Terry Beeson

Welcome to the madhouse, Sher... and nice pheesh!!!

Hey Henry... Glad to know the surgery went well. It's still a long walk back no matter how many surgeries you have... But it's worth the trip... Hope to see you on the water soon...

There I was in the middle of the stream scratching my head wondering why I was not catching fish. I had fished this section the day before bringing numerous fish to hand and getting hits and takes on almost every cast. In fact, the same fly fished the same way in the same place had yielded quite the fishing experience the last number of times I had made my way to this same hole. But there was something different about today. I had started the day well enough. While getting my line ready for the first cast of the day, I stripped off ten or twelve feet of line, letting the streamer at the end of the tippet drift downstream and started stripping another 20 or so feet off the reel for the first cast. When I began the pick up for the initial cast, the rod froze midway up to reveal a fish at the end of the line. I set the hook and landed a nice first fish of the day. However, after that initial fish, the bites were few and in between. After countless frustratingly unproductive casts, I dropped my fly directly across the stream and tucked my rod under my arm to pull my fly box out of my vest and see what offerings I might give the fish that I knew were holding in the area. Just as I got the box out and opened, BAM! The rod almost left its holding spot. I tucked the fly box back in my vest as quickly as possible and twisted, rocked, and eventually succeeded in setting the hook while fumbling to get the rod back in my hand. Another nice rainbow found its way to my net. From that point on, the light bulb came on and I began to dead drift the same fly I had been stripping for the past few months. While this did not produce the number of strikes I was accustomed to in the past several outings, it did produce strikes and turned an otherwise fruitless day into at least an average outing. As I was about to pull out of the parking lot to head home, a buddy walked up to the truck to see how the fishing had been. We traded comments about how slow it had been and how we had to work for the fish we had been hammering only 24 hours earlier. He then commented that what had finally worked for him was dead drifting the same fly I was pitching. What had worked for us before did nothing that day. But a simple change in how we both fished that same fly made all the difference in the world. My conversation with him soon sparked the thought that many fishermen overlook a key suspect when faced with similar circumstances. My very unscientific study has yielded the theory that when fly fishermen are not producing the results they expect, the tendency is to make a change in their tactics by either changing flies or changing the set up. Many opt to stop fishing and browse their fly box for a different color, size, or pattern they think might be more productive. If that does not work, they may reduce tippet size, increase tippet length, add shot, put on a sink tip, take a sink tip off, or some other change in tactics. I have spent days on the water changing flies every 12-15 casts looking for that combination of color and pattern that would entice willing trout to produce a take. I have changed leaders, tippets, and made numerous adjustments to turn the bite on. I have ended up many times with a frustrating end to a frustrating day. While this type of change may, indeed, produce results, it takes the fly out of the water for a time and we all know that if your fly is not in the water, you are not fishing. But there is one change a fisherman can make that does not take any fly time out of the water. A change in how you are fishing the current offering can be just the ticket to fishing nirvana. And all it takes is a modification in casting or drift to make this change. Look at fly tying recipes and you will find the “how to fish” that fly at the end of many of them. These are usually the fly tier’s method based on how he has been most productive in fishing that fly. However, most wet patterns can be fished in a number of ways. And if one particular method does not seem to be working, maybe another method will. For instance, any time I tie on a wooly bugger, I will tend to fish it in a “drift/swing” style. I will cast across the current and let the fly line drag the fly into the middle of the stream and then swing into a “stop – facing upstream” position. That is the way I was taught to fish that particular pattern by the fellow that introduced me to fly tying. This has caused many tugs at the end of my line just as the fly settles into that final spot. But it does not always work. I was fishing this method on the Norfork tailwaters a few years ago and did not have one fish to hand in about two hours. I knew the fish were there. I could see them clearly stacked up at the end of my drift. It was exasperating to say the least to see them turn up a nose to my offering. I decided to move upstream and try another hole just above the only other angler in that stretch of the water. I exchanged pleasantries with him and asked about his luck. He indicated he was not doing too well, but had taken some fish. I asked what he was using and he answered that he was fishing an olive wooly bugger – the very same fly at the end of my tippet that I indicated to him had not produced one take for me. Further inquiries revealed he had been fighting the same results when he stumbled onto a system that was working for him. About that time, he raised his rod in response to a fish at the end of his tippet. He brought in an average size rainbow, removed the fly, and slipped the fish back into the water. As he cast again to the pod of fish I could now see about forty feet downstream of his spot, he let the fly drift from just a few feet to his right of the fish and then just held the rod as if waiting on a bream or crappie to pull his bobber under. Every 10 seconds or so, he would twitch the end of the rod just to produce a bit of action in the fly. We talked for a couple or three minutes while he left the wooly bugger in that spot when all the sudden, he had another fish on. I thanked him for the advice and started back downstream to my former pod of fish that had totally ignored my fly. The first cast to them landed only inches from the pod and quickly moved to a spot among the lead fish. Patiently, I waited, counting slowly to ten, twitching the rod tip, and anticipating a take. When I was just about to give up and move back upstream, I felt a tug. I set the hook on a nice trout and brought him to my net. An hour later, I had landed more than a dozen fish, including one 19 inch beauty, using the same method. The change had prevented my getting “skunked” and turned the day into a good one after all. Humans being humans, we are creatures of habit and resistant to change. This is especially true when time honored strategies have proven effective. We tend to eat the same thing for breakfast, take the same route to work, watch the same television shows, and generally have a daily “routine.” If that routine is broken, we become annoyed and even a bit defiant. And many fly fishermen are routine fly changers, switching patterns and colors after only a few unproductive casts. Others are die hard fanatics about sticking to the fly and presentation through thick and thin. But change can be good. When the game plan is not working, a good coach will alter the game plan in some way to try and turn things around. And if a change in the way you are presenting the fly will do the trick, why not try it? If you are stripping fast, try stripping slow. If stripping is not working, try dead drifting. If mending is unproductive, try not mending. If casting upstream is not producing takes, try casting downstream. I will even try putting a fly under an indicator if nothing else gives me the results I want. Someone once said “The key to success is often the ability to adapt.” So if you are not being successful in your fishing, instead of changing flies, try changing the way you are fishing just a bit and see if the results are not surprisingly positive.

