OKFlyFisher44

The GoogleEarth program is amazing...already got it all figured out now. I tried GoogleMaps and couldnt quite make out the roads to get to the conservation areas clearly. Thanks for the input guys...I got it all under control. I'll send you a PM Tim...see if you can meet me down there...

The chestpacks that attach to a backpack are very nice, I was looking into getting one of those for my trip to Colorado this summer. But I've got a dang nice Oakley backpack that has all kinds of bells and whistles on it for packing gear. The water-bottle holder even works great for holding a rod-tube so I decided against the chestpack w/ backpack because of that. Another thing is that my waistpack can very easily be strapped to my backpack if need be. No need to sacrifice space with having to pack a vest into your pack. So I'm pretty much set on my waistpack. If you ever buy one, you'll understand why everyone is using them soon as you fish with it once. At least I did... I would say if you're going to do a lot of hiking on streams like the 11 pt or Current....to do some camping or whatever, then the chestpack/backpack setup would be great. Or if you're going to be fishing the backcountry or something in the Rockies. Otherwise...a simple vest or chestpack/waistpack I think will do everything you need in Missouri...

Planning on making a day trip up to fish Capps, Crane, and either R.R. or Taney. I'm trying to figure out where to go on Crane. The MDC website gives a map but it pretty much sucks. Can't really tell what roads to take to get to the upper and lower conservation areas outside of town. Is there a place actually IN town that you can park n' fish? Seems like I remember reading about the city park...the creek runs behind the baseball fields maybe? If someone could give me some general directions with highway and road names...that would be fantastic! From what I read...size 10-14 buggers and various bead-head nymphs are the name of the game I'm guessing? Copper Johns, RFSNs, Hare's Ears, etc? Am I correct? Any info would be great guys!

Why we fish... What is that god awful noise? And why won't it stop?! Dang, its my alarm and its going off at 5:00 a.m. Why in the heck did I set my alarm for this ear....wait a minute. I crawl out of bed and walk to my living room to confirm my suspicions. As I gaze upon my wader bag, rod tubes, waistpack, and net...its been confirmed, I'm going fishing today. I say to myself "By god, its going to be a good day." I put on a pot of coffee as I slip into some sweat pants and a hoody to walk outside to start my truck. Wow, weatherman wasn't lying when he said it was going to be around freezing in the morning. I fire up the ol' Dodge and basically run back inside to the warmth of my house. My morning rituals starts and ends in a blur....wash face, brush teeth, pop in contacts, and get dressed. Doing all this while not trying to wake my sleeping wife and baby girl. A challenge in itself some days... I hurry along getting dressed and loading my gear into the truck as I've got a 3-hour drive to the trout waters in Missouri. Why couldn't I have been born in Missouri...or even Arkansas, Colorado, or Montana for that matter I ask myself. Woulda fit me just fine but thats how things worked out and I really don't mind getting some windshield time especially if it involves chasing trout. I grab the last of the essentials: wallet, phone, thermos, coffee cup, camera, and breakfast. A quick kiss goodbye to the wife and girly and I'm out the door! I'm halfway up the turnpike and on my 3rd cup of coffee as the sun starts to break the horizon. I say to myself, "Yep, its going to be a good day." I'm closing in on my exit...the exit that will take me down a 2-lane road that rolls me into the Ozarks. I've been on this trip many times in my life. When I was a small boy, we'd always take family vacations to Missouri to fish for trout. Those days were spent throwing Mepps spinners and roostertails with spinning gear....catching a few trout here and there. Then one day while watching saturday morning fishing with my dad, I see a man on TV fishing with a long rod and casting a colored line in such a way that it looked like something from another world. He's catching huge steelhead on the fly. The next day, after a quick visit to a local pawn shop that always kept lots of fishing tackle, I was casting a 9 ft fiberglass Shakespeare w/ a South Bend reel loaded with some old crappy line on our lawn. I glance behind me to the back seat where I've got my gear bag, 2 rod tubes, my waistpack, and the rest of my stuff...boy, I've come a long way since those days. As I roll down the road, I pass all those small Missouri towns that I've passed 1000 times and they haven't changed a bit it seems. Time seems to stand still in these towns. I pull into a small gas station/bait shop to buy my fishing license and trout stamp. I'm met at the counter by the same old grumpy man who probably owns the place and I get my paperwork done. A warm "Thank you sir!" and I'm out the door...hurrying to finish up the last leg of the trip. I pull up and step out of the truck. I can hear the river running...hell, I'm pretty sure I can smell it. Once again, I say to myself, "Yes sir, its going to be a good day." I string up my 4wt and get geared up. I always wait to tie on the fly I'm going to use till I get to the river...don't ask me why but I do. Its something about that first look upon the water...looking for the occasional morning rise from a trout or picking out a possible fishy spot to make that first cast to. I ponder for a minute on my fly selection as I look around to notice that I don't see another soul in sight. I grin and almost let out a laugh. Yeah, its January and its 30-something degrees out...but who would want to pass this up? I notice a few fish rising next to a boulder in the tail-out of a pool. I take a moment to look around to try and pick out any bugs flying around. Can't really tell whats coming off...guess I need to brush up on my bug knowledge? Ahh heck, its nothing a good drift can't fix. I quickly tie on a size 20 parachute adams and position myself behind the rising fish. I make my first cast a good one...about 4 feet ahead of the fish, don't even have to make mend the line. A few moments later, a nice rainbow sips my fly and I raise my rod to set the hook. Fish on! Yep, its going to be a good day... Why we fish... For me, I think part of it is the journey to the trout waters. It brings back memories of past trips...the fish caught, the fish lost, the cold nights camping, etc etc. I get to reflect on life and the path I've taken to get where I am today. The other part is being a part of something so rich in tradition and history as fly fishing. All those that have casted a fly before you have. The wild places you can go to chase such a simple minded creature that, more times than not, has stumped you and caused you to scratch your head as you are leaving the river. But we always come back for more...don't we? That's why I fish...

