in advance if you make a purchase, and thank you for any support you show me both big and small.

Link to Online Fly Shop: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com

Making Upgrades to the Raft

It would appear that my time on the water with my raft is over for the year so I have turned my attention towards making some upgrades to make the vessel more comfortable and efficient.  The first thing that I did was put some swivels on the front and back seats.  This was a really simple project and only required a few turns of a ratchet.  Now, anglers at the front and back of the raft will have a little more range of motion and will hopefully provide a more pleasant ride down a river.  

The second project that I took on was slightly more complicated.  I have noticed that most oars on rafts and drift boats have shafts that are wrapped in rope.  I found out that this reduces wear on the oars, reduces vibration (noise) between the oars and oarlocks, and helps keep the oars in a consistent location for the rower.  While I didn't make the wraps long enough and should have used black rope (I've never seen anyone wrap oars with white rope but that's all they had at Lowe's), I think my wraps are close and tight.  I had never attempted wrapping oars before and I'm pretty happy with how things turned out!

The oars that came with the raft will, eventually, become back-up oars.  I plan on upgrading to better oars soon but need to save some money for now.  By the way, if you have never looked up how expensive oars are for drift boats and rafts, be prepared for some sticker shock.  The ones that I want are about $300 each!  With that in mind, I'm going to take some liberties with my current oars.  I put a few sheet metal screws through the black plastic sleeve that slid around more than I preferred on the maiden voyage.  I also flipped the sleeve around because it was too thick to fit through the oarlocks and used the flare on the sleeve to act as a stopper.

The next upgrade that I might attempt would be improvements to the floor.  As it stands right now, the floor of the raft is self-bailing (it has holes in it) with an inflatable floor on top of that.  I either need to put yoga mat-type padding on the floor or engineer a drop/floating floor with marine grade plywood.  However, I need to spend more time at my fly tying desk and thus, create more stock in the online fly shop.  All these upgrades cost money and I need more of it to improve my raft.  And oh yeah, there is the matter of buying a trailer to haul the "stream machine" around.  I better start cranking out some flies and stop typing about the matter!

The Maiden Voyage of the Raft

I have not owned a lot of boats in my life.  I have owned a kayak, a two person bass baby, and a 16 foot jon boat.  Each of those purchases brought a great deal of excitement that was coupled with an equal amount of anxiety.  While I was excited for the unique opportunities that each one afforded me, I also felt a healthy amount of fear in each situation as well.  With each boat, I was scared that I was going to overlook something, have an operating error, or just simply sink the darn thing due to ignorance.  My outlook towards my raft is no different.

 

While this thing is going to help me get more folks on farm ponds that I love and explore Ozark streams, I am also intimidated by so many unfamiliar nuances.  My rowing skills are novice at best.  I’m a little uncertain how much I am supposed to inflate the raft.  I’m still working on either reinforcing the inflatable floor or replacing it with a wooden drop floor.  My chief concern though, is tearing the fabric of the raft, not being able to fix the problem, and sinking the vessel and thus, being stranded in the middle of nowhere.  However, I know that this is a learning curve and that experience is the best teacher.  So with a racing heart due to fear and excitement, I launched my raft on a lake a couple of weeks after purchasing the craft.

 

After airing up the raft and attaching the frame, Wendy and I took the raft to the bottom of a boat ramp at Watkins Mill State Park.  It was a little windy on that particular day but the temperature was nice.  I was excited to see how my raft handled in the wind and felt good about the fact that if I was going to sink my boat on it’s maiden voyage, at least I wouldn’t get hypothermia.  As I used an oar to push the raft away from land, adrenaline coursed through my veins.  It felt good and I’m glad I didn’t need to harness the power to paddle back to shore because of a problem.  I floated and awkwardly rowed with a smile on my face.

 

As the initial exhilaration wore off, I realized that I needed to start rowing with a little more purpose.  The wind hand blown me away from the boat ramp and I wanted to stay close to my point of origin just in case things went south.  As I pushed the oars forward, I felt them push back!  It quickly dawned on me that this raft was hard to row…on still water and into the wind at least.  It also eventually (and later than I would care to admit) dawned on me that I needed to turn the raft about face and pull the oars toward me rather than push them.  That helped a lot but I certainly wasn’t moving fast enough to pull a tuber or skier behind me.

 

After I became a little more comfortable (due to not sinking) I started to settle into my setup.  I was able to appreciate things like how close I was to the water and how I was situated in the middle of the boat which gave me a unique perspective.  I’m used to sitting at the back of a boat and running a motor or at the front of a boat running a trolling motor.  Being in the middle is something that I’m going to need to get used to.  I’m also used to being perched a little higher above the water level but that is inconsequential.  If I were to stand up from my seated rowing position or if a fellow angler were to stand up in the front or back of the raft, they have a good line of sight and have a good angle at which to cast. 

