flyfishmaster

Great post. These guy will remember that day forever now. Later, FFM

RC, Good report. It does amaze me once in awhile, if you are a fly fisherman that they don't notice a hatch going on right in front of them. I have noticed a few time in the past years that I keep my eyes horizontal to the stream or looking down at the water and I have to remind myself to look up in the air for hatches to start. There has been a few times down on the Current, I thought the Trico hatch should be happending but I did not see it until I looked upwards... it was happend right above me. Who knew... Later, FFM

JobyKSU, That is okay with me I understand. I going to try and make it out this weekend and use a few of these bad boys. Later, FFM

Thanks for the update. Were there many people on the river while you were out? Later, FFM

PC, At least you are able to fish during the week. Remember the first fish of trip is your goal, every one after that is just a bonus. Thanks for the update on stream conditions. you dah man. FFM

I saw this on the troutunderground.com, and thought I would share it with all of you. -------------- Rare photo of an Elk Hair Emerger in its Native Habitat. This visual pun brought to you by Alert Underground Reader Sully. It’s a rare photo indeed — an Elk Hair Emerger in its native form.

Well I thank everyone that has posted something on this topic. The next time down, I think I'm going to rig up an apricot glue egg with an orange rubber worm dropper in that fast water past the Susy Hole. I think I'll be say "Woo Hoo Fish On", a few time. I can't wait. Later, Tight lines to all that can get out this weekend. Later, FFM

I'm drink to that!!!

NoLuck, I was there opening weekend. You are so correct that in order to catch a lot of fish, you had to fish deep and dead drift. I'll catch you on the water one of these days. later, FFM

Fly, The best way (I have found) to use the RS2 is to use it as the dropper in a tandem rig. It works great near the bottom or in midcurrent. So weight is needed, but depending on the water conditions and depth the amount of weigh to use my vary (I use soft lead so I can take off or put on quickly). I like to have my weight touching the bottom once in a while with this fly on the line. Good Luck! Later, FFM

JJTroutbum had the below quote in a different topic and so I split this discussion out from the Multiple rig talks. So the question(s) is: Is it legal to use a Fly Rod in Zone #3, or is Just Illegal to use the flies that are Legal in Zones #1 & #2? I would love to use my fly rod with some Hot Glue Glo Balls in Zone 3. Is this Legal? later, FFM QUOTE (Trout Stalker @ Feb 9 2008, 06:13 AM) Wouldn't it be great to have a fly rod only area. JJTroutBum: I have thought over that very same idea and decided that I would not want that for the simple reason that I cant stand the bait only sections that restrict fly fishing in some of the parks. For instance some of the water in zone three a beautiful set of riffles that goes on for about a hundred yards. That I never see anyone fishing with bait. But yet I'm a criminal if I were to swing a wet or soft-hackle through the very same water. Makes me want to glue a salmon egg on a soft hackle.

No the line did not have loops, but BP did install a shock leader with a loop at no extra charge. Also, someone posted, that they arrived at 2 PM and were out. My friend was there at 11 AM. So I'm assuming the supplies were limited. Later, FFM

My friend need some new fly line. I told him not to get the stuff at BP because of the info on this forum. Well... He was at the Springfield bass Pro on Friday Feb 29 and pickup one of these packages of Rio Fly Line anyway. He brought it back to the cabin at BSSP and opened it up. The line is brand new. We looked at it from end to end and we found no flaws. He was told it was taken out of the box and just re-packed (in a ziplock type bag). He used it opening day at BSSP and had no issues with the line. So after seeing this line in action, I have to say it is great deal! Plus I like the idea of two different colors on each end of the double taper. He told me that on Friday, the Springfield store had plenty on hand. That may be a different story today. later, FFM

I did not see anybody land any big fish or see any on a stringer. Heck in the past when somebody up by the bridge caught one there would have been a huge cheer, but I did not hear any this year. On Sunday, I had a really nice one on twice, but threw the hook after a few minutes both times. Mhall, You mentioned you made it down to the riffles by 9:30 I will still there. Which side were you fishing from? I have a fairly good memory too, what hat and vest do you wear? I'm sure I might have seen you. later, FFM