In both my vests I always had 2-3 fly boxes, a small box w/ indicators (both foam and yarn), a weight dispenser, forcepts, clippers, leatherman, mini tool that looks like a pen that has a phillips and flathead on each end, tippet spools ranging from 5X-7X, small spool of 3lb Maxima (just in case), liquid and powder floatant (don't know why), a couple extra tapered leaders, defogger spray, and a tape measure. Along with all that crap...sometimes I would carry an extra pair of socks, pair of gloves, 35mm camera, rain slicker, and a wide range of other random items depending on the time of the year and where I was fishing! It was a lot of crap...heh! In my waist pack I just have 1 fly box, small box w/ indicators, weight dispenser, forcepts, clippers, leatherman, tippet spools, power floatant, and a couple extra tapered leaders. Thinned out all the junk that I usually care in my vest. Which is another reason I like my waist pack because it made me be more efficient in what I was carrying...or so I'd like to think Oh yeah...usually always had a pouch of my favorite chewing tobacco...always gotta have a chew when I'm fishing

I like your style

Man...I gotta work. Never fails...its freaking beautiful during the week....and crappy on the weekends.

LOL Amen to that...I'm glad you know what I'm talking about though. I thought I was the only one who noticed it...

I agree that Fishpond and Simms are high quality products. Worth every penny I imagine...I just can't bring myself to pay that much for a pair of waders. Now if I was a guide who fished 300 days a year...then yeah, I'd be all over it. My thing is...there's been several times I've been on the water and some John Doe has stumbled into the river all decked out in his $400 Simms waders, $130 FishPond vest, $1000 Orvis rod/reel combo, and couldn't catch a fish to save his life. I'm just like "Seriously? Why? Just to make yourself look like you know what you're doing...until you try to cast." I guess if you have the money...go for it, but it just blows my mind. Maybe I'm being petty and bitter. And somewhat hypocritical too....lol, because I have a FishPond product and use Orvis reels on 3 outta 5 rods I own. Ok I will shut up

No need to rub it in Brian...I understand now, I've seen the light. AEG on the fritz?

