Trout Commander

Very nice!

He can't quite manage my TFO Professional 4wt that is 7-1/2'. I like the idea of the short Dorber rods I found from the link in a thread earlier today but can't justify the $ at this point for a new one.

Those are what I have looked at thus far, but am trying to find one short enough that it would be managable for him to fling around. Thinking maybe a short UL Spinning rod that I could fashion a fly reel to as a starter to get the general motion down. Still mulling that option over. /end hijack

I'll pay the shipping to send it to me for my 3 yr old to start learning on! LOL

I personally would go much shorter on the leader. Reason being that I don't want my rig much longer than my rod when it is bent with a fish on so that I can lift a fish out of the water. I try to keep my rig around the length of my rod without a load on it, and negate the length lost to load by raising my arm. It is optimal to land a fish without the end of your line/beginning of your leader entering your rod tip. While fishing during the day I personally never tie my top fly directly to the leader. I don't necessarily look at the top fly as an attractor, but rather another fly for the fish to take. I usually catch around 30% of my fish on the top fly. I highly suspect tying the top fly directly to the leader would show a marked decrease in that percentage. Maybe those with more experience can comment on that note? As it is though, I would highly recommend the addition of tippet above each fly and shortening the length of the leader of that which you posted. Oh, and your welcome, no problem what so ever. Happy I can help as so many others have helped me

And also, I have found that many people at Taney are often as friendly as (and sometimes the same!) folks on here. If you are struggling and the guy up or down stream from you is slaying, just ask how he rigged his flies or even if you can see it. I know I have shown my rig to multiple people in the short time I've been fly fishing.

Trevor, as always you will get varying information, but here is how I will rig up: If water is down - ~4 foot of Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon, 8 lb. Tie a loop on both ends so it is easier to rig and re-rig. I usually place my strike indicator a few inches off of my line on the leader. I have used only 5x tippet because it is the only thing I had and had bought it before I knew to use 6 or 7x. I did run out on my last trip and picked up some 6x. No matter the size, I tie about 18-24" and tie on my first fly. Here I either tie a San Juan, Chamois Worm, Scud or egg pattern. I then tie an additional 12-18" to the bend of the hook on my top fly. For my bottom fly I use a lot of Pheasant Tails and Zebra Midges. I use a small split shot about 4-5" above the top fly. I think this is a key component that many people may forget. It really helps get your rig into the strike zone quicker and keep it there. If the water is up you obviously if the water is up you need to add more leader and tippet, enough to get down to the bottom. I typically will stick with about the same amount of tippet and add additional leader material since its cheaper. I usually throw on two, instead of one, split shot above the top fly and add one above the bottom fly as well. Hope this helps.

Sure can. ....$50 per website.

Depending on your proximity to Springfield, I would recommend getting a pair of White River waders from the outlet. I got my breathable "deluxe" version with zippered pockets and hand warmer area on chest for $75. There was a pair without the chest pockets for $40 but they did not have my size. I have only had them out for 4 or 5 trips so I cant speak for longevity yet. I also got a WHALE of a deal on some Simms wading boots.

Alright another vote for the moon! Seriously though, thanks for the insight Gary. Hopefully we will run into one another again and glad you got your rod piece back!

Perfect! I love that excuse. It wasn't me; it was the moon! Do you mind sharing what technique you were using? I was dead drifting (I think, it was dark so I could've been cutting a jetboat sized wake for all I know!) various wooly buggers and stripping them back in slowly in ~5" strips.

The weekend starts on Thursday! You just have to be a trooper to make it through work on Friday!

Looking at tying some stuff up for this weekend to target Brown's. What do you think will work best this year? Researching egg patterns and colors, but open to any flies that I could tie a bunch of this week or next and use for the rest of winter.

Make that 144 now

Jerod, I will be down sometime this weekend for sure. Just don't know what time. Look for the guy with the bright orange backpack, my name is Jason. In the parking lot I'll be in the dark grey BMW, or if I ride with my fishing partner a dark grey 2wd GMC Sierra with a topper, after market wheels and tail lights.

Oh and thanks for saying hey to Duffy, hopefully I will run into him sometime this week or weekend.

The pleasure was definitely all mine . I picked up a wealth of knowledge from you even in our short conversation and I only wish I would have been able to successfully use it. Honestly I felt completely lost and like I was throwing into the dark (pun intended). I was also trying to help my friend get started. He has actually taken casting lessons and impressed me with the skill he possessed, however there were the inevitable birds nests that I sorted out for him that took away from my time fishing. It also did not help that the water did not make it all the way down before we had to leave. It is hard enough for me to find fish when the water is still up during the day, let alone in the dark. Overall the trip was still enjoyable, the moon rise(?) was absolutely beautiful over the water. With the solitude and ambiance of fishing at night I feel I would quite enjoy it if I can find even the slightest bit of success. Sorry this short report has taken so long but I have been super blessed and busy with family work and school, but here it is copied from my edited first post: We ended up only being able to fish until about 10 pm and did not know what we were doing. Caught zero fish. Kind of pathetic eh?

Glad to hear you stuck it to 'em again!

Taking a friend for his first trip on the fly and my first trip in the dark. Leaving Nixa in T minus 10, will fish till midnight or so. If you see us say hey! ------- We ended up only being able to fish until about 10 pm and did not know what we were doing. Caught zero fish.

I wish I had time to make it down Rich. Have fun!

Spotted sculpin.

Bingo Terry! And the Amish friendly McDinks is in Seymour. Diggins doesn't even have that gas station anymore. I used to love stopping there as a kid on the way to SPringfield. It was the only place I'd ever gotten those 12oz glass bottles of Dr Pepper. T'was the neatest thing to me then.

Thanks for the write up. This confirms what I had already thought heading into my first brown run in Taney. Another question I have is how well do the redds hold up against 4 units rolling through TRD??

Freaking amazing! Some of those fish were big enough to take the guys tubing it looked like!

Your right. It has changed names. I have driven by it hundreds of times since then but I don't know the name. I will give my grandmother now since it's bugging me.