WHAT A WEEKEND!!!! Could anybody ask for any better weather or what? Well our annual trip to BSSP for Open day was nothing but great. Good food, good weather and a lot of hungry fish. Three of us started up in Zone 2 in the riffles below the bridge and the other two in a our group fishing down in Zone 3. All of us had great fishing and the fish we kept were a very respectical size. Since the water was up (guessing 8+ inches) and off colored we all started out with colorful "sloppy balls" (my version of glo balls) with a scud dropper. I could not even tell you the number of fish we caught. We really did not start caughting them on a regular basis until 30 after the whistle. At that time I moved about 40 feet down stream and caught and landed fish on 14 straight casts. In the after noon is when we started catching the big fish. Sunday was also very good. We decided not to make down at the whistle and got there about 15 minutes later. The fishing for me started up as it ended the previous day. 10 fishing in about 25 minutes. The water was clearer and the the best flies for me that day were the size 20 Buckskin and a size 18 Red Crystal Scud on 6x tippet. The crowd by us was not bad! Most people were moving around a lot so as soon as some body moved next to me. I would move just a bit to change the angle and delivery that is all it takes once in a while. Now my bitch section. Lets look to etiquette... To all those "shufflers" out there... Why do you need to do it on "OPEN DAY"? Don't you have any confidence in your skills or casting or flies? Why even use a Fly rod, why not use a "Cane Pole". Now for you people that like to crowd. I don't mind fishing in tight quarters other wise I would stay away from opening day. But when there are multiple fly fishermen in a row throwing nymphs w/indicator (about 20 feet apart) then some one steps in the middle and starts throwing a "softhackle?". I think this guy was a moron. I think he go the hint after my 5 straight casts over this line made him change his fishing style. He finally left after 3 minutes. Later, FFM

flyfshn, Were you just below the bridge or did you go to Cardiac and walk upstream? later, FFM (BTW: I used a furled leader this past weekend at BSSP. It has it's pros and a really bad con.)

There is a local Jaycee chapter that has "Bull Nut Night" the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The local butcher shop saves the "product" through out the year for this event. The first time at this event, I was told to try one on the home made potato chip... Well it wasn't a chip, but a finely sliced sphere of the "product". I do have to say 2 plates later and 10 beers I was feeling no remorse. FFM

I sent this to my wife and she reply back something about me lacking the right equipment. I don't know what she means but that...

Now I wish I was back in High School.... the heck with post prom parties when you can be fishing. I wonder if they allow for coolers while you fish?

I bought her a pendant that has the 4 birth stones of her children. It is really nice, but was not outrageous in price. FFM

Quick release! I think that is an option my wife purchased and installed when we got married!!

I'm wondering why everyone thinks opening day is so bad and crowded. I understand parking sux, but at Bennett I have never felt crowded were I fished. I always keep at least a 20+ feet seperation between the next angler. If someone starts crowding me... I will let them know about it! Everyone only see the pictures of the major holes where there are hundered of people. But if you look only 25 - 50 yard past those holes the stream really opens up, plus there are a lot of fish as well outside of the big holes. Now I think a place like Meramac Springs is a different story. Heck a day with 400 - 500 people there is over crowded. But opening day at Bennett, you start the trout fishing year out with 2000 of your closest freind. I remember a few years back open day it was like 25 degrees, the second day it was only 5 degrees or less at the whistle. My freind and I were the only two people in a 150 yard selection of Zone 2. Talking about a lot of fish caugh and solitude, we slayed them. We finally started see people around 8:30. It is a fun time but you will only feel crowded if you fish in the crowd. There is always open water some place. Later, FFM

TB4Wt, I have been wearing a lanyard for 4 year now. When I do wear a vest I keep the zipper down a bit and tuck the swivel with the floatant inside the vest to keep the lanyard closer to the body. Brand... Well... I made my own along with a hand made tippet holder. I started with a Wolverine brand black boot string, 6 big swivels with big snaps and 7 - ½" long colored beads to separate the swivels. This year I will be adding a foam neck pad. I liked the one I made for trout fishing so much I made a different one for pan fish. Later, FFM

Hey everyone. Open day in the Missouri trout parks starts on Saturday March 1st. Who all going? Where do you go? And do you have any yearly tradition? I'm heading to Bennett for my 14th straight opening day. I have been going with the same group of 5 guys the entire time; it is the only time of the year we all get together. This will mark the 35th year (in a row) two of the guys in my group have gone. We have been staying in the same cabin every year, except one year during remodeling. The night before opening day we have a venison stew with corn bread. On opening day we eat breakfast at 9:30 drink some beer, nap (we are all starting to get older) and head back down to the water. For supper we fry our days catch. It does not sound like much, but it is sure relaxing. Later, FFM PS: Why did they have to install cellular tower in the area? I liked it when I did not have the ability to communicate with the outside world when I'm fishing. (aka: family)

KingFish, I fish a two rig setup 99% of the time. The vast majority of the time I'm nymphing, but when I throw a crackleback or hopper I will still tie on a small bead head as a trailer. I still catch more on the dropper fly then I do on the lead fly. Terry was so right about something... casting. I use the short line, high sticking technique where there is no to little false casting. The more false casting you do, the higher the changes of tangling your flies. Terry mentioned multiple ways of attaching the leader, and of course I perform this task a bit different. I run both lines through the lead flies’ eye. I use a knot tying tool and make one knot with both lines. I have been doing this for 8 years now and that knot has only failed me 3 times. All those times were I'm fault for not testing the knot first. Good luck and I hope this will help you out. FFM