Amen to that...that was my first thought when I started to "outfit" my pack... I do feel more comfortable and feel there's more freedom now that I don't wear my vest. Bad thing is...my wife bought me my current vest last year for x-mas

This is my "Missouri Essentials Box"...

Sorry guys...I had to vent on my current fishing predictament...

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but in the past few years...your conventional "fishing vest" has taken a backseat to all these new chestpacks, waistpacks, and such that are on the market. Maybe its just me thats noticing this...I dont know. It's almost a shame because the fishing vest, in all its glory, is a staple in fly fishing but it seems to be going on the wayside. I'm on my 3rd vest right now, the 270 vest from Bass Pro, and absolutely love it. It holds all my gear, fits great, and just simply works as a piece of fly fishing equipment. To my current issue... I was at Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma this past friday. I was picking up a choke tube wrench for my Benelli shotgun and needed a new ammo box for the abnormal amount of shotgun shells I've acquired over duck season...still not sure how it happened. Well, after finding the items I "needed"...I walked around looking at other stuff that struck my interest. Of course I made it down to the fly fishing section. I gotta say, for some reason, the B.A. Bass Pro doesnt have a sectioned off area that is the "White River Fly Shop". Doesn't make sense to me because the OKC Bass Pro has it...oh well, whatever! As I was looking through all the stuff...I went over to the vests/pack section because the White River brand wading jackets were on sale and I was wanting to check them out. Right next to the jackets....was the FishPond line of vests and packs along with the other brands of vests and packs. I've always liked how the FishPond stuff looked...seems to be good quality stuff. I just think its over-priced and somewhat, lack of a better word, "poserish". Like the kinda gear that the guy who just gets into fly fishing and has way too much money for his own good. Buys all the expensive top of the line gear from what I like to call the Big 3 in fly fishing gear: Simms, Orvis, and FishPond. I've also been against the chestpacks/waistpacks for sometime because I've always enjoy my vests...maybe I'm old school and just hate change. The problem was this FishPond waistpack caught my eye due to its orange color scheme (Oklahoma State University grad). I pulled it off the display peg and checked it out. It was a nice pack with adequate pockets for all your basic gear and 1 or 2 small fly boxes. I tried it out though...and it suprisingly fit well and was comfortable. I looked at the price tag and cringed as I always do ($59). I put it back on the peg immediately and went on about my business browsing. Over the course of the next 20 minutes, I kept coming back to that pack and looking at it. Then I'd look at the price tag and put it back. I did this 3 different times....and finally on the 4th time I had what I like to call a impulse buy. I talked myself into it somehow. Somewhere in my head I told myself it'd be nice to have a small pack like this to fish the smaller streams and the trout parks as I could downsize my fly selection and gear down to a few select items. I could also use this pack when I bass fish the local ponds with my 7wt and keep my bass bugs box in it. Now I don't like to buy fly fishing gear from Bass Pro one bit. It has only happened a few times due to impulse purchases (like this pack) and just because of pure convienence. I like to spend my money with local fly shops instead of with big box places like Bass Pro. Anyways, I bought the freaking pack along with a few odds and ends to go with it. And I freaking love the stupid thing! It holds 1 fly box that I just put a few select patterns in that seem to be a staple with missouri trout waters along with the odds and ends you need (forcepts, clippers, floatant, weights, leatherman, etc). I used it this weekend at Roaring River and it was nice to have everything right there at your waist, completely out of the way. I didn't feel like I was dragging around everything I own like I do when I have my vest. Anyways...I'm a firm believer in this whole chestpack/waistpack revolution now. Guess being old school (I'm only 24) and a hold-out on change is somewhat useless. OK, I've rambled on enough....

