Fishingmill

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the support from OAF and I'm glad people enjoy the videos. I started fly fishing just four years ago and have learned so much from this forum. By the way, if anyone sees me out and about (usually with a fly rod in one hand and a gopro/tripod in another) be sure to introduce yourself. I really enjoy meeting people especially people who love fishing.

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks. And yes, I did win a gopro, so hopefully I'll get even better footage. Now if only I could find time to go fishing.

Nail knot is used to connect two differently sized lines. I also use a clinch knot to tie my tippet to the fly and have very few fish break me off.

Just wanted to say thank you again for anyone who voted. I ended up winning. I also finished the video. Here is the link. It includes some footage from past videos I've posted. Hope you enjoy.

I am not sure what strain of brown trout were stocked in Missouri, but I do know that the Pere Marquette river in Michigan was the first river the german brown was stocked in the US. Hopefully someone here has the answer to your question.

Got on the water on Sunday afternoon. Water was still high around 704. Fishing seemed to be very slow. I didn't see a lot of fish swimming around (at least not like it has been in the past) and no one really seemed to be doing great. Caught 3 rainbows between 18-20 inches sight fishing on a zebra midge dropper. Came back at night and fished outlet 1. I caught a striped bass (or hybrid, I really didn't get a good look) using a nymph (can't remember exactly what I was using) - I didn't even realize these swam up to the dam. Things were a little slow and I kept hearing fish rising so I tied on a dry fly, a big hex fly with a spider as a dropper. I missed something big that hit the spider, I had it hooked and it took out line to almost halfway across the lake, started reeling line in and then it came unhooked. My dad who was fishing with me caught 3 rainbows casting a san juan worm or egg fly and pulling it back in slowly. Next morning, I got out early and fished near outlet 1. Lots of fish in the outlets, but most were pretty stubborn. I fished down from the outlet and caught 1 brown around 16 inches and 4 more rainbows using a san juan worm with various droppers (zebra midge, scud, etc.). The san juan worm was really the key. I would throw it into a pod of fish holding close to the bank and just let it sit there. Eventually, a fish would come along and pick it up. Monday morning was a much better day but overall it seemed slow from previous years. I heard the water dropped later that day but I didn't get to partake in that. I did notice a few things that I wanted to mention. Sunday afternoon there was a pontoon boat that came up with a huge wake and drove over where I was fishing. The boat also went past the line to fish. I was pretty upset that the boat didn't make any attempt to drive around me or slow down. I didn't think to call the Corps or the hatchery on the driver at the time. I also noticed a lot of people fowl hooking fish in the outlets. I have read that there were a lot of people seeing floating browns down river. This is nothing new, but fowl hooking fish and poor fish handle kills more fish than necessary, especially the big browns that we all want a shot at. Be interested to see what others thought about this weekend.

I was talking to a fly fishing guide last year who said the Michigan DNR expects Michigan will eventually produce the next world record smallmouth. This is a testament to this claim. Awesome fish.

@splashseven, if you are targeting trout then you are better off fishing in the park. There's a nice hole that holds some bass, gar, bluegill, and suckers in the river before it gets to the spring. I usually park in the large gravel lot and then take the long walk to get there - you can take a shortcut through the woods. I do not know of any quicker to get to that point.

Thanks everyone for the support. Contest is over this Saturday, Oct. 17. I'll stop asking for votes after that and go back to posting some actual content. For anyone feeling extra generous, you can vote once per day.

Awesome video. Really shows what a redd looks like.

Got a new video that I am working on with footage from the last few years. I am entering it in a fishing film fest. Here is an early edit. I will post the final later. I also entered this into a contest. If you are on facebook and in need a break from work watch the video and then go vote. http://woobox.com/674ktj/vote/for/10064905

24 inch brown. Biggest brown I've ever caught and also the worst picture.

Smallie Seeker, The addiction only gets worse from here. I'm on a fly line kick right now. Got two new lines coming in the mail and I'm getting a new pair of waders this Friday.

Nice report. I haven't been to the Current at all this year. Hoping I can take a day off of work to fish for some big browns at least one day in October.

Nice fat rainbow. Well done.

Rio gold. You won't be disappointed. It's a pretty good all around fly line for trout. Although there are some other companies that have come out with cool lines lately.

@MOsmallies, no I didn't get a chance to go fly fishing for gar, but I plan on doing more of it in the future. I was really hoping to catch a nice gar to include in the video, but it just didn't happen. I had to change up my original idea for the video, but I think this edit turned out nice.

Thanks Mitch/jpb2187. I looked at the spot on Google Maps and wasn't sure exactly how to get there. I drive by this all the time, but didn't realize the river was that close to the road. Does you guys ever see any buffalo, carp, or gar hanging around this area?

Jpb2187, how do you get to that area on the Meramec? It doesn't look like there's any access points near there.

Thanks everyone. Glad you enjoyed it. @Geoff Yeah, I did see that it was on the Orvis friday fly fishing film fest. @Smalliebigs There was a storm north of where I was fishing that day. It didn't rain, but the winds were crazy. Several times I had to make sure the storm was far enough way to keep fishing.

This isn't exactly photography, but it's probably the next best place to post this. Just wanted to post my latest video. Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I haven't tried the rope fly. May have to use thag next time I am out.

Not sure about Axiom or BVK, but I have a 8wt TiCrX that I use for bass, carp, and salmon. It's a little overkill for most Missouri water, but works great for big fish. Not sure how it compares in terms of weight to the other two, but I can cast all day without getting tired.

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll have to check out Huzzah CA and further down the Meramec. Fishinwrench, thanks for the advice. I've found getting a good presenation to be the hardest part fly fishing for gar. I've had a little luck throwing mouse flies for cruising gar in lakes and shallow creeks. Just need more practice.