 

After about 30 minutes, I decided to head back to the ramp.  Wendy and Waylon were waiting for me to return.  And if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to test my luck any more than I already had.  Things had gone well and I wanted to call the maiden voyage a successful venture.  And if I’m being brutally honest, my arms were starting to get tired…really tired.  It took significantly less time to break down the raft and load it as opposed to unloading it and assembling it.  For now, the raft is packed away for the winter but it every time I go into the garage, I look at my raft and think about upcoming adventures that I want to have.  Carl Sagan once delivered the following thoughts and I couldn’t agree with him more.  He says it more eloquently than I can so I will let him conclude this post:

 

“For all its material advantages, the sedentary life has left us edgy, unfulfilled. Even after 400 generations in villages and cities, we haven’t forgotten. The open road still softly calls, like a nearly forgotten song of childhood. We invest far-off places with a certain romance. This appeal, I suspect, has been meticulously crafted by natural selection as an essential element in our survival.”  -Carl Sagan

"Herman Melville, in Moby Dick, spoke for wanderers in all epochs and meridians: 'I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas…'."  -Carl Sagan

Opening Weekend of Deer Firearms Season- Corey's Story

The opening day of firearms season in Missouri is special to me.  I have had the fortune of spending some special moments with some people that are very special to me on opening day.  I have also had some opening days that were full of wind, rain, and/or cold.  Some opening days have involved the harvesting of deer and some have involved not seeing a single whitetail deer.  Regardless, I try to always be in a field or in the timber with the hope that I will harvest a buck that will feed some folks and create a memory.

This last deer weekend, I got to spend some time with one of my best friends and my stepson on a piece of property that has been in my family for almost 100 years.  It is a special place to me that I love to share with people that are close to me.  We arrived at the property well before sunrise and parted ways with handshakes and wishes of good fortune.  If truth be told though, my stepson, Collin, and I were pulling for my buddy Corey.  Of course Collin wanted to take a buck and I wanted to shoot a trophy but we were especially hopeful for Corey.

Corey is a heck of a guy.  He's the kind of guy that will give you the shirt off his back and be there for your when you need him.  He never asks for anything in return and never complains about a single thing when things don't go his way.  He is an amazing father to his little girl, a hard worker, and a good partner to his fiancé.  Corey is also a passionate outdoorsman that loves waterfowl as much as deer and as much as fishing.  He loves his country and stands up for what he believes in.  He is an amazing friend as well.  While he is a heck of outdoorsman, he had yet to take his first whitetail buck.  It took me five years to take my first buck and Corey was headed along the same trajectory.  

As first light approached each of us settled into our respective spots.  We all chose to hunt on the ground with Collin and I in blinds and Corey on the ground near the edge of a field.  We each had encounters before daylight.  Sometimes with deer, others with coyotes, and all of us with owls.  The morning crept along with sounds of turkeys in the trees and squirrels rustling on the ground.  At about 8:30, text messages were exchanged that described a lack of deer movement.  We shared a collective hope that deer would move later than expected and that we needed to stick to our plan and hold tight.  That plan changed when the distinctive crack of a rifle report came from someone other than myself.

Collin messaged everyone to communicate it wasn't him.  We both waited in suspense for Corey to message us.  After what felt like hours (which was about a minute) Corey messaged the group to let us know that he had shot and that he felt like he had made a good shot on a buck.  We knew that we had to give the deer some time to expire but the anticipation was gnawing at us.  While Collin and I wanted to keep hunting, we also wanted to support our friend.  Collin and I decided to end our hunts early so we could help recover Corey's deer.  And honestly, I wanted to be present when Corey found his first buck.

We met up where Corey had taken his shot and followed a blood trail that lead to the edge of some timber.  Corey had already done some investigating which made our pursuit more efficient.  As we entered the timber there was a shared combination of excitement and hope.  I like to think that I am a cautious optimist which means that the idea that this deer might not be recovered was always in the back of my mind.  Thankfully, we spotted Corey's deer about 15 yards inside the timber.

It is easy to allow jealousy to creep in when one member of a group accomplishes something that you were unable to achieve.  I've been there and I think Collin had been there before too.  We all wanted success on that particular morning and only Corey had found the success that we had both hoped for.  However, I am proud to declare that Collin and I were overwhelmed with joy for Corey.  We were happy for what a good guy had accomplished and the moment that we got to share with him.  I knew how Corey felt and Collin knew how Corey felt.  We could relate to his smile and we could feel his joy.  

Pictures were taken and field dressing took place.  The deer was placed in Corey’s truck and delivered to a processor.  The skull and antlers went to a taxidermist.  Corey went home and Collin and I kept hunting.  This deer was the only deer that was killed on opening weekend.  While Collin and wanted the same satisfaction and adrenaline rush that Corey had experienced, we still enjoyed the sounds of the woods and the experiences that only come from being immersed in the outdoors.

