My First Attempt at Guiding- Part 2

 

Like I mentioned earlier, I know this pond pretty well.  I had no doubt that I could hook a few bass in the right spots but what I really wanted to know was whether I could put someone else on those same fish.  I kept the boat in advantageous positions based on where I thought the fish were and Corey's casting ability.  I really felt like a guide.  I encouraged good casts with the ubiquitous "Nice shot" comment and tried to not let him get down when he missed a bite.  Comments like "He's still there" and "You'll get the next one" were colloquialisms that also had to be said.  It should also be mentioned that Corey is a very accomplished angler and really handy with a fly rod.  For my first attempt at guiding, I was lucky to have a very good client!

In total, Corey landed 6 bass.  No monsters were boated, but none were dinks either.  They all fought pretty hard and had some beautiful color.  I ended up with fly rod for a little bit as well and landed one for myself before we had to pack up and head home.  I have to admit though, there were times that I really wanted to be the one casting rather than running the boat.  On the other hand, it was INCREDIBLY rewarding to watch Corey fish and have success with some of that based on what I was telling him.  It was similar to helping a student understand a difficult science concept in my class and seeing that light bulb come on when they finally understand.  It was a darn good feeling.

On the way to pick up Corey's truck, we both noted the machinery was still in the field near the pond that we had originally wanted to fish.  We both agreed that things probably turned out the exact way that nature (or whatever divine interventionist you believe in) had intended.  If you don't believe in things like that, I understand.  For me though, I would liken our situation as to either life giving us lemons to make lemonade or maybe someone or something nudged us in the direction that we needed to go.  I think my first successful attempt at guiding might have been a nudge in that direction as well.

My First Attempt at Guiding- Part 1

After we were done shooting some guns, Corey and I hung some trail cameras and got to do a little fishing.  We both needed to get home but decided to squeeze in a little time on the water.  With the crops out of the fields, not only can we shoot guns at long distances but we can access some farm ponds that were once inaccessible due to the crops surrounding them.  I had one pond in mind that I wanted to fish but as we got closer to it, we found machinery in the fields and didn't want to get in anyone's way.  Instead, we drove to another nearby pond that can provide some pretty good fishing as well.

Corey and I both noted that we felt like divine intervention was trying to send us to where we belonged.  We arrived at the pond and quickly unloaded the boat and hit the water.  Corey was more concerned about brining firepower to the farm on this particular day and didn't bring a rod.  I had brought one eight weight rod and a few flies.  We decided on the idea that we would take turns.  One guy would catch a fish while the other ran the boat.  After each catch, we would trade roles.  This did not last long.

Corey actually caught a fish on his first cast...sort of.  He made a cast to the bank just to let out some line and the fly trailed behind us as we maneuvered the boat to a better spot.  It didn't take either of us very long to figure out that the fishing was going to be pretty good.  I know this pond really well, and when the fishing is hot, it is really hot!  It should also be noted that between Wendy, Collin, Mason, and I, we used a lot of his ammo over the course of the day.  I offered to reimburse him but he declined so I felt like I kind of owed him one.  That's one of the reasons that I didn't ask for the fly rod to be handed over.  I also saw an opportunity to do a little guiding.

Getting Ready for Deer Season

One of my favorite things about fall is getting ready for deer firearms season.  This means dusting off some guns that haven't seen any action for awhile and getting things dialed in for when the season comes.  Yesterday, my buddy Corey, Wendy, Collin, Mason, Cody, and I all headed up to our family farm.  The crops had recently been taken out of the fields and that opened up some shooting lanes for us.  We started close with some small caliber rifles and pistols and then gradually worked our way back and shot some black powder and bigger bore rifles.  We then stretched the legs of our deer rifles to make sure they are accurate and ready to roll during youth season and adult firearms season. 

It was a fun, safe, and wholesome day at the farm and I love days like yesterday.  We shared a lot of laughs and I think everyone learned something about safety as well as shooting.  While I will not ever force my kids to hunt or go fishing with me, I want them to have an understanding of how a gun works and the respect that they deserve.  I often tell them that they are tools, albeit tools that could hurt or kill someone if used incorrectly.  I liken them to saws as well.  If you run a saw carelessly, someone could get hurt or die.  After yesterday, I think my kids have a little more respect for firearms and what their capabilities are.

