Fly Rod Balancers from Finn Fly Fishing

Last weekend at the Tri-Lakes Fly Fishing Expo, I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Steven Records.  He is the founder of Finn Fly Fishing and is a Missouri native.  He was at the expo to promote the Finn Rod Balancing Kit.  I will admit, that I was apprehensive in the kit at first.  I thought that it could have been just another fly fishing gimmick or an unnecessary accessory.  I could not have been more wrong.  Not only does this kit have merit, I can see this being in almost every fly shop in the near future.  Rather than butcher the idea and purpose of the kit, I'm going to let Steven communicate those things to you.  Below, you can find links to different sites as well as Steven's own words about the Finn Rod Balancing Kit.

https://finnflyfishing.com/

https://finnflyfishing.com/pages/fly-rod-balancers

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0GO1jLVotdsZEMcKMCuoXA

From Steven:

We came up with the Finn Rod Balancing Kit because we were tired of how big of a pain it was to find the perfectly weighted reel to courter-balance your rod and how that limited your choices to a very small selection of reels.

I had several rigs that desperately needed balanced and went to work on a solution. 

After lots of research and testing we came up with our fly rod balancing kit as a way to perfectly balance a fly rod in less time than it takes to tie a fly onto the end of your line, without having to replace your reel.

It works by adding one weighted balancing ring at a time to your rod until your rod is perfectly balanced. Each balancing ring uses a super strong magnet that reliably stays on, even if you are an aggressive caster. It also has a three layer rod shield coating to protect your rod.

Fly rods perform at their best when they are properly balanced. Once you experience the difference, you'll never want to go back, because balancing your rod gives you the best control, sensitivity, casting distance and accuracy your rod has to offer. It also can reduce fatigue in your arm and shoulder from a long day out on the water.

Fishing License Fees by State

I saw an article the other day that compared the hunting licenses of states and it got me wondering how the fishing license fees from different states compare.  What I learned was that I have yet another reason to be glad that I live in Missouri!  It would appear that the state of California either doesn't want its residents to fish or values it's fisheries as the best in the U.S.  Or maybe their Department of Conservation isn't funded as well as ours is.  If you would like to see the comparison for yourself, just click the link below.  There are definitely some surprises in there.

https://hookedinfishing.com/fishing-license-cost-by-state/

I Want to be a Fly Fishing Guide! Part 2- The Manifesto

Disclaimer: I meant to post this closer to part 1 but got sidetracked.  Sorry for the delay if you were waiting on pins and needles for the thrilling conclusion.

Back in early March, I published a post about my desires to be a fly fishing guide on Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri.  If you would like to get caught up to speed and read that post prior to this one, just click here.  I concluded that post with the following statements:

I have identified some categories that I will need to work on prior to taking out clients and I thought I would share these thoughts with the readers of this blog.  I think of it as my fly fishing guide manifesto.  My indentions are to maybe get some positive feedback to make me feel like I am headed in the right direction but to also get some constructive criticism to improve my plan.  I'm still working on the details of what I think a guide needs to be, but when I'm done, I will be sure to include them in Part 2 of this post.

So here are some of my thoughts about what I need to do and what I need to improve on prior to reaching guide status.  Please don't take this as me being a know-it-all.  After reading the post, it sounded a little preachy.  What I believe to be true is what I have learned from guides that I have gone out with.  Without those people, I wouldn't know anything about becoming a guide so they deserve the credit for teaching me A LOT!

People Skills (Maybe the Most Important Skill)

A guide has to have patience!  Above and beyond anything else, a guide needs to understand that most clients aren't going to have the skills that the guide possesses and is going to make mistakes.  For some people, they will have zero experience and might not have ever touched a fly rod.  For others, they might not have ever fished the fishery that the guide takes people out on.  Then there will be people with a little experience that think they are better than what they really are.  Finally, there will be the quiet ones.  Those are the ones that I think I will need to look out for.  Those will be the ones with a lot of fly fishing experience and won't need as much attention as other folks.  I'm sure there are types of clients that I am leaving out, but those are the ones that come to mind.  No matter what though, here's what I think a guide needs no matter the type of client.