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but in the past few years...your conventional "fishing vest" has taken a backseat to all these new chestpacks, waistpacks, and such that are on the market. Maybe its just me thats noticing this...I dont know. It's almost a shame because the fishing vest, in all its glory, is a staple in fly fishing but it seems to be going on the wayside. I'm on my 3rd vest right now, the 270 vest from Bass Pro, and absolutely love it. It holds all my gear, fits great, and just simply works as a piece of fly fishing equipment. To my current issue... I was at Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma this past friday. I was picking up a choke tube wrench for my Benelli shotgun and needed a new ammo box for the abnormal amount of shotgun shells I've acquired over duck season...still not sure how it happened. Well, after finding the items I "needed"...I walked around looking at other stuff that struck my interest. Of course I made it down to the fly fishing section. I gotta say, for some reason, the B.A. Bass Pro doesnt have a sectioned off area that is the "White River Fly Shop". Doesn't make sense to me because the OKC Bass Pro has it...oh well, whatever! As I was looking through all the stuff...I went over to the vests/pack section because the White River brand wading jackets were on sale and I was wanting to check them out. Right next to the jackets....was the FishPond line of vests and packs along with the other brands of vests and packs. I've always liked how the FishPond stuff looked...seems to be good quality stuff. I just think its over-priced and somewhat, lack of a better word, "poserish". Like the kinda gear that the guy who just gets into fly fishing and has way too much money for his own good. Buys all the expensive top of the line gear from what I like to call the Big 3 in fly fishing gear: Simms, Orvis, and FishPond. I've also been against the chestpacks/waistpacks for sometime because I've always enjoy my vests...maybe I'm old school and just hate change. The problem was this FishPond waistpack caught my eye due to its orange color scheme (Oklahoma State University grad). I pulled it off the display peg and checked it out. It was a nice pack with adequate pockets for all your basic gear and 1 or 2 small fly boxes. I tried it out though...and it suprisingly fit well and was comfortable. I looked at the price tag and cringed as I always do ($59). I put it back on the peg immediately and went on about my business browsing. Over the course of the next 20 minutes, I kept coming back to that pack and looking at it. Then I'd look at the price tag and put it back. I did this 3 different times....and finally on the 4th time I had what I like to call a impulse buy. I talked myself into it somehow. Somewhere in my head I told myself it'd be nice to have a small pack like this to fish the smaller streams and the trout parks as I could downsize my fly selection and gear down to a few select items. I could also use this pack when I bass fish the local ponds with my 7wt and keep my bass bugs box in it. Now I don't like to buy fly fishing gear from Bass Pro one bit. It has only happened a few times due to impulse purchases (like this pack) and just because of pure convienence. I like to spend my money with local fly shops instead of with big box places like Bass Pro. Anyways, I bought the freaking pack along with a few odds and ends to go with it. And I freaking love the stupid thing! It holds 1 fly box that I just put a few select patterns in that seem to be a staple with missouri trout waters along with the odds and ends you need (forcepts, clippers, floatant, weights, leatherman, etc). I used it this weekend at Roaring River and it was nice to have everything right there at your waist, completely out of the way. I didn't feel like I was dragging around everything I own like I do when I have my vest. Anyways...I'm a firm believer in this whole chestpack/waistpack revolution now. Guess being old school (I'm only 24) and a hold-out on change is somewhat useless. OK, I've rambled on enough....

Right on Tim. Thanks for the info. Kinda makes sense that they stock it around March 1st since thats the official start of the "season" for the trout parks. I could tell from Google maps that there seem to be lots of places to walk in from the road. I'm anxious to check it out...just hope there's still a few fish left in the creek and the majority of them haven't been rounded up by the freezer fillers. We did good up in Zone 1. I just walked up and down the river looking for big fish to cast to. There just isn't as many nice fish this year it seems compared to last year. I seen a lot of 2-4lb which is fun but seems like there was more 5lb+ plus fish last year. Oh well, I caught 2 nice fish in the 2-4lb range just by the bridge and then hooked 2 toads down in the catch n' release area. Broke off on one and my knot came un-done on the other....I got a lil' excited and tried to horse them which doesn't work on my lil' 3wt. My nephews caught a bunch of stockers... Greybear, I will let ya know...would be great to have a "guide" to show me around....