Make no mistake about it though, I am a fisherman that hunts...not a hunter that fishes.  I'm not great with a gun and I'm not an above average hunter.  I am much more comfortable and confident in a boat with a fly rod in my hand.  I still love to hunt though.  I only hunt during the firearms portion of the season because I don't have the time or equipment to get extremely accurate with a bow.  Honestly, I'm scared to bow hunt because I am terrified that I would put a bad shot on a deer and make it suffer and slowly die for two weeks.  If I'm going to hunt an animal, I want to put it down in the quickest way possible with as little suffering as possible.  I've let a lot more deer walk by me than I have shot.  

If you think about it, hunters and fishers are some of the biggest conservationists.  We care about nature, harvest enough to eat, and try to maintain healthy environments because we love them.  I love deer, bass, trout, etc.  I  appreciate the beauty and abilities of those animals immensely and just enjoy being around them more than actually harvesting them.  At the same time, when I do harvest an animal, I do the best that I can to make sure nothing goes to waste.  That means tanning hides, donating meat to friends, and respecting the fact that I took an animal's life for me to continue mine.  

I don't want anyone to thing that I am some sore of bloodthirsty, killing machine.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  When hunting and fishing are done with respect and follow the regulations set forth by the state, it is a beautiful thing.  Unfortunately, that beauty gets overshadowed by poachers and sometimes glorified by social media.  In the end, it is up to each one of us to decide the part we play and how we appreciate nature.  The good thing is, the place that you have in the outdoors, is totally up to you!

Song of the Week- Nose to the Grindstone by Tyler Childers- Week 2

Disclaimer: There is an inappropriate word at the beginning of the song in today's post.  Viewer discretion is advised.  I apologize for the word but the rest of the song makes up for it!

I posted this last week but thought I would post it again in case anyone missed the information:

If you follow the website Moldy Chum, you will recognize where the idea comes from.  If you don't follow the site, they have a post every Sunday called "Sunday Toona".  Essentially, the post contains a song of the week.  I liked that idea so much that I decided to start a similar tradition.  I plan on posting a YouTube video every Sunday and this post is the first of many more to follow.

I wouldn't blame you if you wonder how music connects to a fly fishing blog.  Well, the bottom line is that it really doesn't, at least on the surface.  However, if you fish, then you probably listen to music.  Maybe you listen to some tunes in your boat.  Maybe you slip in some earbuds and listen to jams while you fish.  Most of us probably listen to music on the way to go fishing.  So there is a connection between fishing and music, albeit a small connection.

The other reason that I want to start this routine is that I really enjoy music.  I have ZERO musical talent and that might be the reasoning that I appreciate the talents that other musicians have.  I don't like all music though.  I like music that has heart.  I like music that tells a story.  Most of all, I like music that I can relate to on some level.  For those reasons, the music that I share might not be to your liking...and that's ok!  I listen to a lot of music that you won't find on radio stations and that's why I want to share it with others.  

I started this blog cause I wanted to share my experiences with others in the hopes that others might learn and benefit from what I do.  Sharing music that touches my heart, or makes me laugh, or brings a tear to my eye falls in line with the aforementioned ideal.  I hope you dig what I share and I hope you find something that you can connect with.  For the first Song of the Week post, I present to you "Nose to the Grindstone" by Tyler Childers.

Link to Tyler Childers YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3M80864ZYUCW6sZS5zFB8g

Custom Orders and Holiday Assortments

Link to Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShowMeFlyGuy

Email for custom order inquiries: showmeflyguy@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone that has placed custom orders with me lately and those that have purchased flies off the Etsy store.  I am currently all caught up on orders and the Etsy store is fairly well stocked.  I am trying to squeeze in some time to to add to the inventory.  I am also trying to get some unique assortments together that people have requested and might want to purchase for the holiday season.

If you are wanting a custom order of flies for the end of the fishing season or wanting a special assortment, please contact me as soon as possible.  It has been well documented on this blog that I am a full time teacher as well as graduate school student that is taking two classes right now.  I will be able to get orders done if you give me some advance notice but I might not be able to complete last-minute orders due to my own time constraints.

