Beautiful Black Crappie

Recently, I was able to accompany a group of young fly fishermen on a trip to Lone Jack Lake near Lone Jack, Missouri.  This was the first trip of the spring for these kids and they were eager to use some of the flies that they had been learning to tie over the winter.  Things started off a little slow, but eventually we got into some beautiful black crappie near the handicapped fishing jetty and the dam.  The fish were really dark I assume because of the spawning season and clear water.  Regardless, they were hitting pretty hard and there were lots of them.  Most of the kids caught at least 5 fish with one young man catching 18 of the papermouths.  I don't get into a school of black crappie very often so I thought I would share a few pictures.  They are beautiful fish that I would take over white crappie any day!

You should have been here (Lake Taneycomo) last week!

Recently a brown trout weighing over 20 pounds was caught AND RELEASED on Lake Taneycomo.  Here's a picture and a link to the story.  Good story and incredible fish!

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/outdoors/article71861987.html

Yet again, another state record falls!

CAPE FAIR ANGLER CATCHES STATE-RECORD WHITE BASS

Published on: Apr. 11, 2016

Posted by Lucas Bond

Link to article: http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/cape-fair-angler-catches-state-record-white-bass 

James Wright caught this 3-pound, 4-ounce state-record white bass on a trotline at Table Rock Lake on April 6, 2016. (NOTE: High-res image available at http://mdc.mo.gov/node/32657).  Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Congratulations to James Wright on setting the state record by catching a 3-pound, 4-ounce white bass on Table Rock Lake.

STONE COUNTY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports James Wright of Cape Fair became the most recent record-setting angler in Missouri when he hooked a white bass on Table Rock Lake on a trotline. The new “alternative method” record white bass caught by Wright on April 6 weighed 3-pounds, 4-ounces with a length of 18 3/4 inches. Wright was using shad for bait to try to catch catfish, but instead he caught a state-record white bass.

“I was in my new boat baiting hooks on a trotline, and out of nowhere something hit the line hard,” Wright said. “I grabbed the line and yanked it, and then the fight was on. I finally got it in the boat after about three minutes and was totally shocked to see that it was a white bass.”

Wright added that he wasn’t sure if it was state record so he contacted MDC immediately.

“Once MDC confirmed that the fish was a state record I was so excited,” he said. “This was my dad’s and my dream. I just can’t believe it came true! This is by far the biggest white bass I have ever caught on a trotline. I plan on having it mounted so I’ll never forget catching a fish like that.”

MDC staff verified the record-weight fish using a certified scale in the town of Galena.

“2016 is shaping up to be a year for state-record fish,” said MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “We have already had six new records so far, which is more than an entire year sometimes. The mild weather we have had so far this year means more anglers are fishing, and catching big fish.”

Wright’s recent catch set the state record for white bass in the alternative methods category.

Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish. For more information on state-record fish, visit the MDC website at http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/state-record-fish.

Find Your Water: Season 2, Episode 1

Find Your Water: Season 2, Episode 1: An Artist's Frontier from Redingtongear on Vimeo.

Fly Fishing Gear Swap/Sale or FF2GS/S

Do you have plans for April 23, 2016 between 10 AM and whenever?  If so, good luck with all of your endeavors and it had better be fishing related!  If you answered no to this question, then I would like to extend an invite to attend a fly fishing gear swap meet/sale.  Fishermen are invited to bring unused and unwanted fishing gear to either trade, sell, or straight up give away.  Maybe you have some old tackle that you ran across during spring cleaning or maybe you just want to get rid of some things that you don't use.  Possibly, you are on the other end of the spectrum and in search of some fishing equipment or you are just searching for a bargain on something that you don't even know you need yet.  Regardless, this is for you and it is provided by Rainbow Fly Shop in Independence, Missouri.  So bring some cash, bring some fishing gear that you are looking to unload, bring a table to display your equipment, and lastly bring a vehicle with some cleared out space to haul your new-found treasures home.