Sometimes, nature gives gifts to those that it chooses.  I don't like the word "deserves" because I think you get what you earn and the word has an aire of entitlement.  If you log the hours in a deer stand or throw enough flies at a trout or call enough turkeys, you tend to earn the chance to put your hands on what you pursue.  On the other hand, sometimes it feels like nature selects a "deserving" person that it blesses with a bounty.  

In my opinion, Corey earned this deer and I can see why nature smiled on him.  He is a loyal employee where he works.  He sacrifices for his family and friends.  He gives to others with his skills and talents while asking for nothing in return.  He spends any extra time in the woods and on the water which I wish he had more of.  Did Corey earn this buck through time in the field?  You bet he did.  Did he "deserve" this buck?  Well, nature seemed to think so.  All I know is that I am happy for my friend and can't wait to share more time with him in the great outdoors!

 

Missouri Outdoor Magazine

Link: https://missourioutdoormagazine.blogspot.com

If you like to read about experiences in the outdoors from Missourians, or if you like to read about adventures from a blue collar guy, of if you like to read about both, have I got a treat for you.  My buddy Nate has a blog that you might dig.  Nate is an upbeat guy that loves that outdoors and loves to share his experiences with other like-minded folks.  He is genuine, honest, and heart-felt all the time.  If you want more outdoors-related content to educate and entertain you, please check out Nate's blog!

Link: https://missourioutdoormagazine.blogspot.com

I Bought a Raft! The Conclusion

I settled on this particular raft, which I found on Facebook Marketplace, because of the price, reviews, and customer service that I received from the gentleman that I purchased the raft from.  Let's take a step back though, and start at the beginning.  When my journey to buying a vessel that catered to fly fishing began, I was torn between a raft and a drift boat.  At first, I was of the opinion that I had to have a drift boat.  I looked at new and used boats online that were hundreds of miles away and usually out of my price range.  Then I called some fly shops in Branson and Arkansas to inquire about boats.  I even focused some efforts on Facebook and searched posts as well as Marketplace.  

Eventually, the thought of a raft being more advantageous than a drift boat started to creep in.  Ryan Walker of Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance is responsible for this because of the amazing experiences that I had in his River Rat Raft.  I also spent some time in Wyoming in a raft and had one of my best days on the water in a raft on the Shoshone River.  I landed almost 30 browns on a streamer that day out of a two-man raft and that stuck with me.  While I love the comfort of a drift boat and see it as an icon of fly fishing, I shifted gears.  I decided that I wanted a raft.

With my focus narrowed, I started looking at companies, dimensions, and setups.  I knew I wanted a 3-person raft so I could hit the water with a couple of friends.  There was a little sticker shock involved with companies like Flycraft and Stealthcraft and I came to realize that I wasn't going to be able to afford them AND the trailer that I was going to need to transport them.  From there, I started to scour Facebook Marketplace and the Moutain Buzz website.  I found some good deals that were used but far away.  I found some good deals that were local but too small.  Then I found Chris Ryan on Marketplace.

I'll be honest, I thought the product that he had listed was too good to be true. I also thought that if it was a scam, it was a lot of effort for a scam which scammers don't tend to subscribe to.  I started messaging Chris some questions and quickly found out that he not only knew fly fishing rafts inside and out, but was also a wealth of knowledge when it came to fly fishing.  After a conversation on the phone with him, I realized that he was a legit dude and as trustworthy as a stranger could seem.

During our phone conversation, I realized that Chris is a raft dealer.  Oddly enough, that made me feel somewhat better and elicited more trust in a possible transaction.  After we settled on some particulars and a price, we then then started to work out a date to meet as well as a location.  We settled on a Saturday morning in mid September in Paducah, Kentucky, which was a drive for both of us (he's based in Georgia) but a compromise nonetheless.  I told a few people close to me what I was up to and they were all excited for me to purchase something that meant a lot to me.  

As the date got closer, I got more excited but my mom and dad became more concerned about my transaction.  I too was a little skeptical about dealing with someone I had never met before but their concerns had a more sinister tone.  In other words, my mom was scared that Chris was going to meet up with me, kill me, and steal my money.  She requested to accompany me on my journey to Paducah and I obliged.  She met me at the school that I teach at on a Friday afternoon and by 3:45, we were eastbound and down.

The drive was thankfully uneventful and we arrived at an American Inn in Paducah around 11:00 pm.  The evening was also uneventful and in what felt like the blink of an eye, it was Saturday morning.  Chris did an amazing job staying in contact with me and giving me updates on his location as well as estimated time of arrival at the American Inn.  This only added to my confidence in him and put my mom's nerves at ease as well.  

