Wow! 2025 was a heck of a year on the water! While looking back at some pictures, a theme revealed itself to me. And while I did indeed fish some of the same spots with some of the same flies, the common thread that I noticed was that of firsts. I knew that I had attempted some new things but I had forgotten about volume of new things that tried. And while there were plenty of swings and misses, I have chosen to focus on the accomplishments for this post. I've decided to document these happenings in list format to keep things linear and succinct.
1. I had the pleasure to fish with my buddy Justin more than I ever have! He is incredibly knowledgeable about the outdoors and has a thirst for learning more especially in the area of fly fishing. His enthusiasm is contagious.
2. I had the chance to test out a bunch of new flies that I had tied and a few that my buddy Milo had tied. It's always a thrill to catch a fish on a new-to-you fly.
3. I got to try my hand at guiding a little bit. I had the pleasure of taking my first client (but now friend) Timothy to catch some largemouth bass on a fly. I learned that I want guiding to be a part of my future.
4. I learned how to match my flies to the size and color of local fry last spring and early summer. This helped me stretch out the amount of time I spend chasing largemouth bass on the fly and especially helped me catch more post spawn largemouth.
5. I learned that carp will smash a streamer if they are hungry and on the hunt for prey.
6. Not only did I catch my first gar on a fly, I caught my first four gar on a fly! This species had eluded me for years and good gracious did it feel good to catch, what I considered, my unicorn. Up next, I want to catch a bowfin in the bootheel of Missouri.
7. I learned that you can actually catch hybrid striped bass on chicken livers with spinning tackle. I had heard that this was possible but it was something that I had to experience myself to believe it. Maybe it is not a coincidence that I am from The Show Me State.
8. For the first time in my life, I fly fished in saltwater surf. And while I had caught a fish in saltwater before, this was different. I learned where the fish hung out, about tide schedules, and saltwater fly selection. I caught my first pompano and my first ladyfish...and then about a dozen more! I also saw my first shark in the wild as well which was cool...and terrifying.
9. I got to help my buddy Corey catch his first smallmouth bass and go on his first guided fly fishing trip with my good friend and outstanding guide, Ryan Walker of Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance. I don't think that will be the last time we will float an Ozark stream together and catch smallmouth.
10. I learned that my favorite streamer, The Brave, will catch smallmouth in Missouri AND Idaho!
11. I bought my first vessel that is setup for fly fishing. I was on the fence about buying a drift boat or a raft and I went with a raft. I couldn't be happier with my decision and have loved learning about how to set up a fly fishing raft and how to row such a craft.
12. I went hunting with a crossbow for the first time and while I didn't harvest anything, good gracious was it fun to lengthen my deer hunting season.
13. I collaborated with a former student to distribute a wind sauce. He did all of the heavy lifting and I just helped with the branding.
14. I published a fly fishing journal and that was a goal that I had set a long time ago. I even included some poetry which was another goal of mine as well.
15. I got to help my buddy Corey track and recover his first whitetail buck. This was an event that had been in the works for a few years and I couldn't have been happier for my friend.
16. I had the opportunity to take my new raft out on Watkins Mill Lake. I learned that rafts are not made for easy navigation on lakes, especially in the wind.
17. I also had the chance to take my raft down a stretch of the Niangua River with my buddy Justin who acted as a "pseudo client". I also got to meet up with Ryan Walker prior to our float and he was a wealth of knowledge and guidance, as usual.
18. I recently learned a new fly pattern and a few variants of that pattern. It's basically a slimmed down Lunch Money in some ways, but it might be enough to warrant its own name. Or maybe not. Maybe I'll just call it a laser dub minnow because that's basically what it is.
19. I saw my first albino trout in the "wild". It was at Bennett Spring State Park which is stocked with trout so I guess it wasn't really wild but it was still pretty cool to see!
20. I caught one of the biggest trout that I have ever caught in a Kansas City lake that was part of the Missouri Department of Conservation Winter Trout Stocking Program!