Also, for those of you looking to purchase some new fishing equipment, a sales representative from Echo/Lamson/Airflo will be in attendance as well.  New models of rods, reels, and line will be on display and available for demos.  For what it is worth (and I am knot getting paid for this) I love my new Echo 6 weight and I recently bought some 8 wt. Airflo fly line which I have not used yet but will be writing about when I get a chance.  There will also be some sales inside the shop on other new items so if you can't find it on April 23, you might not need it!  I hope to see you there for this unique and fun event.

Another State Record Falls

The following article was taken from:
http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/reeds-spring-fisherman-takes-state-record-freshwater-drum 

REEDS SPRING FISHERMAN TAKES STATE-RECORD FRESHWATER DRUM

Joshua Cole of Reeds Spring shot this 30-pound, 15-ounce state-record freshwater drum at Table Rock Lake on March 31, 2016.  
Picture courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

Published on: Apr. 7, 2016

Posted by Lucas Bond

REEDS SPRING, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that Joshua Cole of Reeds Spring became the most recent record-breaking fisherman in Missouri when he shot a freshwater drum on Table Rock Lake using a bow and arrow. The new “alternative method” record drum taken by Cole on March 31 weighed 30-pounds, 15-ounces. It was 33 inches long and had a girth of 30 inches. He shot the fish around 10 p.m. about one mile from Point 10 on Table Rock Lake.

“I can’t believe I shot a state-record drum,” Cole said. “I knew I was shooting at a big drum, but I didn’t realize how big it was until we got it in the boat.”

Cole added that it took two arrows to get it in the boat.

“It really didn’t put up much of a fight with two arrows in it,” he said. “I’m just glad we got it in the boat with no problems.”

The new freshwater drum broke the previous alternative-method state record of 26-pounds, 8-ounces taken on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2008.

“March was a great month for catching record-breaking fish throughout the state,” said MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “There were four new state records set in March. This just goes to show you that conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish.”

MDC staff verified the new record-weight fish using a certified scale at MDC’s Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery in Branson.

“Once my friends and I got the fish in the boat, I knew that it was a state-record fish,” Cole said. “This is by far the one of biggest fish I have ever caught in my life, and I still can’t believe it!”

Cole hasn’t decided what to do with the fish just yet, but his hopes are high to shoot something bigger.

“This was my first time out bowfishing this year, and I can’t believe I shot a state-record fish,” Cole said. “I’m so ready to get back out on the water and find bigger fish.”

Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Bowfishing is considered an alternative method and consist of a bow or crossbow that shoots arrows attached to a string so that the fish can be retrieved after they’re pierced. Other alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, and atlatl.

For more information on state-record fish, visit the MDC website at http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/state-record-fish.

Amazing Paddlefish Information

Photograph courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

MDC-TAGGED PADDLEFISH LOGGING AS MANY AS 500 MILES IN MIGRATION

News from the Southeast region

Published on: Mar. 25, 2016

Posted by Candice Davis

JACKSON, Mo. -- Researchers with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) are surprised at how far paddlefish they've tagged traveled as part of a research project. Two of the tagged paddlefish swam more than 500 miles down the Mississippi River to the northern portion of Louisiana before being caught and called in. Researchers hope anglers will continue to look for tags when they catch paddlefish and report them.

Paddlefish are large fish with lengths up to seven feet and weight known to surpass 160 pounds. They are most known for their long snouts which can take up more than 1/3 of the fish's total length.

"Paddlefish are known to be strong swimmers and though their long spawning runs each spring have been well observed, we've been surprised at where some of our Missouri paddlefish have been caught," said Nick Kramer, a graduate student in charge of sampling Mississippi River paddlefish.

In 2014, MDC and Southeast Missouri State University began a five-year study to evaluate the paddlefish population in the Mississippi River. In the first two years of the project, the focus is on getting as many fish tagged as possible. When the tagged fish are then caught by commercial or recreational anglers their tags are reported. This helps scientists gain an idea of how many tagged fish are being caught and harvested each year. The project will provide information that helps MDC make management decisions for Missouri's paddlefish. An added perk of this information is being able to track the fish movements between tagging and recapture.