At at about 10:00 am, central standard time, I watched my boat travel down a highway and turn into the American Inn parking lot.  I'm not going to lie, I got pretty excited for a few reasons.  I hadn't been scammed.  I was indeed going to purchase the object of my desire.  I could see doors open to new waterways as the raft got closer.  It is said that a journey of a million miles begins with one step.  What I saw was a REALLY big step towards some fun and exciting opportunities and not just a raft.

As Chris exited his vehicle, he couldn't have missed the smile that wouldn't leave my face.  We shook hands, he introduced his girlfriend, and I introduced my mom.  To the satisfaction and relief of everyone, nobody got scammed, or murdered, or robbed.  We just started talking like we weren't strangers and exchanged Midwest and Southern pleasantries.  We found a mutual respect and appreciation for our differences that still had roots in a similar passion...fly fishing.  

I was in a rush to get on the road and get home because my stepson, Collin, was riding a bull in a rodeo that night. It also just happened to be in the town that my wife (Wendy, his mom) and I grew up in which made it even more special.  Chris was respectful of my timetable but was also sure to give me all of the information that a raft-owning newbie required.  He gave me specs as well as suggestions and could not have been kinder or more gracious during our time together.  Even my mom took note of the kindness that Chris and his girlfriend showed us.  At one point, I thought my mom was going to invite Chris and his girlfriend back to Kansas City to spend Thanksgiving together!

Too quickly, we put the raft in my truck, I gave him his payment, and we parted ways.  If I'm being completely honest, I could have spent the rest of the day with Chris on the water and I have no doubt that we would have had a great time together.  Chris is the kind of guy that is easy to get a long with but has enough fly fishing expertise to make you feel like you're hanging out with a guy that knows his way around a fly rod.  So if you find yourself in need of a similar vessel, I think you can count on Chris. He treated me really well and I bet he takes good care of other folks too! 

 

I Bought a Raft! Part 1

I've been keeping this little nugget of information from most folks because I wanted to wait until the fishing got slower.  Before we get to the raft itself, let's take a step back first.  Recently, I posted about the conundrum that I had been in with regards to whether I should purchase a drift boat or raft to meet my future fly fishing endeavors.  Well, I obviously made a decision and pulled the trigger on what I hope is something that is going to give me access to some new water.  It might even provide something bigger for me, but that's a post for another time.  

It is my hope that this raft will help me navigate some Ozarks streams for smallmouth and trout as well as help me get on some hard-to-access farm ponds for largemouth bass.  I have a lot to learn about Ozark streams but I'm excited explore some new spots and catch some fish that don't live in the area I call home (Kansas City).  As far as the farm ponds go, I will now be able to put me and two others on the water instead of just me and a buddy in my smaller 2-man boat.  

I chose to go with a raft over a drift boat for a few reasons.  First and foremost, this thing is going to get in and out of skinny water.  A drift boat, in my opinion, might struggle with some of the shallow water spots that I am going to traverse.  Second, I started to get a handle on the maintenance of a drift boat bottom and I really didn't want anything to do with learning about fiberglass.  Third, I liked the idea of being able to store a raft in a small space during the winter and during times it isn't getting used.  Fourth, I see a lot more customizable options with a raft than a drift boat.  In other words, I can make it fit around me rather than me having to fit around a drift boat.  Finally, I like the durability of a raft.  Yes, I will wince a little when I bounce off a rock but bouncing off a boulder will be less concerning banging off a rock.  Air chambers are more forgiving than fiberglass...right?

In my next post, I'm going to get into the purchase of the raft itself.  This was an interesting process that I would do again in a heartbeat.  I'll give you the who, when, where, and why I settled on this boat from this particular buyer.  To give you just a little preview of future posts, it involved a 7 hour drive on which my mom accompanied me because she wanted to make sure the local news report didn't state, "He went to pick up a boat from a guy he met online and never came home."

Peowing's Provisions

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/peowingsprovisions

Last summer, when my family and I went on vacation in Gulf Shores, Alabama, I ran into a really nice married couple while fly fishing from the beach.  They saw my fly rod and inquired about how the fishing was and where I was from.  To make a long story short, the wife informed me that she made landing nets.  

We have stayed in contact since we met at Gulf Shores and she is currently working on something for me.  I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I'm pretty darn excited to see the final product.  I will be posting about what I receive but until then, if you want to check out the Peowing's Provisions Facebook Page and see other items that are available, I'm sure a small business would greatly appreciate any support you can send their way!  

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/peowingsprovisions

Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia, Missouri is CLOSED!