Sounds like fishing will be pretty good if the rain holds off. Any dry action over that way, Brian?

You mean you got Stubby to open up and talk?

The tailwaters actually start in Utah from the Flaming Gorge and travels east into Colorado for a bit, then back into Utah. You cross it in Utah on I-70 in Green River, UT... (I remember that from a trip when I was a teen...) Then it empties into Lake Powell in SW Utah... It's on my "got to fish" list...

What Dave said is true with ANY level other than zero units. I've been wading with one unit at around 30-35 cfs and they raised it to about 50-55 cfs with no horn. Any time you are wading with any units on, you should be aware of that and keep a land/water mark check frequently... I've been caught a couple of times when it could have been pretty hairy if I had not been watching for that rise. That's one reason I do not wade at night unless there are ZERO units on...

Laws in both AR and MO are pretty lenient... and need to be changed.

They seem to be going for a dead drift and swing right now for some reason...

darn... I don't remember typing that and signing Greg's name to it... OH... WAIT!... It WAS Greg... Just sounded a lot like me describing a night on Taney... As for pushing 50... I'm tryin' not to push too hard, but it's comin' pretty doggone soon... TOO soon...

Same here... But to me, the one in Mountain Home is a "don't miss" as well...

The Griffin works well "mounted" to the tailgate of a Dodge 4x4, huh Leonard?

What's this about a "six state region?" There will be people at the national from all over! I've never been, but I do want to go at least one time in my life. But I will not miss the Southern Council Conclave in Mountain Home in October.

HEY!... HEY!... HEY!!!! Don't give ALL my secrets away!!... I totally agree with Michael on this one for sure. If a guy is fishing at night, not using those above mentioned tactics, and catching fish, he's a pretty doggone good fisherman. I've only fished down there less than a year and don't have as many nights as several do, but I can still tell you that it is not as easy to fish at night as it is during the day. It's totally different and if you finally get it, it is most rewarding. I made a bit of lite about a competition between two of my friends and I know they appreciated it and know I'm just kiddin'... else I would not have posted it. But the two of them are probably like me... and Michael has already expressed that. I have no desire to prove anything to anyone about my prowess or expertise (or lack thereof ) when it comes to fishing or hunting. The reward I get from fishing and hunting now is being with friends and sharing stories and knowledge with them. I know Leonard and Michael have both certainly rewarded me with stories and knowledge. By the way... Jeremy... I picked up a pointer or two on casting. One I had just forgotten, but was good to be reminded. I think my casting next time will be a bit better because of that...

Ditto to Dano...