Took a detour home today from my day-trip to Roaring River and swung by Capps Creek to give it a quick look over. The section up by the Jolly Mill is a beautiful section of water...I was really impressed with the water. Lots of fishy lookin' spots. I almost broke out the 3wt but it was almost dark and I was tired n' ready to head home. Anyways... I came in on CR 1010 (I think) where the Jolly Mill sign is off of HWY 60. I'm guess the Mill area is what you guys call the "upper section"? I didn't find the actual Capps Creek Conservation parking lot...if there is one? I was looking at GoogleMaps and I'm guessing the other section is by the bridge on Walleye Road...correct? Or is there a parking lot that you can walk in from? Next question, I only seen 4 trout in the upper section by the mill...has it been a while since the last stocking? Anyway to know when they're going to stock again? Is there usually more fish up there? Does the hatchery truck just dump fish at the Mill? Or are the fish just scattered up and down the creek? Sorry to barge in on your honey hole guys I was just really impressed with the place...it was really pretty and looked fun to fish. My favorite part was that there wasn't another soul on the water from what I could tell... I'm hoping to come back in a couple weeks to take a few days to fish Capps, Hickory, and Crane. I've fished Roaring River all my life along with Taneycomo and other places in Arkansas. Just blows me away that these lil' places were there all this time...and never even had a clue : ) Which is probably what you local guys like to hear...and I don't blame you one bit!

The sizing charts on all 3 pairs of waders I bought were dead on the money. On my Chota boots...I did go up a size on them to compensate for thick socks and the neoprene stockingfoot bootie on my breathables. Went to a 11 (wear size 10 shoe)...its a touch on the big side but doesnt bother me at all. I probably coulda went with the 10s and been fine but better safe than sorry!

I really really really wanted to do a trip like that this past fall. Don't do all those rivers...but just the best of the best (if it could be done). I'm so jealous. But due to GOD AWFUL diesel prices and the coming birth of my daughter...it was not meant to be...this year Next year....oh yes....next year...

I agree with being sad about the old lodge. I remember every time they'd change how the store was "set up". Blows my mind everytime I go in there. I remember when my dad bought me my 1st fishing vest outta that place. I'm only 24 so thats not that long ago but I've got lots of memories there. That little vest now belongs to my 13 year old nephew who's pretty handy with the stick now. I remember walking up there from the river when my hands were numb and face frozen to get hot chocolate. Heck, I remember when Tim worked behind the counter up there when I was a little lad! We'd ride our bikes up there when we were done fishing all the way from the fly fishing area (Zone 2). I bet I've put as many miles on my bike on that river than I have walked it fishing... Ok, sorry for my stroll down memory lane!

I have a pair of Orvis 3.5mm neoprenes, Orvis Silver Label breathables, and a pair of Cabelas 5mm neoprenes (duck hunting)....love all of them and didn't spend more than $175 for any of the 3 pairs. Just shop around and you can find some good deals. I agree with Terry on the Chota wading boots....I bought a pair last fall and absolutely love them. They're extremely comfortable and were rather inexpensive. Just keep shopping around...

PM sent! Might have a buyer for you!

Thats all you need during the C&R season, just a Missouri license and trout stamp!! No buying of a daily tag either! As far as flies go during the C&R season, used the same patterns that I've always fished during the rest of the year. I had the most success on San Juan worms as far as targeting big fish as they're easier to see and fish. If you drift it in front of their face enough, they usually eat them

Another fish from that trip...

I can't wait! If I'm not chasing ducks...I'll be chasing trout this winter! Hopefully it'll be as good as last year! Here are some fish from last year's season...