Link to Liberty Park Pond Closing Press Release: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/sedalias-liberty-park-pond-closed-trout-fishing-winter

Link to Missouri Department of Conservation Winter Trout Stocking Areas: https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/where-fish/winter-trout-fishing-areas

I'm going to be honest, this was a heart breaker!  I have been fishing at Liberty Park Pond for stocked rainbow trout for almost a decade now.  It has been a winter tradition of mine that I have loved with all my heart.  While I'm sad to see that it will be closed for maintenance this winter, I'm sure it will be good in the long run.  I just wanted to make anyone that frequents this fishing spot aware of the situation.  I hope to see you there in 2026 because this spot is an absolute gem.  For now though, I'm going to have to pivot my winter fishing plans.  And if you think for a single second that anglers don't have a backup plan for a backup plan...well then you don't know the mentality of anglers!

Thanks to the efforts of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and other local municipalities, there are plenty of other winter trout fishing opportunities for Missourians.  For me, I plan on visiting Everyday Pond at Missouri Western State University and Krug Park Lagoon in St. Joseph.  Those spots are catch and release only until Jan. 31.  In my opinion, the spots that are catch and release until February can produce some better cast to catch ratios than lakes that allow fish to be kept from the moment they get stocked.  

Since I am a catch and release guy 99% of the time, I would rather have more hookups and more releases since I'm not concerned with putting dinner on the table.  On the other hand, if you're wanting some table fare, you have more options that can be found by checking out the winter trout stocking areas that MDC is happy to help you locate by using the link below.  Regardless of your intent, I hope you are able to get on the water and catch a few stocked rainbow trout!  These fish are stocked for us to catch so why not go catch a few fish that don't normally spend time in northern Missouri!

Link to Liberty Park Pond Closing Press Release: https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/sedalias-liberty-park-pond-closed-trout-fishing-winter

Link to Missouri Department of Conservation Winter Trout Stocking Areas: https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/where-fish/winter-trout-fishing-areas

The Fishing Season (in my area) is Winding Down

About a week ago, I found some time to hit the water at one of my favorite lakes. I was hopeful that the cooling water temperatures would improve fishing conditions and make for a productive day on the water. I was hoping for lots of fish, big fish, and lots of big fish. I threw streamers for a better part of the morning with only one fish to show for my efforts. I switched over to a 1/80 ounce jig and indicator to see if a smaller and slower presentation could at least catch a few fish. While it did catch a 13 inch largemouth, a crappie, and some bluegill, it was still pretty slow that morning.

I admit, I don’t do a lot of fall fishing for a couple of different reasons. To me, it seems pretty unpredictable. With the changing weather systems and changing water temperatures, I just never feel like I have a handle on what the fish are doing. Also, my brain is starting to switch over to deer hunting mode. I love deer hunting during rifle season and I do some scouting as well as planning beforehand which cuts into my fishing time. It would appear, based on my last outing, that my impoundment fishing season is just about over. If I’m gonna do any fishing from here on out, it’s either gonna be for stocked trout in the Kansas City area or I’m gonna have to go to Southwest Missouri and fish either a trout park or Lake Taneycomo. I hope you’re able to lengthen your fishing season and I hope you still have some good days on the water. If you are transitioning over to sitting in a tree more than being on the water, I hope your arrows fly straight in your rifle shoots true.

Show Me Fly Guy Wing Sauce

 

Well there is a post title that I never thought I would write and a couple of pictures that I never thought I would take...but here we are.  So let's get right to the point in regards to what is happening with this wing sauce.  If you are not aware, I am a public school teacher.  It just so happens that I teach with the mom of a former student of mine named Mikey.  One day, Mikey's mom brought some wing sauce to school that Mikey had made and asked me if I wanted a bottle.  I gladly accepted, took it home, and tried it.  I instantly recognized that the sauce was unlike any wing sauce that I ever eaten.  It was as unique as it was amazing!  I told Mikey's mom that I really liked it and she offered me more because, in her words, "We have more than we know what to do with."  That got my attention and gave me an idea.

I got in contact with Mikey and share my vision with him.  I asked if I could buy some bottles off him, throw one of my stickers on it, and see if there was a market for our little collaboration.  By no means am I taking any credit for Mikey's work.  It just happens that I have a blog, post on social media, and sell a few products here and there.  I just wanted to be transparent about everything and make sure that Mikey gets all of the credit for the concoction.  

So if you are interested in purchasing some of Mikey's wing sauce, please let me know.  I am planning on trying to keep sales local (Kansas City area) and make some deliveries or maybe meet up for transactions.  Each bottle is $5.  However, if you're really interested in me shipping a bottle or two to you, I'm sure we can work something out.  Just shoot me an email at showmeflyguy@gmail.com if you're interested.  I have about 8 bottles left and if those sell out, Mikey and I might scale up our little side hustle!  

Now Available on Amazon: A Fly Fishing Journal and Logbook

Link: https://a.co/d/43t2JQ2

It is with great joy and a lot of excitement that I am able to announce the release of my latest project!  I have been thinking about creating a journal for years and have been working on this for months!  I was inspired to make a journal because of the journal that I kept when I was new to fly fishing.  That journal was an incredibly useful tool as it helped me to reflect on what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong.  It ended up becoming a nostalgic treasure to me and something that gets locked up in my fireproof gun safe with a few other things that are equally important to me.