Patience- people are going to screw up.  I screw up all the time.  Screw ups are inevitable and need to just be laughed off, no matter what.  I think this is actually easier to do with a stranger rather than friends and family that you have expectations for.  Learning from mistakes is how we learn so mistakes are inevitable.  

Personality- did you ever have a teacher that was boring and/or monotone?  That class probably wasn't a lot of fun and you might not have looked forward to that class.  Guides are teachers and people learn more and learn better when they are relaxed and having fun.  I'm not saying a guide has to be a stand-up comedian, but a few jokes and one-liners sure can lighten the mood when fishing is tough or a string of errors have been put together.

Supportive- nobody wants to get yelled at or belittled.  Folks are going to miss fish.  Folks are going to lose big fish.  Folks are going to get nots and...you get he idea.  A guide needs to understand that things aren't going to go perfectly and to expect those things.  People want to have fun and enjoy themselves on a guided trip and it's not fun to feel defeated or belittled.  Like Patrick Swayze said in Roadhouse, "Be nice."

Boat Skills

While I am getting better at navigating Lake Taneycomo, I have a long way to go.  When it comes to understanding all of the details that comes along with boat maintenance, I am in my infancy.  I have further to go in this category than anywhere else and I know that.  I'm saving up for a nice boat and will hopefully gain a lot of those skills along that journey.

Fishing Skills & Knowing the Fishery

A guide had better be able to catch fish in any environment that they are willing to take folks out in.  To me, a guide should be an expert, and I mean EXPERT, about the fishery.  They better know where every rock and stump is, fish patterns, seasonal influences, and everything else that they can possibly know.  Guides are held on pedestals by me and other weekend warriors, and that title comes with expectations.   If a guide appears to be lost or unknowledgeable, clients will see that and lose confidence not only in the guide but in themselves as well.  

I think it is important for guides to be honest about the conditions and upfront with clients about the expectations as well.  As a client, I want to know if I am looking for a few bites from trophy fish or if I should expect a gaudy number of stockers.  What is the size of a trophy fish?  What other species could I catch?  Overhyping a day, I believe, is setting up a day for failure.  The clients are probably excited enough and adding unattainable expectations will lead to disappointment.  Saying honest things will let clients know the reality of fishing like "There will be times with a lot of action and there will be some slower times, but always be ready and take in the entire experience."

Acquiring Clientele 

While I'm not sure how to go about doing this, I feel like this blog, YouTube Channel, and other social media stuff will hopefully help.  I also think getting your name in with a marina and creating some friendships/partnerships with other guides will help too.  This "business side" of being a guide will be what I struggle with.  I just want to teach, help provide fun experiences, and create some memories as well.  Thinking about money exchanges, half day rates, and deposit policies are necessary but not the reason that I want to guide.  Sure, I want to make money doing this but that's not the only objective.

Fly Tying Skills 

I don't know many guides that don't tie their own flies.  I think a guide needs to know a lot of easy patters that catch fish and can be tied quickly.  I know guides that put their own special touches on flies that can mean the difference between catching and not getting bit.  If conditions change or what the fish are feeding on changes, a guide needs to be able to whip up some flies on short notice in order to give clients the best day possible.  

Now Available: Lunch Money Streamers!

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1210041727/lunch-money-bass-fly-streamer-fly-trout

In a recent post, I documented the effectiveness of a dark colored lunch money on a farm pond in stained water.  You can click here to read the post if you would like.  Due to this successful field test, I've decided to start selling this fly in the Etsy store.  Here's a detailed description of the fly:

This fly is a staple for folks that target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and big trout! Please know, I did not invent this fly. All credit goes to Matt Bennett for that honor. I was introduced to this fly by Ryan Walker of Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance. After catching some smallmouth with this fly, I decided to bulk it up some, add a couple of tweaks, and fish it for largemouth on some of my home waters. I have fished it for about a year now and I am extremely happy with how it performs on the water. Personally, it has caught largemouth bass, channel catfish, and even crappie (if they are hungry enough). I wouldn't sell this fly if I didn't have the utmost confidence in it!

