Types of Fishers

The reason that I ask this question is because I think there are two different types of anglers.  This is not a judgmental observation where I see one group as good and the other is bad.  In fact, I see myself fitting firmly in one group and sometimes wishing that I fit into the other group.

Group 1

I think there are people that are skilled fishers and have caught a lot of fish in their lives.  They have some skills, utilize them, and usually have success on the water.  They enjoy the experience and don't take it extremely seriously.  They have home waters with patterns and flies/lures that have worked in the past and will probably continue to work.  I don't think this group has age boundaries.  This group can consist of young adults, middle-aged folks, or veterans of the sport.

Group 2

I also think there are people that analyze everything they do and everything around them.  They are never satisfied with the numbers or size of fish.  They want to catch species they have never landed before.  This group throws new flies/lures regularly with the hope that they find the next big thing.  New water does not look like an obstacle for these anglers but instead an opportunity for new success and growth.  This group is driven and is focused on the task at hand.  Fishing sometimes looks like a military operation.  

Group 3

These groups are flexible.  I think an individual can move back and forth between groups over the course of years, weeks, or even during a day.  Maybe conditions warrant moving from group 1 to group 2.  Maybe it has been a long week and a group 2 person decides that group 1 is a better fit for the day.

It is possible that this is just my perspective and that I am off with my observation.  This is just something that dawned on me this morning and maybe it needs more thought and investigation.  On the other hand, maybe you can relate to some of my musings.  I used to belong to group 1 until I received a fly rod for Christmas in 2001.  Until that point, I fished farm ponds for bass, bluegill, and catfish.  My techniques were simple, few, and effective.  Since 2001, I have been firmly planted in group 2.  Maybe one day, I will end up back in group 1 when I feel like I have a set of skills that are enough for me and will help me in every situation...or maybe not.

Riversmith Rod Chairs- Genius Idea

Link: https://riversmith.com/products/rod-chairs

When I first looked at this product, I really didn't understand the purpose of a rod chair.  After reading the description, I realized that it is to protect your fly rods when they are being transported in some sort of tube.  That's when I realized how genius of an idea this is.  I have been looking for a product that would protect my fly rods when I am transporting them in my homemade rod carriers that I use on my truck.  You can click here to view one of the posts that I published about my homemade transport system and in the aforementioned post, it refers to some of my rods getting scuffed up during transportation.  I think these rod chairs (or a homemade version) would work perfectly to protect my fly rods.  If you're thinking that there could be a future post about a DIY version of this, you might be right!

Link: https://riversmith.com/products/rod-chairs

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!