I saw room for improvement in the journal that I used so I decided to make my own.  It is my hope that others can use this tool and grow from their experiences just like I did.  And while I published my own book of stories about a year and a half ago, I felt a need to help others tell their own stories.  Included alongside the 100 journal entries is a logbook to keep track of everything from big fish to boat/rod/reel maintenance.  I even threw in a little original poetry (no AI usage, I promise) because I've always liked to write poetry but never shared it with anyone.

If you buy a copy, thank you very much and I hope you like it!  If you don't, I get it.  Journaling and compiling information isn't for everyone.  Regardless, thank you for reading today's post and for your support in whatever way you show it.  I hope you get to spend some time on the water and end up with a good story that you can share with others!

Link: https://a.co/d/43t2JQ2

 

The Brave Can Also Catch Smallmouth Bass in Idaho

Link to The Brave in my Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/607031796/2-pack-of-the-brave-flies-streamer-bass

Life is unpredictable to say the least.  Just when I thought I was done posting about fly fishing for smallmouth bass, I received a message from a former student of mine.  Before I get to the fly fishing part, let me describe this young man in a little more detail.  He was an amazing student when he was in 6th grade and an even better human being as an adult!  He is also an accomplished angler that has slowly crossed over from the baitcaster world into the realm of fly fishing.  He moved to Idaho after high school and earned a degree in biology from Northwest Nazarene University.  Since then, he has stayed in Idaho and has slowly caught the fly fishing bug (pun totally intended).  I sent him a few flies and recently, I sent him some Braves.

Two weeks after I sent him some flies, I had pretty much forgotten about his order.  However, when we saw my post about catching a smallmouth bass in the Ozarks on The Brave, he messaged me.  His exact words were, "Oh, that's good to know because I'm floating the Snake River this weekend."  I forced myself to wait until Sunday morning to inquire about the trip down the Snake.  He replied with some pictures and some of them contained smallmouth bass with some Braves in their mouths.  

Joy is an underused word in my lexicon.  I don't use it much, but thankfully, I've started to value the word more and I have tried to use it when it seems appropriate.  When I saw this young man's pictures, joy filled my heart.  I was happy to see that he was happy.  I smiled when I say him holding a few smallmouth bass.  I felt joy when I saw my former student holding smallmouth bass that he had caught on a fly that I had tied, and more specifically, on The Brave! I would be happy to send you some Braves as well and be overjoyed to see some pictures of you holding fish as well. 

Link to The Brave in my Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/607031796/2-pack-of-the-brave-flies-streamer-bass

 

The Brave Can Officially Catch Smallmouth Bass!

Link to online fly shop- TheShowMeFlyGuy.etsy.com

This post almost slipped through the cracks.  In my series of posts about fly fishing for smallmouth bass with Ryan Walker of Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance and my good buddy Corey, I forgot one important story.  Aside from my buddy Corey having a good time and catching some smallies, I had one goal and one goal only.  I wanted to catch a smallmouth bass on my favorite streamer, The Brave.

It is important to note that I did not invent this fly.  It is simply a rabbit strip zonker with a double collar.  I call it The Brave because I caught a 7 and 1/2 pound channel cat on this fly while wearing an Atlanta Braves hat and decided to name my variant, The Brave. What I’m trying to say is if you go around asking people about whether they’ve ever heard of this streamer, the answer is probably going to be no. However, I sell this fly online and I’ve sold quite a few. I only sell flies online that are proven to be productive patterns, and this is one of the most productive patterns that I have ever finished. This fly has caught, largemouth bass, catfish, big bluegill, crappie, a carp, white bass, and hybrid striped bass. One of the few game fish that it had not caught was a smallmouth bass.

During our trip with Ryan, the smallies were biting steadily. Ryan’s flies were working great and we were catching fish. I was hesitant to tie on one of my flies because I was scared it would bring the productivity to a screeching halt. However, curiosity got the best of me and I just had to give it a shot.. I showed it to Ryan and he not only approved, but it said it looked good and started asking some questions about it. This gave me some additional confidence that this fly might get the job done for smallmouth bass.  Keeping with my traditions and habits, I missed the first couple of strikes. While, that was a little disappointing, it did let me know that maybe I was going down the right path. On the third strike, I set the hook with the appropriate aggression and the fight was on. When I got it to the boat, I was not disappointed at all by the fact that the fish was rather small. Instead, I was overjoyed with the fact that a smallmouth ate this fly and that I had reached my goal.

It’s a good feeling to get confirmation on something that you believe to be true.  It makes you feel smart and like you know what you’re doing. However, I’m not the type of person to rest on his laurels. Once I reach a goal, it’s time to set a new one. What’s my next goal you might wonder? Well, The Brave has one more thing to prove. Will it catch a trout?