Lately, I have completed a lot of trout park assortments, some streamer assortments, and some assortments that have a little bit of everything.  I would be happy to make you what you want and I appreciate all business that comes my way.  All profits go towards my boat fund which will hopefully be purchased within the next year and will start me down the road of becoming a fly fishing guide.  

Link to Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShowMeFlyGuy

Email for custom order inquiries: showmeflyguy@gmail.com

The type of aforementioned boat that I am working towards.

An Amazing Guy

I'll be honest, I had never heard of Frank Moore until I watched this video.  After five minutes of hearing the man's story, I hope that I grow to be a lot like him one day.  I hope you enjoy learning about this man's life and passion as much as I did!

Link to Oregon Public Broadcasting YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/OPB

Monster Bugger

I really, really dig this pattern.  This fly would work great for largemouth and smallmouth bass as well as big, nasty rainbow and brown trout!  Brian Wise of Fly Fishing the Ozarks is so talented at tying and video production.  He's a Missouri native as well which makes him even cooler on my coolness scale.  I'm a little torn on whether I will use a complex twist and forego the silicon legs though...or maybe I'll go Dr. Frankenstein and use both!  

Link to Fly Fishing the Ozarks YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/flyfishingtheozarks

Fishing with the Wife and Waylon

Last Sunday was one of those days that you hope for.  The weather was perfect, the fish were biting enough to keep everyone happy, and I got to spend time on the water with my wife and dog.  We didn't catch anything big, but we caught some bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish.  The bass were in the shallows and appeared to be chasing baitfish.  The bluegill were off the bank and about 6 feet deep.  The bass hit white and olive wooly buggers and the bluegill hit black jigs with chartreuse heads under indicators.  I have not fished the fall really hard the past few years for bass and bluegill so this was a learning process.

Speaking of learning, Wendy and I learned a very valuable lesson.  We need a bigger boat.  There just isn't enough room for her, Waylon, and I.  I don't know how many times Wendy or I said "We need a bigger boat."  I have been looking at boats for a couple of months now and I will be pulling the trigger on something hopefully within the next year.  

How do You Grip a Fly Rod?

How often do you stop and think about the grip you use on a fly rod?  Maybe it is the first thing that you think about or maybe you get focused on other components of a cast that it slips your mind.  Maybe you are new to fly fishing and never realized how important grip is.  Maybe you are such a seasoned veteran that you have a grip that you like and don't very from it.  I'm a thumb on top guy, but I get the reasoning behind the pointer finger on top.  This is a great article about where a fly cast starts and that is how you place your hand on the fly rod.

Link: https://www.epicflyrods.com/blogs/news/fly-casting-is-it-time-for-a-grip-switch

Song of the Week- Somewhere in the Middle by Cody Jinks- Week 1

If you follow the website Moldy Chum, you will recognize where the idea comes from.  If you don't follow the site, they have a post every Sunday called "Sunday Toona".  Essentially, the post contains a song of the week.  I liked that idea so much that I decided to start a similar tradition.  I plan on posting a YouTube video every Sunday and this post is the first of many more to follow.

I wouldn't blame you if you wonder how music connects to a fly fishing blog.  Well, the bottom line is that it really doesn't, at least on the surface.  However, if you fish, then you probably listen to music.  Maybe you listen to some tunes in your boat.  Maybe you slip in some earbuds and listen to jams while you fish.  Most of us probably listen to music on the way to go fishing.  So there is a connection between fishing and music, albeit a small connection.

The other reason that I want to start this routine is that I really enjoy music.  I have ZERO musical talent and that might be the reasoning that I appreciate the talents that other musicians have.  I don't like all music though.  I like music that has heart.  I like music that tells a story.  Most of all, I like music that I can relate to on some level.  For those reasons, the music that I share might not be to your liking...and that's ok!  I listen to a lot of music that you won't find on radio stations and that's why I want to share it with others.  

I started this blog cause I wanted to share my experiences with others in the hopes that others might learn and benefit from what I do.  Sharing music that touches my heart, or makes me laugh, or brings a tear to my eye falls in line with the aforementioned ideal.  I hope you dig what I share and I hope you find something that you can connect with.  For the first Song of the Week post, I present to you "Somewhere in the Middle" by Cody Jinks.

Link to Cody Jinks YouTube Chanel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYVrBCMUcl56WlyhKNlj7-Q