Students and MDC resource scientists have tagged around 500 paddlefish throughout the Mississippi River and have had 30 of those tags called in. Nine of those fish were found swimming up the Ohio River and its tributaries, four below Smithland Dam on the Ohio River, and one each below Kentucky and Barkley Dams.

"Some of these fish movements are just extraordinary. For instance, one of the fish that swam up the Ohio River swam up to Kentucky Dam and actually managed to utilize the lock chamber to enter Kentucky Lake before being caught nearly 10 miles above the dam," Kramer said.

Kramer and his colleagues expected to see some movement from the tagged fish. However, the results in the first two years have been eye opening.

One of the first reported tags was originally tagged near Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County and was called in nearly 300 miles away just south of Memphis, Tenn.

"I thought that was pretty far, but then other reports came in with four other fish swimming past that location," he said.

Two of the fish entered Arkansas with one being caught on the Arkansas River near Pendleton, and the other swimming up the White River and further up the Cache River before being caught and released by a commercial fisherman just south of Interstate 40.

"When that call came in, I thought he meant the Cache River in Illinois, but when he said Arkansas, I think I was speechless for a minute," Kramer said. "That fish traveled over 500 miles, with more than 120 of that being in smaller tributary systems. I never expected movement like that."

Since then, two other paddlefish have surpassed that mark swimming more than 500 miles down the Mississippi River to the northern portion of Louisiana before being caught.

While this movement information is not crucial to the outcome of the study, it is important in understanding the exploitation levels of these prehistoric fish.

"Many paddlefish tagged in Missouri's rivers are not staying within our state's limits," says Kramer. "This is a reminder that we must consider harvest that occurs outside of our borders when determining the sustainability of Missouri's paddlefish for the future."

Kramer also said the long distances are exciting for anglers that anticipate catching these fish, which could also be coming from other states. Anglers who reel in a tagged paddlefish should call the number on the tag, or contact their local MDC office.

For more information on Missouri paddlefish, go online to www.mdc.mo.gov.

Photograph courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Wildcat streamer

I just ran across this video on fieldandstream.com and I had to share it immediately.  I like it for a lot of reasons but mostly because I want to tie a beefed up version of this for bass.  It reminds me of The Brave, which you can find instruction for under the "Flies" heading on the right side of the screen, but this has a few added elements that I really like.  Here's the link to the article on field and stream if you want more info, otherwise, the video can be found below.

Wildcat Streamer Article Link

Missouri Angler Profile- H-Dub

Name (first only):

H-Dub

Height:

1.76 m

Weight:

82 kg

Age:

60

Years of Fishing Experience:

56

Hometown:

“My fishing hometown is Blythedale, Missouri”

Currently Residing In:

“A state of fishing euphoria”

Earliest Fishing Memory:

“Watching my grandmother clean and cook the tiny bluegill that I caught.  My grandfather refused to clean them because they were too small.  She loved me and cleaned and cooked them for me even though they were all of 3 or 4 inches long.”

Favorite Fishing Story: 

“After fishing with grasshoppers one summer evening my grandfather was regaling my grandmother about the huge bass that got away.  He was cleaning the fish at the time and then found his lost little bobber, line grasshopper and hook in the smallest fish that he had kept.  My grandmother was a wise woman and merely went back to her work without saying a word.  I did however notice a bit of a smile near the corners of her mouth as she turned away.”

Favorite Fishing Partner:

“It would be my son T-train.  Both of these individuals share the mindset that when we are on the hunt for cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates there is no such thing as a problem, despite the fact that a challenge or two may arise. We feed off of challenges!”

One person you would like to fish with (dead or alive): 

“Jimmy Houston.  He was once answering questions about the largemouth bass and someone asked when that species had their greatest growth rate.  Without hesitation Jimmy responded “The greatest growth rate of bass is between Saturday when you caught the fish and Monday when you are telling everyone about it”!  How could you not want to fish him?”