This particular pattern is not made to imitate anything specific. It is meant to be a fly that gets fished in murky water, flooded water, or both. The color, size, and profile give this fly a profile that will stand out in stained water. It has a sink rate that makes it possible to fish it quickly in shallow water or drag it slowly through deep water. It has a good swimming action when stripped and a lifelike profile when paused. I fish this fly on an 8 weight rod because it pairs well and a floating line because I don't tend to fish it very deep on lakes. You could get away with fishing this on a 7 weight though and a sinking line would help it to get down deeper in lakes and rivers.

I plan on making some other colors available in the near future, and I will let you know when those become available.  As for now, there is a limited quantity of these flies available in the store so feel free to pick one or a few up while supplies last.  Feel free to send any questions my way and my email is showmeflyguy@gmail.com.  

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1210041727/lunch-money-bass-fly-streamer-fly-trout

 

Tri Lakes Fly Fishing Expo Recap

WOW!  The Tri-Lakes Fly Fishing Expo on Saturday was AMAZING!  I had never attended the event before so I didn't really know what to expect, but when I arrived an hour before the expo was open to the public and saw how many people were already there, it became obvious to me that this was a bigger deal that I had imagined.  The number of people, vendors, and demonstrators what at least twice as big as I was expecting.  Everything was organized perfectly and everything just seemed to run smoothly.  There were vendors from different parts of the Midwest as well as many from Missouri.  The demonstrators had a great range of patterns to share and specialized in a variety of species and techniques.  

As for my booth, things went really well.  I got to meet a lot of nice folks and got to talk all things fly fishing, all day long.  I sold a few shirts and a bunch of flies as well which was a nice addition.  Aside from all of that, I also learned A LOT from other folks.  I've decided that I am going to try and step up my level of expertise with white bass.  I learned new fly patterns, found out about some good fishing spots, and realized that there are more fly fishers out there than I originally thought.  Overall, this was an amazing experience that was run by a group of passionate fly fishers and it couldn't have gone any better in my opinion.  If you get the chance to attend next year's event, you will not be disappointed!

 

My Brown Trout Mount is on the Way!

I received a late birthday present (birthday was Wednesday) yesterday in the form of a text and a photograph.  Jim Lucas of Jim Lucas' Taxidermy informed me that my brown trout replica is almost done!  I caught this fish on Lake Taneycomo a week after Wendy and I got married last October.  It went 23 inches, had a 15 inch girth, and went about 6-7 pounds.  The moment I got it into the net, I knew I was going to have a replica mount made.  Since Jim mounted a female brown trout that I caught on the White River a few years ago, I knew that there was only one person that I trusted to complete this job.  His work is amazing and I am extremely excited to go pick it up.

If you have never purchased a fish mount, you should know that they are not cheap.  You pay per inch, and the bigger the fish, the more you pay.  Well, it just so happens that I have an online fly shop that generates just enough revenue to fund my fishing addiction.  So if you have ever purchased flies from me in the past, please know that this is where some of your money is going.  Thank you for your patronage and for helping me hang a memory on the wall!  Also, thank you Wendy for the rod that caught the fish, for booking the trip to Branson, and for letting me hang this beauty in the living room.  You're an amazing wife!

 

DIY Fly Rod Transport Tube- Part 1

It is getting to be the time of year when I fish a lot.  That means that I travel a lot with fly rods.  One thing that drives me crazy with fly rods is transporting them.  I don't like having to rig everything up when I get to my fishing spot, but hauling around a 9 foot rod is problematic as well.  Seeing my rod bounce up and down in my truck or sliding around is something that doesn't sit well with my spirit.  One option that is available is a rod vault.

A problem arises with this option though.  I don't have the capabilities to put a rod vault on my truck with its current configuration and don't want to spend the money either.  However, I want a tube that I can put rigged up fly rods in.  This will keep me from having to break down and assemble rods as well as protect them.  I looked at some examples from other people and the research that I liked is listed below.  

Links: https://outsidebozeman.com/gear/do-it-yourself/keepin-it-reel

https://www.outdoorlife.com/how-to-build-fly-rod-holder-roof-rack-out-pvc/

https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/diy-rooftop-rod-locker-in-8-steps/393281

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ULMgUn2no

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yXyrVw7gug

I really liked the idea of a piece of PVC that had a groove cut out at the rear and allowed for the fly reel to be exposed but a cap to keep it from sliding out.  I have purchased all of the pieces and am in the process of planning things out.  I will keep you updated on the progress and how effective the tube ends up being after some field testing.