Yep... I saw the V-bottom. But I saw you guys as well. I guess it WAS the v stopped at the island come to think of it.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Lake Taneycomo where tonight the World Fly Fishing Association presents the match of the century... "Night Taney-Mania!" This is a one round, winner takes all, no holds or flies barred, fish to the end, cage match between the top two night fly fishermen in the WFFA... I'm Terry "The Taney Terror" Beeson and joining me tonight is my co-host, Duane "Ducky Fly Meister" Doty. And now (background music - AC/DC's "Thunderstruck") entering the arena... it's... MICHAEL "MEAN STRIPPIN' MACHINE" KYLE! Michael is looking fit to catch a lot of big fish tonight, eh Ducky? "That's right, Terror. Michael has that mohair look in his eye like he's ready for Leonard to go down..." Yep... and speaking of Leonard... (background music - REO Speedwagon's "Ridin' the Storm Out") Here he comes into the arena... LEONARD "THE LEADER STRETCHER" KEANEY! WHOA, Fly Meister... Leonard looks like he's ready to make a few big lips sore himself... "Yes he does... He's got that Pine Squirrel bag of tricks over his shoulder and we all know that means he's got some new flies in there that he's counting on to make the difference...." You said it, Ducky. Now the two contestants enter the water at Outlet 2 to get instructions from the referee... BUT WAIT! BOTH MEN GO AT IT RIGHT OFF THE BAT! THE BOTH CAST ACROSS THE CURRENT AT THE SAME TIME! Man these guys are ready to battle it out... "You bet, T-man. Michael has made a Powerslam cast towards rebar hoping to find a monster brown to start the night. But now Leonard has a Full Nelson drift going on in the Big Hole! And he sets the hook! He's fightin' a nice one, T-man!" Yes, he has a nice... looks like... IT IS! It's a nice brown! And looking over at Mean Machine, he's got that Dragon Claw Strip Set going on a nice fish himself! It looks like the two of them are going to start the night landing a nice big brown trout a piece, Duck-Man! "Good way to start this battle, for sure!" The fishermen are still fighting their fish! Moving up and down stream! Now they are back to back! FIGHTING THOSE BIG BROWNS! WHAT A MATCH! WHAT FISH! THIS IS GETTING REALLY EXCITING! "It sure is, Big T. It sure is!" I think Leonard is going to make that DDT move to net his first fish. Looks like Michael is getting ready for the Pile Driver net move himself. The two are battling their fish while back to back! But... wait... what's that coming up the Big Hole? What is that, Ducky? "It... looks... like...." OH NO!!!!!!! IT IS!!!!! "OH MY GAWD!!!!! IT IS!!!!!" IT'S THE GIANT MAN EATING TANEYCOMO KILLER SQUID!!!!!!!!!!! "LOOK OUT BOYS!!!!" RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!! "OH NO! TOO LATE!!!! THE SQUID HAS THEM BOTH!!! ONE IN ONE TENTACLE AND THE OTHER IN ANOTHER TENTACLE!!! IS THAT A SALT SHAKER IN THE OTHER TENTACLE?" NO, DUCKY MEISTER! THAT'S EMERIL'S ESSENCE!!! OH MY GAWD!!! HE'S EATING BOTH OF THEM AND THEIR GEAR AND THEIR FISH!!!!! LEONARD AND MICHAEL ARE TANEY TIDBITS FOR THE GIANT SQUID!!!!! "OH THE HUMANITY!!!!!!" I don't know what to say, folks... One minute they were battling big browns... and the next... they're cheese on a ritz for the Taneycomo Squid... "Soon they will be nothing but squid poop.... Well, all I can say is what a match, Mr. T..." You said it, Mr. D... Well, folks... that's it from Lake Taneycomo. Be sure to join us next week for the next match of the century, at tag team match, between the "Springfield Snaggers" of Outlet 1 and the "Branson Foul-Hookers" of Outlet 2. Until next week... This is Terry "The Taney Terror..." "And Duane "Ducky Fly Meister"..." Saying good night.... and happy night fishing...

Phil, Was that you just in front of the island up a bit from rebar? Thought I knew that fellow... It was good to meet you guys last night, by the way. Good to put a face with the online name...

I avoid that area like the plague anyway... Construction or no construction. But it WILL definately be better once they git 'er dun!!!

Put a fly rod in her hands now. You will be surprised what she can do and how her cast will mature with her. She's definately not too young to start. As for the bacon and egg sandwiches, I know what you mean. But I bet 20 or 30 years from now she'll be posting about how her kids will not have something similar... But I bet they will have something special to remember... Your job as grandpa would be to see to that... Yes... frame that picture for sure!!!

Thank me for not fishing so the bite would be on... Good seminar, Michael... I picked up several tips and pointers. I think if you do one or two more of these, there will be more people fishing at night than during the day!! Wanted to stay and fish, but duty at home called... Here are a few pictures I took. Michael talking about night fishing on Taneycomo... Jeremy Hunt going over some tips... Eric (Ozarkriverrat) explaining his night fishing experience... Duane (Duckydoty) waiting to describe night fishing... Stubby.... well.... being Stubby. Wish we could get him to open up... Some sculpins ready for the night's fishing... Jeremy giving some casting tips... Some of the folks learning about night fishing on Taneycomo...

Suger cured ham in a pot of beans Pepper sauce covered turnip greens Cornbread smothered in butter and honey And fried peach pies shinin' like new money! YUUUUM... YUM!!!!!!! "Wijadija" You didn't brang your truck wijadija?

You know how to catch a unique trout? Unique up on him... You know how to catch a tame trout? Tame way... I crack me up... By the way, CC.... Jeet yet? Yontew? ("I reckon he tryin' to focus...." LOVE that joke... )

Wow... Clyde Clifford... If it's still the same one, he must be like... OLD!... Yeah... "The Mighty 10-90!!!" OMG!... Just read Clyde's blog... his most recent includes "Will someone please give George Bush a..." (I'll leave this part to your imagination)"...so we can impeach him?" Just as bold as ever...

Bills, schmills... Get your priorities straight, man!!!... Just kiddin'... I know the feeling. Hope you get to make it...