Link to online fly shop- TheShowMeFlyGuy.etsy.com

 

Sometimes You Get Quantity Over Quality

 

About a month ago, I had the absolute pleasure of fishing one of my favorite spots in the entire world.  As luck would have it, the weather cooperated too.  It is a rare occurrence for me to get to fish such a beautiful place with moderate temperatures and zero wind.  It was a little slice of heaven and to make things even better, I got to share it with my good buddy Waylon.  He's my 4 year old German Shorthair Pointer in case you are new to this site.  It could not have been a more perfect day on the water.

I hit the water with very few expectations other than the hope of catching some farm pond largemouth bass on a fly rod.  As I get older, I realize more and more that if you approach a situation with little to few expectations, you will be disappointed less often.  That approach allowed me to be happy with whatever was sent my way.  While I didn't catch any fish over 2 pounds, I caught A BUNCH of bass in the 1 pound range.  When I say A BUNCH, I mean probably 20-25 bass...and an 11 inch crappie too!

They all smashed streamers.  They all came from cover.  I landed over half of the takes and didn't break off a single fly.  I even got to filet out some fish for the owner of the lake which made him happy and hopefully kept me in his good graces.  Again, it was a perfect morning.

Days like this are few and far between for me.  It seems like lately, the weather stinks or I'm too busy with other responsibilities of which, I have many right now.  So when a morning like this falls in your lap, it does your soul some good to soak it up and hold onto it.  Heck, just writing about this morning is putting me in a better state of mind.  With that being stated, I hope you have a perfect morning soon.  Wherever you are and whatever you are fishing for, I hope you have a perfect morning and/or evening sometime soon.  Sometimes nature gives you what you need exactly when you need it so if you can hit the water, I think you should go for it!

Drift Boat or Raft? Here We Go Down the Rabbit Hole!

For over a year now, I have pondered the question, "Do I want a drift boat or a raft?"  I have spent a little time around each and have enjoyed my experiences in both.  Ideally, I would like to have one of each, but financially, that's not a possibility right now.  In the end, there is no right answer.  It is a situational decision so let's look at the situation.  So I need to make a choice.  Let's look at some pros and cons but let's take a step further.  Let's look at this through the lens of a Midwest guy that lives 100 miles away from Ozark streams.  

Drift boats have a special place in my heart.  To me, they are fly fishing icons.  They are comfortable, stable, and fairly tough.  There is room for storage and a little room to walk around.  They can be tough (aluminum) a little fragile (fiberglass) or somewhere in between (wood).  They are more expensive than rafts but in my opinion, it's because they are worth it.

Rafts on the other hand are less expensive and easier to store.  They handle shallow water situations a little better in the sense that they need less water to float.  On the other hand, a drift boat will probably bounce off rocks and take a little damage.  A drift boat might tear which is immensely more problematic.  Rafts are lighter and can get a person into less accessible areas such as areas that don't have boat ramps.

I have wrestled with this decision for a long time and I'm leaning towards a raft.  I have really enjoyed my experiences with Ryan Walker and chasing smallmouth bass down Ozark streams.  I want to do more of that in the future but I also want to drift places like the Niangua River for trout took.  Ozarks streams seem to be better suited for rafts, especially during low flows.  On the other hand, I sure would like to guide on Lake Taneycomo one day.  Fly fishing out of a drift boat on that lake is as close to fishing big western trout streams, like the North Platte, as I will typically get.  

So let's zoom a little further out at look at my options that are closer to home.  Putting a raft on a farm pond or small lake sure would be easier than a drift boat.  While a drift boat would be more comfortable, the issues that arise with launching a drift boat without a ramp, while not impossible, could be problematic.  I can't exactly carry a drift boat through an agriculture field.  Carrying a drift boat would stink, but it is possible.  

When it comes to fishing lakes like Watkins Mill, Lake Jacomo, or other smaller lakes, the point is moot point.  I have a jon boat for that but if I wanted to take a couple of folks out on those lakes, a drift boat would be more comfortable.  On the other hand, I don't have the garage space, nor desire, to store a drift boat.  I could, however, store a raft on the floor, under my jon boat.  

So while I want a drift boat for so many reasons, a raft seems like the right choice for me right now...I think.  I'm hesitant to get a raft though because there just so much I don't know about them.  What happens if I pop an air chamber?  How much air to I put in one?  What size of trailer to I need to haul one?  What kind of pump should I get?  How do I minimize wear and tear to make a raft last as long as possible?  How do I fix a hole?  Most of these problems are nonexistent with drift boats.