Weekend Fishing Report- The Conclusion- The Lunch Money Bite

As interesting as the fishing experience was on Saturday evening, Sunday proved to be a stark contrast in style.  Rather than throwing a wooly bugger with a five weight, I opted for a big, nasty streamer on an eight weight on some northwest Missouri farm ponds.  Wendy, Collin, my boys, Corey, Joe, and I hit 3 different ponds and caught some decent fish in the process.  The bite wasn't completely on fire, but it was consistent.  Wendy caught some bass on a spinnerbait, Joe caught some on small bluegill streamers and Corey caught some on a white and red streamer.  the fish were just a little off the bank and still a little hesitant to come into the shallows.  With last week's roller coaster of weather and a lack of vegetation in the shallows thus far, it makes sense why they are in deeper, darker water.  They are feeding however.  We noticed full bellies and healthy looking fish that were aggressive.

I caught all of my fish on a black Lunch Money.  I like to call this color combo "Baba Yaga" as a nod to the Slavic folklore about a boogeyman-type creature.  It's also a reference to the first John Wick movie.  In the movie, John is referred to as "Baba Yaga".  A character asks if John is the boogeyman.  He is told by his father that John is the one that gets sent to kill the boogeyman.  I've always liked that dark, ominous visual so I decided that it fit this all black with a little red accent color combo.

This particular incarnation of the Lunch Money is tied on a 1/0 hook.  It has a good sink rate but can be thrown in the shallows and then stripped into deeper water where fish might be holding.  The murky pond water, overcast skies, and fish holding off the bank proved to be the perfect conditions for this fly.  This was the exact scenario that I tied this fly for.  I see this as a spring and fall pattern that might also work at night during the summer as well.  I had never thrown this pattern before and was extremely happy with how it produced.  It even produced a 10 inch crappie as well, which was a pretty big surprise!  

Be on the lookout!  These might be available for purchase online soon!  I will definitely have some at the Tri-Lakes Fly Fishing Expo this weekend in Clinton, Missouri!

Weekend Fishing Report- Part 1- The Wooly Bugger Bite

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/838966869/white-body-cone-head-wooly-bugger

Last Saturday night offered some pretty good fishing at an HOA lake near my house.  This lake always fishes well in the spring and early summer and did not disappoint.  The highlights of the evening included a white bass that went over a pound, a 13 inch crappie, and catching 4 species of fish in an evening.  The olive and white wooly bugger was the ticket and the only fly that I threw.  

It was sunny with somewhat murky water which I think complimented the colors of this fly well.  A combination of bright and dark colors on the fly mimicked the conditions of the evening.  With the ever-changing conditions of spring, it’s important to have bright colors, dark colors, and a combination of the two. You can find this fly in the Etsy store if you interested in buying some or get some ideas on tying your own.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/838966869/white-body-cone-head-wooly-bugger

Tri Lakes Fly Fishing Expo is a Week Away

I'm going fishing at some point this weekend!  I don't care what the weather has been like and I don't care what the water conditions are.  It is springtime in Missouri and I need to be on the water at least for a little bit this weekend.  I'm not sure where I am going or what I am going to throw, but that is my plan for this weekend.  Next weekend though, I hope I get to spend some time with YOU!  No, seriously!

Next weekend, the Tri Lakes Fly Fishers are holding a fly fishing expo at the Benson Convention Center in Clinton, Missouri on Saturday, April 9 from 9-4.  Admission is free and this looks like a great time.  I have never attended this show before but it looks like a lot of fun!  Not only will I be attending this year, but I will be an exhibitor.  So if you want to hang out with me (not the best selling point), get some casting instruction from an expert (not me), enter to win fishing gear and trips, and see some amazing fly tyers then I would love to see you there.  

There will also be guest speakers.  Bill Butts and Walt Fulps can both be found on social media and are, in my opinion, Missouri-famous anglers.  I'm excited to meet them in person and hear what they have to say about fishing in Missouri.  I will be selling flies, doing some demonstrations, and shooting the breeze with some folks at my booth.  I really would like to se you there so if you attend, please don't be a stranger and come over to say hello!  Events like these are great ways for like-minded people to learn from one another and share their enthusiasm with other anglers!