Who/What got you started fishing?

“My maternal father was an avid fisher of farm ponds with a particular interest in big largemouth bass.  He got me started when I was 4 years old. I spent all summer, every summer on his farm.  Being that I spent so much time with my grandfather did I choose fishing or did fishing choose me?   My fraternal grandfather was also a fishing fanatic but channel cats were his species of choice.”

What is your favorite fishing spot in Missouri? 

“The next place I am going fishing.”

What is your favorite lure/fly/technique? 

“Need you asked this question?  Heddon Bullfrog Lucky 13, is the lure and I have a rod and reel dedicated to this lure and this lure only.  I only take it off when the knot is old or the line is replaced.  Being that it is a floating plug that shallow dives on retrieve, it can be fished in a variety of ways.  I have taken bass on it in every month of the year in Missouri, even January when all the frogs are buried in mud.”

What is your favorite species to fish for? 

“Whatever is biting, but I put the most time in hunting largemouth in farm ponds.”

What percent of the time do you catch and release?

“On purpose or accidental?”

What is the weirdest thing that you have seen on the water? 

“My nephew once caught a 16 inch largemouth bass and wanted me to look in its mouth before he unhooked it because he saw something besides his lure.  At first glance I thought it was the hind foot of a frog, but on further inspection it was the tail of a fish.  When we cleaned the fish, I measured the bluegill sticking out of its stomach at 8 ½ inches.  Now tell me why a 16 inch bass with an 8 ½ inch bluegill protruding from its gullet is thinking about eating when a spinner bait goes by?”

What is one place that you want to fish in Missouri, but haven’t before? 

“Lake Taneycomo for trout, and every other body of water that I have never thrown a line into.”

It Was An Angry Sea That Day My Friend

Well the weather man (who shall remain nameless...and ignorant) on the television the other day said that the wind would be calm and it shouldn't play a factor in the days activities.  Apparently this joker doesn't fly fish because it was NOT calm and it DID play a factor in my day's activities, but not all were negative.  I had to run and errand and pick up some camping gear that I am going to need this week (more on that at another time) and it just so happened that one of my favorite farm ponds was in the immediate vicinity.  There was a chop on the water but since I didn't have much time to fish, I had to deal with it rather than wait it out.  I tried out my usual spots and caught about 4 bass (all small) and then hit the windswept banks.  My dad used to always tell me that the wind blows the baitfish in to the bank.  I have since learned that he is partially correct.  I recently learned that the wind actually blows plankton towards the bank, which the small fish feed on, which steers them toward the bank.  Naturally, the larger fish feed on smaller fish which in turn brings them to the party as well.

Anyway, when I arrived at the aforementioned bank, it looked like a minefield.  The wind has also blown patches of algae and hydrilla to the bank as well.  I had to plan my casts carefully or end up towing in huge patches of gunk and grass.  I landed a couple more small bass and was thinking that it was about time for me to head out but I thought a few more casts were in order.  I was throwing The Brave and working it through some patches when I felt a solid thud.  I set the hook and saw a large forked tail rise out of the water and give a defiant slap.  The beast didn't jump and didn't even come close to the surface.  Instead, it felt like he was trying to burrow to the land of China.  After wearing out the fish and collecting about a half acre of aquatic vegetation on my fly line and leader, I finally got my hands on the whiskered rascal.

He went a little over four and a half pounds and topped out at about 22 inches.  He wasn't the biggest catfish that I've ever caught but it was just a nice reminder about how much fun fishing is here in Missouri.  I wasn't go after catfish and certainly didn't plan on catching one on a bass fly, but hey, that's sometimes the fun part.  You never know what is going to happen next, and on a farm pond in Missouri, you don't know what you are going to catch.  Now, if we can just get weathermen as excited about our sport, maybe we can get some better data on the idiot box.