Now you're probably thinking one of two things.  One, "This guy overanalyzes things."  Or maybe you are thinking, "This guy sure is putting a lot of thought into making a logical choice."  I'm hopeful that I am somewhere between the two but ultimately, I just want to get the right tool for the job and make the best financial decision.  While a decision has been looming for quite awhile, I believe that I am closer to committing to a choice and making a purchase soon.  Stay tuned for more.  This story ain't over!

No Idea What Show This Came From But Had to Share It!

No description is needed for this post.  Take what you will from this without my analysis or interference.  It was just too interesting to keep to myself.

Reading's Fly Shop Presents: A Day on the River

I love Missouri.  I was born here, I was raised here, and I will probably die here.  I love to fly fish all over Missouri and I'm proud to say that I learned to fly fish at Bennett Spring and on the Niangua River.  So when I received an email recently to help promote an event on the Niangua River, I couldn't help but turn the info that was shared with me into a post.  It is noteworthy that the Charlie that is referred to in the message is Charlie Reading who owns Reading's Fly Shop just outside of Bennett Spring State Park.  I am passing along what I received in the email so I don't mess something up in translation.  Here is what I got and what I want to pass along:

"Charlie has expanded his "day on the river" to 3 days October 3 to Oct 5, 2025.  This will be at the river front located at Hidden Valley Outfitters, Lebanon MO, just outside of Bennett Spring State Park on Highway 64 at the  Niangua river bridge.  There will be a One Fly Tournament on Saturday morning 9 am to 11 am along with vendors, fly tyers, fishing outfitters, and food trucks.  Call the fly shop for questions or details.  Please see attached flyer for the program."

Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass with Ryan Walker and my Buddy Corey- Part 2 (The Conclusion)

Wow!  Part one of this two part series got a little deep and emotional.  This post, however, is going to be different.  This post will more into the nuances and details of our trip.  So without further hesitation, let's get into it!

First of all, while Corey had been on some float trips in the Ozarks, he had never been on a float down an Ozarks stream where fishing for smallmouth bass was the purpose.  Prior to arriving for this trip, Corey had never caught a smallmouth bass.  I had slightly more experience that Corey but by no means was I significantly more experienced than Corey.  And while I fly fish quite a bit more than Corey, he is no slouch.  He has some serious skills and has years of experience with using a fly rod.  What surprises me is how fast he is and was able to shake the rust off in regards to not casting a fly rod for awhile.

I have had the fortune of hitting the water with Ryan on two occasions before this trip.  Each one was unique and special.  There is a reason that I wanted to fish with Ryan for a third time as well as a reason that I wanted Corey's for smallmouth bass trip to be with Ryan.  That reason is that Ryan is the most knowledgeable and skilled guide that I have ever fished with.  It is an honor to say that Ryan has also become a friend.  He is always helpful when I run ideas by him and encouraging when I share accomplishments with him.  He's also great at sending me some pictures of absolute donkeys that he catches on a routine basis!

Before we launched, it was decided that Corey would be given the front seat of the raft.  That seat is typically the one that sees the most action and that is what Ryan and I wanted Corey to experience.  As fortune would have it, that was exactly what happened.  An interesting side note is that when Corey moved to the back of the boat after lunch, he kept his momentum rolling.  This was definitely Corey's day and it was a pleasure to watch it happen.  His excitement and enthusiasm were genuine and appreciated by Ryan and I.  I'm not afraid or ashamed to admit that Corey out-fished me by quite a bit on this trip and I couldn't be happier.

We caught every fish on this trip on streamers that we cast with 7 weight fly rods.  Most of the time we used sink tip line and the flies varied from 5-8 inches long.  We threw D & D's, Roamers, Murdich minnows and a few other files but the best producer can be seen in the first picture below.  I was surprised to see that most smallies did not come off of structure like laydowns.  A few came around grass that lined the banks and a few came from shadowed spots in the shallows.  We even caught a few that seemed to be holding in the current and smacked our flies when we let them sink (on accident and on purpose) as well as near the boat.

The action was both steady and consistent.  There wasn't flurries of catching a bunch of fish with lulls in-between.  Corey ended up catching the biggest fish that was around 15-16 inches.  It was also a beautiful representative of its species, but then again, a lot of the fish we caught that day were.  Some of the eats were aggressive (which increased our catch rate) and some were more subtle (which caused a lot of misses on my end).  The name of the game was quantity over quality.  If you have spent some time on the water, you know that nature is going to give you what it wants and I was grateful for the gift that we had received!

If I have it my way, this will not be the last time that I hit the water with these two gentlemen.  We swapped stories, laughed, and enjoyed a beautiful piece of water that Ryan graciously guided us through.  I have to say, as much as I love fly fishing for trout, I am quickly falling in love with fly fishing for smallmouth.  You never know, there just might be more smallmouth content coming up on this blog.  In fact, I'm working on a post today that is going to open a lot of smallmouth fly fishing doors for me...stay tuned!